Landlord Property Winter Check by Heather Hilder on November 14, 2018 “Landlord Property Winter Check” Landlords’ Pre-winter checklist Household emergencies generally occur during the depths of winter. But, as they say ‘A stitch in time saves 9’ and we recommend that a Landlord property winter check, pre-winter, is carried out as soon as possible to prevent unforeseen property headaches in the months to come. A tenant may not be aware of preventative measures, but you will be the first to know if there is a problem – often too late and costly to remedy. Our Property Winter Check Seven Top Tips: Don’t wait until the really cold weather arrives to discover that the central heating is not working. Ask your tenant to time your central heating to click on for one minute a day throughout the year to avoid it seizing. Does your boiler have an annual service check? A sudden cold snap can burst water pipes, causing flooding. Stopcock Alert! Let your tenant know where the stopcock is. Lag pipes and tank properly but do not insulate underneath your tank. Ask your tenant to leave the heating on low and leave any loft hatch open if they are going away. Storms can bring down branches causing damage to roofs. Therefore, it’s worth doing some pruning now rather than having to call out the tree-surgeon, roofer and insurance assessor in an emergency. Check your gutters are clear – the weight of waterlogged and frozen leaves can cause them to leak or collapse. Assess your roof for loose tiles that can easily become dislodged during high winds, causing damage to property, cars and possibly injury to people. Avoid your tenant getting ‘smoked out’ as they light the first fire of winter. Check that birds have not made a nest in the chimney. When was the last time you had the chimney swept? Outside lighting not only enhances safety but also deters burglars, who are more active during the winter. A small investment now is well spent if the stress and expense of a winter emergency are to be avoided. Call our property managers on 01273 735237, or email pm@callaways.co.uk for help and advice on repairs and maintenance.
