Posts with tag: protecting property in winter

49% of people are not looking forward to winter, British Gas has found.¹

Many people are concerned about their home withstanding the cold temperatures, heavy rain, strong winds, and possible snow.

Private landlords should take extra measures to ensure their properties are fit for the winter. The private rental sector is growing rapidly, with an estimated £1 trillion work of property by spring 2015, from today’s £930.7bn. 2001 saw this sector hold £262.1bn worth of property, says the Office for National Statistics.1

Not only must the property be suitable for winter conditions, but also tenants should feel comfortable and safe within their rental homes. Founder of online resource for self-managing landlords, Ready Rentals, Neil Woodhead has compiled five guidelines for landlords to consider1:

Five Winter Tips for Private UK Landlords

1.  External building inspections

Flaws on the outside of a property can quickly cause problems with the whole building. All outside windows, walls, doors and the roof should be checked for any faults. Cracked tiles should be replaced, and ventilated cowls can be added to unused chimney pots.

British Gas also revealed that 8% of respondents are worried about damage caused by overflowing gutters, and subsequent issues causing problems throughout the property1. It is thus important to clean gutters, repair running overflows, remove moss, and repoint any weak pointing.

2.  Heating systems

Boilers should be serviced for winter, and all pipes and radiators should be checked for leaks and bled for airlocks. British Gas found that 46% of people are concerned that their heating or hot water will fail during winter.1

This is particularly necessary if a property will be vacant over winter. If no one is living in the property in these months, the system should be drained down, as well as all hot and cold water pipes. Emergency cover should also be secure to cover any breakdowns.

3.  Insulation

Loft insulation should match current standards, and grants may be accessible to upgrade it. Ready Rentals provides the latest information on legislation for landlords.

Cavity wall insulation, double or secondary glazing, and lagging pipes should all be contemplated also. Landlords can avoid draughts by checking pointing on door and window frames, applying sealant to skirting boards, and filling gaps in wooden flooring. This will protect the property and keep it energy efficient. Tenants will also save money on utility bills.

4.  Flooding risks

One in ten people are worried about flooding this winter, claims British Gas.1 Landlords can avoid this by protecting exterior pipes with insulation sleeves if this is possible.

5.  Outside paving

Water can freeze on paving slabs, this causing a danger to tenants and anyone visiting the house. This could raise insurance issues and possible compensation claims against landlords. To prevent this, landlords can ensure that all paving is well drained and thus does not collect water.

¹ http://www.landlordexpert.co.uk/2014/12/05/5-must-read-tips-for-private-uk-landlords-this-winter/

With the winter months fast approaching, the National Landlords Association (NLA) has offered helpful advice for landlords to ensure that their properties are sufficiently protected during this period.

Problems

Unsurprisingly, adverse weather can lead to serious problems to a property. Vast numbers of rental properties are damaged each year do to inclement conditions, costing thousands of pounds to repair and leaving tenants without a home.

Research from the NLA shows that freezing-related claims accounted for 35% of total claims on their insurance during the last year, despite these occurrences only happening during winter periods.[1] Freezing-related claims are features such as water escaping through burst or cracked pipes.

Suitable Policy

Taking this into account, the NLA is urging landlords to check that they have a suitable insurance policy. In addition, they are requesting that landlords inform tenants on ways to prevent weather damage.

Chairman of the NLA David Salusbury said: “Last winter was relatively mild compared to previous years so it’s important that landlords and their tenants aren’t complacent and take action to mitigate any risk of damage to the property.”[1]

Protecting Properties This Winter

Salusbury also warns: “Most normal home insurance policies do not provide cover in the event of damage in all circumstances.” As a result, he maintains: “Having the correct residential property insurance is vital.”[1]

Guidelines

The NLA believes that by following a few simple guidelines, tenants can greatly reduce risk of damage or hardship during winter. The NLA says that tenants should:

• Make sure that all pipes are sufficiently insulated.
• Ensure that all overflow pipes are not blocked and are connected properly.
• Inform tenants to leave their heating on a low setting during any winter void periods.
• Ensure that the tenant has an emergency contact number.

Communication

NLA Property Insurance’s Broking Manager Steve Barnes, believes that landlords should “start to dialogue with tenants,” if they think “they may be away for extended periods during the winter months.” He also thinks that landlords should ask tenants to “leave the heating on a low temperature,” or even contribute towards the heating bill, Barnes feels that this “could be far more beneficial in the long-term.”[1]

Barnes also said: “Landlords should make sure their tenants are aware of how to correctly set thermostats, switch off utility supplies and know what to do in the event of an emergency. If away or uncontactable over the winter period, landlords should also provide appropriate contacts for any repair work.”[1]

[1] http://www.landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/protect-your-properties-winter