As a landlord you are ultimately responsible for the upkeep of your property and therefore it’s vital to remember to protect your bricks and mortar during the winter months.

 

 

James Davis, CEO of Upad, leading online lettings agent, has utilised his 12 years of hands-on experience to provide landlords with his 7 top tips on caring for your property this winter and avoiding any costly surprises:

 

 

Keep your tenants well informed about potential winter property damage. Do not assume that your tenants know how to deal with the cold weather.  It is your responsibility as a landlord to make sure they have the information they need. Put together an information pack including details such as basic boiler operation etc and remind tenants to periodically turn the heating on using the timer if they are not in the property for several days.

 

A fully insulated property is crucial for the winter. Make sure the basics such as the obvious draft points are covered and loft insulation is in good condition. Invest in some draft excluders to keep gaps underneath doors and between windows secure. Also check the cladding around your pipes and make sure that taps are not leaking.

 

Inspect all external pipes and guttering for breaks and blockages. Blocked pipes can quite easily freeze during the cold months, expand and then burst, which can cause expensive water damage. Check that all pipes are in good order and that they are correctly secured to the walls and also have a look at the brickwork around your property for cracks, which could potentially allow water in. Clear out any guttering regularly especially if there are trees overhanging your property.

 

Deal with those little snagging problems such as a drafty door, a flimsy pipe or damp room now, rather than later. By sorting the little problems before the really cold weather sets in, you can help to prevent bigger, potentially expensive problems later on.

 

If your property is going to be empty over the winter, you need to make extra plans to ensure it is maintained and no disasters happen. Void periods are a major threat during the cold months to landlords. Make sure that you visit regularly, ensure the heating is kept on at a low level and that condensation does not build up.

 

It is a good idea to keep a few key items in your property just for emergencies such as a torch, a fan heater and basic tool kit; this will help to ensure that minor disasters can be dealt with quickly and effectively.  Remember that your tenants may not be able to deal with all issues on their own therefore make sure that they also have contact numbers for you and local tradesmen.

 

Maintenance-related issues are often not always covered by certain insurance policies. Make sure that you ready thoroughly and understand the terms of your insurance policy, both for your own peace of mind and for your tenants! Specialist landlord insurance is available from a number of brokers.

 

 

As one of the UKs largest and fastest growing letting agencies, Upad now receives around 20,000 tenant enquiries per month and specialise in helping professional tenants rent properties from landlords directly by allowing landlords to manage their own viewings, an approach which 90% of tenants are in favour of according the latest Upad research.

 

 

Offering a complete lettings service for a flat fee of only £299 (+ VAT) which includes professional photography and a floor plan, a ´To Let´ board erected outside the property and advertising across all major UK lettings sites as well as comprehensive tenant referencing, drawing up of the tenancy agreement, deposit registration and crucially, rent collection.

 

 

For more information please contact Upad, on 0333 240 1220. You can also visit www.upad.co.uk or the dedicated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/upadUK  and now follow @Upad on Twitter.