Before winter sets in, property managers at Strutt & Parker are urging landlords and tenants to check their properties over and make sure they are in good shape.
Rachel Tilley, a lettings negotiator at the firm’s Banchory office, recommends that people should begin winter-proofing their properties now to avoid damage or bigger and more expensive problems later especially as things are only likely to get worse as the colder months draw closer.
Burst and frozen pipes, damage to oil tanks, structural damage from severe temperatures or winter storms and malfunctioning heating and hot water systems are just a few problems commonly reported to us which could often be avoided if sensible steps are taken in preparation.
Rachel said: “Prevention is better than curing with property repairs and some conscientious tenants get in touch as soon as a problem is noticed.
“This allows us to nip the problem in the bud, but many tenants only contact us when there is an emergency, which often leads to more costly and disruptive repairs”.
Rachel recommends carrying out a few simple tasks now to help winter-guard your home.
- Arrange for the boiler or electric heaters to be serviced and tested.
- Insulate unprotected pipes.
- Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downpipes.
- Bleeding any radiators if necessary.
- Sweep chimneys.
Repair any loose or missing pointing and rendering on walls as this could allow water into joints which may cause more damage should it freeze.
- Check for loose or slipped roof tiles.
- Oil window and door locks to prevent them from seizing.
- Check that the home insurance policy is up to date.
Depending on the quality of your tenancy agreement, many of these checks should become a tenant’s responsibility however, you may wish to enquire whether your tenant is complying with their obligations.
Rachel added: “If your property becomes empty during the winter then we recommend that you inspect it regularly and ensure that the cold water mains are turned off to minimise possible damage from burst pipes and leave the heating on low.
“It is also vital that insurers are informed that the property is vacant which will prevent any claim being rejected if there is any damage over the winter months.”
Should you have any concerns in relation to the quality of your lease agreement or if you are managing your own property, contact Rachel for advice on 01330 824888.