Preparing your rental property for winter

Diligence is particularly important this year as government scientists say there’s an increased chance of stormy weather and flooding in the UK. Whether you’re doing the work yourself or hiring professionals, here’s what we suggest as a starting point.

Carry out a detailed inspection

Whatever the season, regular visits to your rental property form an important part of looking after the building and your tenants. We recommend booking in an inspection for October or early November (remember, you need to give tenants at least 24 hours’ notice). This way, you can spot issues and get them fixed while the days are relatively light and mild.

Internal maintenance

When inspecting the interior, you can also double-check that your tenants know how to operate the heating and where the stopcock is in case of a burst pipe.

The boiler: on top of the mandatory professional inspection, you should organise a yearly service to check the boiler’s performance and to clean parts
Heating systems: test the radiators for balanced heat and make sure the thermostat accurately triggers the boiler to turn on and off. According to the government, the heating system should be able to maintain 21°C in living areas and 18°C in bedrooms when it’s -1°C outside. See more info in this EPC guide.
Pipework and insulation: check for signs of leaks or rust around valves; ensure that pipes running through cold spaces like attics are insulated so they don’t freeze during cold spells
Safety alarms: test the carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarms
Ventilation: don’t ignore patches of mould and damp as these can cause health problems and even death. Here’s how the Renters’ Rights Act requires landlords to fix such issues within strict timeframes.

If your tenants are going to leave the property empty over Christmas – or your property is currently void – you might take action to prevent damage. For instance, set your thermostat to a constant level to protect against frost and drain the water system.

External maintenance

Inspect the outside of the property and pay attention to the following:

Gutters and downpipes: leaves and other debris create blockages, while bad weather causes damage
Drains and gullies: an early warning sign of a struggling system is water lingering around the drain long after the rain has passed
Defective pointing: warning signs include visibly cracked mortar, eroded joint lines and damp patches on internal walls after heavy rain
Slipped roof tiles: binoculars are useful for surveying the condition of the roof, including any missing or slipped tiles
Hazardous trees and fences: for example, cutting away dead wood and broken branches can make a tree less dangerous in storms

Improve your energy efficiency

It’s worth investing in your property’s energy efficiency, both for the immediate benefits and for meeting upcoming government requirements. (Private rental properties must reach at least the equivalent of EPC C by October 2030, unless they have an exemption. This blog post shares more details.)

Here are some ideas: