In London, you can expect some poor weather during the tail end of winter. The cold, rainy climate can take its toll - both on us and our properties.
Whether it’s keeping your heating costs down, protecting against poor weather, or just keeping your property in good working order – regular maintenance is always crucial, but especially in harsher conditions such as these.
If you’re looking to lease your property, the need for general property maintenance is even more urgent. After all, your tenants won’t be overly pleased with cold draughts, leaking ceilings, or bursting frozen pipes.
Here are some of our tips for winter property maintenance to help ensure your property weathers the storm and comes out the other side in top condition.
Invest in quality insulation
In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, no one wants to spend a fortune on heating just to keep themselves warm at night. Similarly, there’s nothing worse than cranking up the heating, only to discover a cold draught escaping through the windows or underneath the doors
When roughly 25% of heat is lost through poorly insulated roofs, taking the time to assess your current insulation can save significant costs.
Investing in quality insulation for your property has a number of benefits:
- Saves energy costs.
- Prevents unwanted moisture.
- Reduces environmental impact.
- Less heat loss.
- Creates a warmer, cosier home for you or your tenants.
If you’re looking to rent your property, energy efficiency is a major consideration for many tenants, with roughly 57% of renters saying they would be less likely to consider a property if it had a very poor energy rating. Any maintenance work that can boost energy efficiency is not only valuable in the short term but could also have a significant impact on your property’s value for renting.
Check your water pipes
One of the biggest causes of property damage during winter is frozen pipes. All it takes is a few frosty nights, and the water can freeze, causing the pipework to expand and potentially burst, leading to floods.
Some extra time and precaution can save yourself some potentially very serious water damage.
- Ensure pipes in particularly cold areas (e.g. the loft or garage) are insulated with foam.
- Check pipework for signs of damage and replace if necessary.
- Turn outdoor pipes off for the winter to reduce risk.
- Lag water tanks and pipes to limit risk and reduce heat loss.
Clear the gutters
Nobody wants a leaky roof. When blocked up with fallen leaves and twigs, water can collect and overflow down the walls, causing dampness to set in. There’s also the added risk of stagnant water freezing in the gutters, weighing them down and causing them to come loose and collapse.
Regularly checking and clearing your gutters can help you identify and remove risks for leaks, including missing tiles and blockages. It’s easy to get started – something as simple as a garden hose will be able to wash away any dirt or debris.
Ventilate whenever possible
When the air starts to bite and the temperature drops, it can be tempting to wrap ourselves indoors and shut all the windows to trap the heat in. However, regularly ventilating your property is essential.
When heat is trapped in, condensation can cause dampness to gather on the windows and walls, which then leads to mould. This not only looks unappealing, but also poses a health risk to occupants.
By regularly opening the windows you can promote a better air flow, reducing dampness and helping your house to smell fresher – even when it’s cold or wet outside.
If you’re a landlord looking to sell or let your property, encouraging tenants to regularly open windows for better ventilation, or arranging regular checks to ensure there is no build-up of dampness will be vital.
Service your boiler
As the temperature drops, you are going to need consistent, reliable heating for your property. Unfortunately, we all know how boilers have a tendency to cause problems at the most inconvenient of times.
Inefficient boilers are not only prone to breaking down, but also incur significant costs. Getting a thorough, regular service for your boiler helps to ensure everything is in working order and reduces the risk of any unexpected boiler-related crises.
It’s not just something to consider for your own property. If you’re a landlord letting out a property to tenants, you are legally obligated to service the property’s boiler every year and arrange any necessary repairs within a “reasonable time”.
Especially in London, demand for renting is high, which means staying on top of services and repairs is critical to compete in an increasingly overcrowded renting market.
There are plenty of reliable boiler servicing companies around the South London area, including South London Heating, Just Services Group, and Boilers South London.
Come rain or shine, our team can help
Whether it’s during the heart of winter or the sunnier days of spring and summer, our team of experts are here to help. Armed with local expertise, extensive market knowledge, and a dedication to each and every one of our clients, we’re always on-hand to support you with property sales, purchases, leasing, renting, maintenance and everything in between.
Get in touch via info@urbanvillagehomes.com.