Winter Maintenance

Winter is fast approaching ... and with that comes a list of things for landlords to watch out for in terms of property maintenance. We have compiled a short list of key items to check off to help winter (& Christmas!) go without interruption.

1. Mice

As it gets colder, we want to spend more time indoors in the warmth. The problem is, mice also need the same to survive. This could mean pesky Jerry (not as cute as the cartoon) may make his appearance in your property.

We recommend checking the internal perimeter of your ground floor (particularly kitchen) for any potential mice droppings or holes before heading off on the Christmas break. The most common locations for access would be surrounding pipes or gaps in the floorboards.

If you do find a hole, we would advise sealing it with wood or cement. One can use foam filler for tricky locations but don’t expect it to last forever - mice are quite persistent if they smell food. You can also put mice bait down in key locations but please be cautious or seek professional advice if you are letting to families or vulnerable individuals.

2. Frozen pipes

A burst pipe will certainly rain on your Christmas parade. This is more likely to occur in January/February time but best to tackle in Autumn before the cold really sets in.

Take a look at your pipework, particularly any external pipes to identify any weak spots. You will want to make sure your water pipes are insulated. This prevents water turning to ice and blocking or bursting any pipes.

Lastly, if you have a condensation pipe on your boiler, its best to ensure that this is also insulated. It is a regular occurrence that this can freeze in winter and cause the boiler to stop working temporarily.

3. Draft proofing

If you have sash windows or simply old windows, there could be a chance that unwanted drafts could be coming in and stealing your tenant’s heat.

It would be advisable to do an autumn inspection and run your hands around the window & external door frames to spot any potential draft points. The tenant may also have some inclination, so best to ask them for their feedback.

If any draft holes spotted are relatively small, you may be able to solve with simply draft seals from DIY stores. Alternatively, a handyman or carpenter may be able advise for more extensive draft proofing works.

We hope that was helpful and wish you a warm, dry and pest-free winter ahead!