The average void tenancy time has continued to decrease month-on-month since May to 2.1 weeks and the average tenancy time continues to be on the rise, meaning there has never been a more attractive time to be a landlord.

Winter months can cause costly and unwanted problems in a property, but the more work landlords put in to check over the areas which are more likely to cause them, the more likely it will be they will save valuable time and money.

Easy steps to protect your home from the cold

A warm home is a happy one. Landlords can limit expenses and keep their tenants warm in the winter by:

1. Bleeding radiators – This is a simple yet effective way that can sometimes be overlooked.
2. Servicing the boiler – Keeping on top of services is far cheaper in the long run compared to the call-out fee of a busy engineer for an urgent repair.
3. Limiting draughts in the property – Sealing them is a quick and easy way to help your tenants stay warm and save money. Check for draughts around the edges of window frames, under doors, and around letterboxes.
4. Insulate the loft – loft insulation can make a big difference when it comes to preserving heat in a property, if there is insulation, it’s worth checking it’s up to standard.
5. Lag the pipes – In order to keep pipes frost-free, landlords can wrap them in lagging which is nice and cheap but can save a tonne by stopping pipes from freezing and avoiding bursts.

External checks

Keeping on top of the exterior maintenance is really important for landlords. In order to limit potentially expensive damages before the worst of the weather hits, landlords should:
1. Check and clean gutters to limit blockages and prevent water damage.
2. Repair and maintain garden fences, windows, and other features
3. Check the roof as missing tiles as a bad storm can cause structural problems in the long term.

We work for the landlord so if you have any questions or concerns, don't suffer in silence. Ask an expert. If you would like assistance over the winter months, we would be delighted to help, even if just to offer advice. Please feel free to get in touch at info@kronosestaes.co.uk or 0208 004 4477