Tenant's Guide: Getting Ready for Winter

News at Howard Independent Estate Agents | 25/11/2022

As the winter months approach, here are some important home care tips from the Howard Maintenance Team.

Check the location of your stopcock

Do you know the location of the stopcock? Water freezing in pipes during cold weather can cause burst pipes so you’ll need to know how to turn the water supply off in the event of an emergency. When it comes to leaks these must always be reported to your landlord or agent as soon as possible, as small problems can quickly escalate into big and expensive problems.

Maintain your property’s temperature

Get to grips with how the boiler and thermostat work. Most instruction manuals can also now be found online. If you are going away over the festive period it is best to leave the heating on low or to set a timer so that the heating continues to come on regularly. This will help reduce the likelihood of condensation and burst pipes.

Keep condensation and mould at bay

In the winter any condensation problems tend to get worse and can cause mould to form. Its important to maintain an even temperature throughout the property, allowing heat to circulate by keeping internal doors open and using draft excluders where necessary to improve insulation and reduce condensation. Read our guide to reducing condensation here.

Keep your gutters clear

Heavy rainfall and overflow from blocked gutters can cause damage to a property, so it is particularly important at this time of year to keep an eye on your gutters. If you are unable to keep them clear (eg, if you live in a flat in a tall, converted building or an apartment block) then please advise the landlord or agent immediately if you think there is an issue.

Keep your property secure

It might be a good idea to use lighting timers during the dark winter days and particularly if you are going to be absent from the property for longer periods. These are inexpensive and can be purchased online (eg Amazon, Argos), in hardware shops (like Screwfix) and even in some supermarkets, and can be taken with you when you leave at the end of your tenancy. They are a good way of deterring burglars when the property is vacant.

Test your smoke and Carbon monoxide detector batteries – ideally each month (and not just in winter!)

Recent statistics show only 26 per cent of people who have a smoke and CO alarms test them at least once a month. This is despite experts confirming in the event of a fire there are less fatalities with a working fire alarm. It is your responsibility to test and replace batteries where able during your tenancy, and report any issues and faults to your landlord or agent immediately, who will then arrange for repair or replacement.