Dec

Keeping your property safe and secure over the winter – LandlordZONE

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As a landlord, keeping your tenants and your property safe
and secure should be your top priority.

While property security is incredibly important all year
round, the cover of winter darkness and icy winter weather presents a greater challenge
for landlords and their tenants.

Earlier in the year, Hamilton
Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s 10 years of claims report found
that insurance claims are more likely to occur during the winter months than in
summer. The rise in the number of claims during this time of year is partly due
to the harsher weather, and also the increased cover of darkness that helps to
embolden opportunistic criminals.

Luckily, there are a number of precautions that you can take
as a landlord to secure your property, and provide peace of mind for both you
and your tenants this winter.

Winter weather
conditions

Weather conditions that accompany the winter season bring an
increased risk of damage to your property. Snow, ice and damp weather can cause
problems for unprepared or poorly maintained properties. Understanding and
preparing for issues caused by severe weather can help to prevent unwanted
damages and costs further down the line.

While the UK may not face as severe winter weather as some
other countries, the UK is no stranger to certain severe weather events. Without
adequate preparation, severe weather such as storms, flooding and snow, can cause
major problems for your property and your tenants. Hamilton
Fraser Total Landlord Insurance report that 15.5 per cent of all
claims reported between January 2014 and January 2019 were for storm damage.

Property damage resulting from severe winter weather could include
broken roof tiles, falling trees, extensive flooding, collapsed fencing and frozen
and burst pipes, all of which could cost a small fortune to rectify.

It is therefore extremely important to understand the
precautions you can take to secure your property; they don’t have to cost the
earth. Some simple precautions include:

Clearing your gutters of debris that could cause
a blockage
Inspecting the roof condition at regular
intervals throughout the year
Making sure that low hanging or loose tree
branches are cut back to avoid property damage if they are dislodged during
high winds
If a storm is on the horizon advise tenants to
secure outdoor furniture or pack away loose garden equipment

You can read more about how to protect
your property from severe winter weather.

Broken boilers – a
common winter issue

It is not just your property structure that may be at risk
from the winter weather. After a period of warmer weather during spring and
summer, many homes face boiler issues when it is finally time to turn them back
on. A cold, icy property is neither pleasant nor terribly safe for your tenants.

Preparing your boiler for winter doesn’t have to be
difficult; you can check your boiler health by:

Carrying out a regular boiler inspection (both
formal inspections from a professional once a year and an informal inspection
yourself to look for any warning signs)
Look for cracks and signs of leaks
Check the pressure gauge
Check and bleed your radiators
Insulate your pipes

Rise in break-ins

Break-ins spike every year around December through to
January, according to Hamilton
Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s 10 years of claims report. Most
often this is caused by opportunistic thieves who can use the cover of darkness
to their advantage when breaking into your property.

In addition, the allure of presents under the Christmas
tree, or those left on the doorstep by the postman, can signal a potential
bounty for a burglar that is hard to resist. Luckily there are a number of
steps landlords can take and share with their tenants, in order to reduce the
risk of their property being targeted this Christmas.

Invest in good quality doors and windows with
secure locks and fittings to make it harder for thieves to gain access
Consider using frosted reinforced glass – not
only is this more difficult to break but also limits visibility into the
property
Make sure all property entry points are covered
by the same level of security
Advise tenants to keep their valuables out of
sight
Invest in motion triggered lighting outside your
property – nothing acts as more of a deterrent for a burglar than being
illuminated in the act!
If you have a driveway, consider using pebbles
or gravel, which can help to signal when someone is approaching the property
If you have a garden make sure that tools and
equipment are securely stored out of sight, or they could be used to break into
your property
Consider installing a security system
Ask tenants to advise you if they are going away
over the festive period so that someone you trust can keep an eye on the
property and collect any post

Keeping your tenants
in the loop

Maintaining a good relationship with your tenants is a great
way to make sure that your property remains safe and secure over the winter
period. As a landlord it is incredibly important to ensure that you have a positive
relationship with your tenants as they are your property’s eyes and ears.
Having a good relationship means tenants will be more likely to approach you promptly
if they notice an issue with the property, such as one caused by severe weather,
enabling you to address the problem before it escalates. . In addition, being
open with your tenants and sharing the above tips can help to prevent the
property falling foul to break-ins and burglary during the darker winter
months, as well as year round.

Despite taking precautions to protect your property, unfortunately
problems can still occur that cause not only damage but also security issues.
While tenants are responsible for protecting their own possessions, with their
own contents insurance, it is important that landlords make sure they adequately
protect their own contents and building. As a landlord, having a comprehensive
landlord insurance policy, such as that provided by Hamilton
Fraser Total Landlord Insurance’s, can also help to cover you for
the added risks that accompany a buy to let property, helping to keep your
property safe not just over the winter period but all year round.

Find out more about how a comprehensive landlord
insurance policy could help keep
your property safe and secure.

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