Winter Preparations Will Reduce Risk Of Property Damage And Help The Environment

With the temperatures dipping, the forecasters predicting a cold snap

, the National Landlords Association has issued some top tips to make rental property more energy efficient.

The organisation offered the advice as part of the Energy Saving Trust's annual Energy Saving Week campaign at the end of October.

The campaign is aimed at encouraging everyone in the UK to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

According to the NLA, landlords can make a difference by taking the following steps:

* Installing energy-saving light bulbs that use up to 80 per cent less power. The bulbs also last longer, so don't have to be replaced as frequently.

* Checking the loft insulation, which should be a minimum depth of 270mm to stop heat loss through the ceiling.

* Installing cavity wall and floor insulation to further prevent heat escaping.

* Fitting lagging to hot water pipes and tanks which can significantly reduce heat loss, help reduce mould from condensation and stop pipes from freezing.

* Filling gaps between floorboards and skirting boards and draught proofing doors and windows.

David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, explained that with the rising cost of gas and electricity, tenants are increasingly choosing properties that are cheaper to heat.

Furthermore with everyone wanting to do their bit for the environment, landlords can help make their properties more desirable and reduce voids by taking a few simple steps to make them more energy efficient.

As part of Energy Saving Week the NLA encourages all landlords to consider ways they can make their properties greener to both help the environment and help reduce their tenant's energy bills, he added.

Under the government's Landlords Energy Saving Allowance, landlords can benefit from tax concessions of up to 1,500 per year per property to help with the purchase and installation of insulation and draft proofing.

The government is also planning to introduce a green loan scheme which would cover the costs of energy efficiency improvements to properties, with the money paid back over 25 years through utility bills. This would be offset by the money saved through reduced energy consumption as a result of the improvements.

Improving energy efficiency will not be the only concern of landlords this winter, however. The extreme winter last year caused thousands of pounds of damage to properties through freezing pipes.

Whilst landlord insurance may have covered much of the costs of repairing such damage, it could not compensate for the inconvenience caused to both landlords and their tenants.

Again there are simple steps landlords can take to reduce the risk of damage to their properties and now would also be a good time to check their landlord insurance to make sure it covers them for such damage.

The best thing landlords can do is to make sure that properties are well maintained and protected against the most obvious winter perils.

For example, pipes that are exposed to cold - particularly those outside or in the roof - should be properly lagged, to prevent freezing. Frozen pipes are problem enough, but the water damage once the pipes thaw can be prove very costly to put right.

It is also worth checking that guttering and down-pipes are not blocked by leaves and other debris. If they are, overflowing pipes can lead to water gradually seeping through to affect internal decorations.

Such damage may be considered to be a result of a lack of maintenance, and some landlord insurance policies will not cover the full cost of a claim.

Windows, particularly wooden ones, will also need to be checked as deterioration can lead to ease of access by criminals, not to mention draughts increasing heating bills for tenants.

Any properties that are likely to be left unoccupied for any period of time will require special attention. It makes sense to drain the water system completely to avoid accidental leakage or bursts due to the cold. Similar advice is offered to owners of static caravans, mobile homes and chalet type properties from companies offering mobile home insurance.

Key to surviving the winter without the need to make a claim on your landlord insurance is taking action before the winter really sets in. Protecting your property will not only protect you against unnecessary losses, but can also help to increase rental - and resale - values.

Making a claim on your landlord insurance policy can also result in increased premiums so anything you can do mitigate against losses will help you to make the most of your valuable investment.

by: Lifesure

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