As important as it is at this time of year to check road conditions, it is just as important to make sure that your flat stays dry and secure during the winter weather. This article shares tips on how to look after your tenement property during the winter season or while you are away.
Prevent burst or frozen pipes
One major concern is that, while you are away and all the heating is off in your property during the winter, the water in your pipes may freeze. As we all know, water expands when frozen, and may cause the pipes to burst, causing thousands of pounds of damage to your flat – and those of others, costs you would be liable for.
You can help to prevent burst pipes by insulating any exposed pipes in your flat. You can also set your heating to stay on low (such as 5C) while you are away, to keep some hot water moving through the pipes if it gets really cold. Additionally, ask a neighbour or friend to check on your property while you are away, so that you don’t come home to an unpleasant surprise.
If a burst does occur, turn off the incoming supply at the stopcock. Before you leave, check that you and your neighbours know where the stopcocks are, and where the water valve is to turn the water off for the whole building in an emergency.
Once you have located the stopcock and turned off the water, turn on all the cold-water taps, and contact a plumber for an emergency repair.
Clean blocked gutters
Over the winter, as leaves have fallen from all the nearby trees, it is easy for gutters to get blocked. If this happens, especially during a time of increased rainfall, your gutter may leak and cause damp problems in the walls of your building.
Before going on a winter break, check that your gutters are not blocked. The easiest way to do this is to see if there are any plants growing in your gutter, which is a sure sign of blockage. If they are blocked, arrange to have them cleaned before going away, to make sure they do not overflow.
Secure doors and entry points
Another important preventative measure you can take is to secure your flat against break-ins. Before you go away, check that all the locks on the doors and windows in your property are working correctly, and don’t forget to check the common doors too.
Sometimes, potential burglars will watch a property for signs that it is empty before attempting a break-in. To make your flat look occupied, you can install timer-controlled lights, which will come on in the evenings when you are away.
Check your insurance
Inform your insurance provider about any travel plans you have, and check over your insurance documents to make sure that you are covered for any unforeseen issues which may crop up while your property is empty. As always, ensuring that you and all the co-owners in your building have adequate common building insurance is essential for dealing with emergency repairs effectively.
Communicate with tenants
If you are a landlord, it is important to communicate with your tenants and help them understand how to keep the property safe and secure during the holidays. Let them know about the tips above to prevent break-ins or damage. Encourage them to tell you when they will be leaving the flat empty, and urge them to let you know about any issues as soon as possible before they leave.
Using these tips, you can prevent damage to your property while you are away, and ensure that you can enjoy your festive break with peace of mind. To find out more about how to keep your home safe and secure over the holidays, visit Under One Roof’s dedicated webpage on the topic, here.
