Letting Agent in Nottingham

For more information visit local Energy Assessor City Energy Assessors.

We are urging all Landlords to ensure that they take the necessary steps to help prevent what could be a costly repair bill by taking action as detailed below.

According to Total Landlord Insurance, an approved member of The Landlord Syndicate, landlord claims as a result of burst pipes and flooding rise by an average of 100% in winter months versus summer.

‘During the cold snap just over a year ago, escape of water claims rose by a staggering 900%. Whilst the weather cannot be prevented, precautionary measures can be taken by landlords and tenants to minimise the risk and, should the worst happen, limit the resultant damage,’ said Eddie Hooker, chief executive of Total Landlord Insurance.

The Landlord Syndicate advises landlords to arrange a convenient time with tenants to visit their properties to make checks both internally and externally.  ‘It is worth checking that all pipes and tanks in the loft are adequately insulated and that overflow pipes are connected and not blocked, especially if you have taken on new tenants in the last year that may have used the loft space and unwittingly moved or dislodged something,’ explained Hooker.

Externally, pipe work should be lagged, including outside taps which should either be turned off internally if possible and drained down, or fitted with an insulated jacket. ‘Gutters and downpipes should be clean, free from cracks and have supporting brackets that are secure as snow and ice can add excessive weight resulting in damage. This is also the time to ensure drain gratings are clear of leaves and debris and that there are no cracked or missing roof tiles,’ added Hooker.  On visiting the property, landlords should also advise tenants to leave the heating on low if they are planning to be away over the next month, and whether at home or not, doors between heated and unheated parts of the property should be left open to allow warm air to move around the property.

‘In really cold spells this could include leaving the loft hatch open to allow warm air to circulate reducing the risk of frozen pipes in the loft. Most importantly, we advise landlords to ensure tenants know where the stopcock or isolation valves are located in case they have to turn off the water to any part of the property and check now that the valve moves easily without the need for any special tools,’ he continued.  Our Plumbers are available should you wish for us to arrange for them to give your Property a “winter health check”.

At Harper we constantly listen to our clients feedback and to their concerns.  It has become apparent that one of the biggest concerns a prospective Landlord and an Investment Landlord shares is “What if my Tenant doesn’t pay their rent”.

It is for this reason that we are offering you peace of mind by including a Free Rent & Legal Guarantee with every Fully Managed Instruction throughout January.

The Guarantee will pay your Rent in full until you get you obtain vacant possession and will cover any legal costs involved in regaining possession.  Theses costs can quite often spiral into thousands of pounds and it can take several months to regain possession so it really is a valuable product.

The excess for this policy is one months rent.

For more details please contact us on 01158963990 or email info@harper-lettings.co.uk