Preparing your property for adverse winter weather
Preparation involves insulating pipes, securing outdoor furniture, and stocking up on essential supplies
As climate change continues to take effect, we’re seeing increasingly extreme weather events in the UK. That means it’s more important than ever to prepare your property for the onset of winter, when harsh elements are likely to cause the most damage.
Properties that are kept in good condition fare much better in severe weather, so if you don’t already have a comprehensive maintenance schedule in place for your rental, it’s worth putting one together.
The main things that will make your property vulnerable to the effects of bad weather are:
Missing or cracked tiles or flashing on the roof
Broken or missing guttering
Brickwork with cracks in the mortar
Cracked render
Badly-sealed doors and windows
Cracked window panes
Blocked drains
All these things should be picked up through regular property checks and fixed as part of a routine maintenance schedule.
However, it’s a good idea to run through this checklist ahead of winter and again after any bouts of bad weather – including high winds, heavy rainfall, snow and icy snaps – and make sure you carry out any repairs as quickly as possible.
Regularly, throughout the year
A few months before winter
When the first snowfall is forecasted
I don't usually check for winter preparations
Storms are on the rise in the UK, with February being the peak month for storm damage claims. At Total Landlord, the number of storm claims quadrupled between 2018 and 2022, with the average claim paid out peaking at £10,801 in the 2020 storm season. Since 2018 storm claims have climbed from being the fourth to the second most common claim.
The most common hazards associated with storms are roof tiles cracking or breaking, trees falling, flooding and fences collapsing. In fact, 66% of all storm claims made between January 2019 and January 2022 were because of roof damage.
The average claim value for storm-related roof damage has risen by over 50% in recent years - from £2,310 in the period 2014 to 2019,to £3,672 between 2019 and 2022.
Most recently, landlord insurance claims for storms Dudley and Eunice (both in February 2022) averaged £4,156, with one claim coming in at an eye-watering £93,020 for damage when, due to storm Eunice, a fir tree at the rear of a property fell, impacting the roof, sash windows and rear balcony.
Strong winds in particular have the potential to be hugely damaging. They can rip off loose roof tiles – and dislodge anything else on or around the property that’s not secure – and flying debris can break windows and cause other damage.
So, once you – or your agent – has checked that none of your tiles are broken or loose and any flashing is secure, what else can you do to minimise the chance of having to make a claim?
Check fences – make sure posts are secure and all panels are properly attached
Inspect trees for broken or dying branches and have them removed
Clear guttering and drains – and make sure guttering is securely attached with no leaks
Ask tenants to secure outdoor furniture – ideally put it away in a shed or garage
Remind tenants to check that all windows and doors are properly closed and secured
For more tips on preparing for storms and windy weather, check out our five-step plan for landlords and watch the video below:
Although only 2.7 per cent of storm damage insurance claims are as a result of hail, it’s the second most expensive type of winter weather claim we receive, with an average cost of £2,713.
Most of these claims relate to roofs and windows, so the best way to protect against hail damage is by investing in good-quality, modern roof tiles and windows.
Meanwhile, our most expensive average winter weather claim – coming in at over £13,000 – relates to flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
And with Met Office modelling predicting that intense rainfall associated with flash floods could be up to five times more likely by the end of this century, and the Environment Agency predicting 59% more rainfall by 2050, it’s certainly something to take seriously.
If your rental is in a flood-prone area, it’s worth taking advice from your local council or the National Flood Forum charity on the specific flood prevention and protection measures you could invest in to protect your property, as well as how much that might cost. According to Flood Re, it typically costs between £20,000 and £45,000 to repair a flooded home.
Even if your property isn’t particularly liable to flooding, any ground can become waterlogged when there’s persistent heavy rain. And if your property ends up with blocked drains and guttering, that could cause rainwater to pool and leak in through your walls.
So, make sure you run through this checklist ahead of forecasted heavy rainfall:
Is the roof watertight?
Is all the guttering securely attached and free from debris so rainwater can flow freely?
Are drains clear?
Are walls free from cracks?
Is the sealant around doors and windows watertight?
Are sandbags available to tenants in case of rising floodwater?
If your rental property is in a flood-risk area, you’re likely to need specialist insurance and not every insurer will provide cover. Total Landlord is signed up to the Flood Re scheme, which will cover buy to let properties as long as they meet certain criteria.
To find out more and get a quote, contact us on 0333 271 6523 or complete our quote form online.
For more information you can also read our NRLA guide, which is packed with tips on the measures you can take to prevent flooding in your rental property.
Heavy snowfall is getting less common across most of the UK and the Met Office regional climate model simulation has shown that this trend is likely to continue.
Nevertheless, with climate change causing increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather events, we’re still likely to see occasional periods of very heavy snow.
As it falls, snow can build up and increase the strain on your roof, which – in the most severe cases – could lead to sagging or even structural damage.
The other risk is ‘ice dams’, which can form along the edge of the roof and around guttering as snow melts and then refreezes.
This blockage can cause water to build up and seep through the brickwork, just as happens when the guttering gets blocked by leaves and other debris.
And if melting snow on the roof is unable to escape, it will find any gaps between and underneath tiles and you can easily end up with a leak in your loft.
The only thing you can really do to tackle these problems is ask your tenants to let you know if there’s a build-up of snow or ice, then have a contractor do what they can to clear it.
Of course, the other danger for your tenants is when it’s slippery underfoot. Ideally, have gravel drives and pathways at your rented property – not only does this help reduce the risk of slipping, but it’s also a good deterrent for intruders, as it’s noisy to walk on!
In any case, it’s advisable to provide your tenants with a snow shovel and some salt or grit that they can use to keep the entry to the property clear and safe.
Read our guide for more information on how to protect your property against snow damage.
