Winter Property Problem: Loose tiles

Loose tiles can occur at any time of the year, but they’re often made worse by heavy snow, rain or wind. If roof tiles are already loose, or if there’s particularly bad weather that knocks them out of place, then tiles can slip down the roof or even blow off.

Where tiles get dislodged, they can leave areas of your roof vulnerable to even more damage, increasing the risk of damp getting inside your property. If tiles blow right off the roof, as well as getting broken and not be suitable for re-using, their fall can damage other things. In the worst case scenario, someone could get hit by a falling roof tile, a vehicle could get hit or it could even end up causing damage to another area of your property.

In order to help reduce the risk of loose tiles, it’s a useful part of your winter property MOT to check the roof tiles on your rental properties. In the case of homeowners, they may be more aware of when tiles are beginning to become loose, but tenants are far less likely to notice.

If you’ve not got a head for heights and have no desire to be up a ladder, then it’s an ideal job for a maintenance team to tackle and, if loose tiles are found, they could be replaced immediately.

When the heavy snow, rain or gales do arrive, and your property MOT is complete, you can relax with the knowledge that the roof of your rental property is well prepared to deal with what it may face.

In our latest mini series, we’re exploring the benefits of giving your rental property a winter MOT and some particular problems to look out for. To start with, we’re looking at the importance of checking all the pipes in your properties.

Winter property problem: Frozen pipes

Frozen pipes are a common occurrence during the winter months when temperatures reach below zero. When water freezes in pipes it expands, putting extra pressure on the pipes. Not surprisingly, pipes often don’t cope well with this extra pressure, resulting in them bursting. Burst pipes can cause havoc in a property, not least due to the sudden flood of water that can cascade into a house, and can take a bit of work to both have the pipes fixed and sort out any damage that has occurred.

Any pipes can be at risk of bursting and the biggest risk comes when it’s very cold outside. The problem can be triggered by tenants going away, such as for Christmas or New Year, and turning all the heating off, leaving the property extra cold. Part of the risk can be reduced by asking them to leave the heating on low to keep warmth in, even when they’re not there.

Sometimes tenants may be reluctant to do this, especially as they could end up paying for heating that they’re not benefitting from, so if it’s a major concern to you, then you may need to come to some form of financial arrangement that will keep everyone happy.

Additionally, you can help reduce the risk by ensuring that all pipes that could be vulnerable are properly lagged, as this will limit the chance of them freezing. As part of your winter property MOT, it’s important to check the pipes in all your properties, even if you think they’re already lagged, as the lagging can be subject to wear and tear over the years.

Broken boilers

Boilers have a tendency to break down when you least expect them, but it usually seems to happen when the weather is cold and your tenants need heat.  If the heating hasn’t been on for a while, when it’s turned back on, problems can surface, or the boiler can breakdown if its old, being overused and is coming to the end of its life.

Not all boiler issues can be predicted, but if you schedule in an annual boiler service at the beginning of the winter, then some problems could be avoided. In case boiler engineers can’t come out immediately, or have to order parts, then it’s a good idea to have some emergency heaters available for your tenants, so they’re not left without any heat, especially during the coldest months of the winter.

Frozen pipes

With below zero temperatures and decidedly chilly weather, it’s not unusual for pipes to freeze. This isn’t a good scenario for property owners, as when water freezes it expands – and if pipes freeze, this can result in them bursting and causing all sorts of damage to your property.

During the winter months, frozen pipes are a risk, but there are things you can do to minimise the risk. All vulnerable pipes, especially those in the loft or any areas liable to freezing, should be adequately lagged – the thicker the better – as this can help prevent the pipes from freezing.

Problems can often occur when tenants go away, for example for Christmas or on holiday, and turn the heating off. In severe weather conditions, it can be helpful to leave the heating on to help prevent pipes from freezing. Alternatively, you could suggest they leave the loft hatch open, as this can help warmer air from other parts of the house circulate.

If you know your tenants are going to be away for a while and the weather is bad, then you could always schedule in a property visit to check that the pipes are okay in their absence and that nothing untoward has occurred.