Damage to property during the winter months

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07th December 2011

Damage to property during the winter months

As we head towards Christmas and potentially severe weather in the New Year, AIIC (The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks) is urging agents and landlords to be vigilant about checking their properties to ensure tenants are safe from fire and that they avoid water damage.

The risk of property damage increases in the winter as tenants heat their homes and celebrate Christmas by putting up decorations. Pat Barber, Chair of the AIIC, said: “There are all kind of hazards around Christmas. Many tenants will be decorating their homes with Christmas trees, fairy lights and candles, but this greatly increases a tenant’s fire risk. It is essential that smoke alarms are fitted and working properly.

“Tenants will also be hoping to save money on high energy bills by turning off their heating when they go away. A tenant, living in a block of flats left the property for a few days during a cold spell, without leaving the heating on. The landlord was contacted by tenants, complaining of water leaking into their flats. The pipes had burst in the unheated flat and the water had brought down the ceiling. Not surprisingly, this proved to be very costly for the landlord.”

AIIC has put together some winter guidelines for tenants and landlords to help protect their property:

Chimneys – Ensure they're swept once a year by a professional chimney sweep, ideally before starting to use the fire.

Smoke Alarms – Check that smoke alarms are fitted in all properties and they're all working properly. Replace batteries as necessary.

Insulation: Ensure water pipes and water tanks are lagged and insulated.

Heating – Advise tenants to keep their heating on if they are going away – minimum 15 degrees. It’s sensible to open the loft hatch also, this allows air to circulate and helps to prevent pipes freezing and bursting in the loft.