Winter home care tips for Contract Holders (Tenants)

Winter is traditionally a time when problems arise in properties causing stress and can lead to high costs.  Landlords must ensure that they are taking responsibility for maintaining their properties, however certain responsibility for the property lies with the tenant.  

We have put together these simple steps that you as a tenant can follow to help prevent any problems arising and keep your rental home safe and warm for you this winter:

•    Ensure to report any minor leaks right away, as a small problem can quickly escalate
•    Frozen pipes can burst and cause a big problem in winter, so always keeping the heating on low is vital.  This is especially important if you plan to be away over the festive period
•    Check that you know the location of the stopcock so that you can turn the water supply off in the event of an emergency such as burst pipes.  Stopcocks are often under the kitchen sink, but yours might be elsewhere in your home
•    In the winter condensation can get worse and cause mould to form. Try to maintain an even temperature throughout the property, allowing heat to circulate by keeping internal doors open
•    Stop any drafts from coming in under doors and through letterboxes by using draft excluders to help improve insulation and reduce condensation
•    If you are going to be away for a few days, keep your home safe from burglars by putting some of your lamps on timers
•    Check all of your alarms are working. This includes smoke, carbon monoxide and burglar alarms

If an emergency arises and you have a burst pipe, then you should do the following:

1.    If you have a burst pipe, the first thing you need to do is turn off the water at the mains by shutting off the main stopcock. 
2.    Drain the cold water in the system by running all the cold taps until the flow dries up.
3.    Locate any leaks and catch leaking water in containers.
4.    Report the incident to us immediately.

For further advice please contact your local letting team or Report a Maintenance Issue (10ninety.co.uk)

If you have an emergency maintenance issue, please call 01656 657033.