Top tips to prepare your boiler for winter to avoid deposit issues

Autumn, when the hot summer days are over and colder weather is just around the corner, is a good time to prepare your property for the winter months ahead. When was the last time you even thought about your heating, or considered if your boiler is working to its fullest potential? Over 50 per cent of the energy consumed in the UK goes towards heating the water and space in our homes, so making sure the boiler and heating system are ‘winter ready’ should be a priority for landlords at this time of year.

The cost of living crisis that we are all faced with means that all our properties will cost us more to run this winter, whether we own the property or landlords are renting out properties for others to make their home.

We know that tenants are advised to keep the heating on low and open windows to ventilate the property to avoid damp and condensation. However, with soaring fuel bills, this is a tall ask.

So, thinking ahead and being prepared for the extra challenges we’ll all face this winter is a very good idea. In this article we’ll offer some tips to help you prepare your rental property’s boiler and heating system so that your tenants can stay warm this winter, without increasing the risk of damp, mould and condensation, or other issues that could impact the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

Preparing your property’s boiler and heating system for winter

We all know that having a gas safety check once a year is a legal requirement for all rented properties. However, although servicing a boiler is often not seen as a necessity, having the boiler serviced ready for this winter so that it’s working to its optimum level from the start is advisable.

It is also a good idea to ask your plumber to check the radiators are all working, that they do not need bleeding or are not getting too hot and full of sludge. Do your radiators have thermostatic valves on them and if not, is this a viable option you could implement to help the efficiency and use of the boiler?

Is the boiler in your rental property getting old and less efficient? While it is a costly item to replace, if your plumber recommends it, and it is something you can consider, will it save you money, time and trouble in the not too distant future?

For more advice, read Total Landlord’s ultimate guide to preparing your tenants’ boiler and heating system for winter.

Tenant tips for minimising fuel costs over winter

The next step is to give your tenants the best advice to help them minimise their fuel costs over the winter, as well as the risk of your property being damaged from condensation because the heating was turned off and all the windows were kept shut.

Tips to offer your tenants are:

1. Keep the boiler thermostat temperature set by the plumber. This will help to maximise efficiency on cost
2. Turn the room thermostat down by 1°C. This could cut your heating bill by up to 10 per cent
3. Keep the curtains open to enable any sun to help warm up the house during the day and keep them drawn once it gets dark, to keep the heat in
4. Have a throw or extra layer on for covering up, when sitting down
5. Keep large items away from radiators so they do not absorb the heat

Avoiding heating related deposit issues in winter

In the UK there is not one typical type of house/home. They vary in age, build and type and it is important to highlight any specific features of your rental property’s boiler or heating system so that your tenants know what they should and should not do. In addition, you can:

• make sure your tenants have clear directions on how to use the boiler, thermostats and programmers so that they keep your boiler in good working order, until it’s due for the next annual service
• make the tenant aware that there is no reason for them to touch the boiler, if you have smart meters, thermostatic controls which are there to control the heating and hot water
• inform the tenant that opening the windows for a short while after a shower or cooking, to get rid of the steam is a good thing and will have little impact on the heating. The steam can condense on surfaces, and if not cleared quickly can potentially cause mould to form and this may be costly for the tenant if it is left and results in damage
• communicate with your tenant during holiday season, especially Christmas, to check if they are away that they understand the importance of leaving the heating on a low temperature to avoid any problems

This recent mydeposits case involving substantial call out charges and costs for boiler repair highlights the importance of tenants reporting any issues with the boiler at the time they occur, no matter how small the problem may seem to be. The case also shows how an expert opinion can be needed where the nature of the issue is not clear cut.

And this Property Redress Scheme case study involving a request for repayment of rent and compensation for the time heating and hot water were unavailable, serves as a reminder to agents about the importance of encouraging landlords to get their boilers serviced regularly, and replying to communications from tenants promptly.