A landlord asks: Are you going away this winter?

  • Published
  • By Paula Drew
  • Business Support Team
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  As some of you may not know, our British winters can be unpredictable to say the least.

As temperatures plummet overnight and during the day at times, our homes suffer the stresses, especially the hidden water pipework, normally located in the attic.

No matter how many times the home is checked throughout the days or weeks of your holiday the inevitable may happen - flood damage! So everyone out there going away during this holiday season and through the winter months, here are some tips I hope may be of some use to you.

1. Always remember to tell your landlord that you will be going away. Provide them with dates on your departure and arrival home. Inform them who will be looking after your home, and provide them a contact number. If a keyholder is not available, ask your landlord to keep a daily check. Many of them would be happy to assist.

2. Inform your keyholder to check the house each day. Show them where the water stop cock is located and provide them your landlord's details.

3. Remember to check your home heating systems, especially those with oil heating to make sure ample oil is available during your departure. No oil equals no heat! If this happens, your landlord's insurance will be void, and all costs of repair may have to be sourced from your own insurance company.

4. Remember to keep your heating on low (around 10 degrees Celsius) 24/7 and to leave a tap fast trickling (not pouring) with water to allow cold water to circulate through your main water pipe (this was a tip from my insurance company). Place a cup into a sink and allow the water to trickle into that; if it is left to trickle into the sink limescale may build up.

5. Remember most landlord insurance companies only guarantee a home if the home is unoccupied for a period of 30 days or less; any longer may invalidate the insurance.

6. Most landlord insurance has a water excess of £1,000 per claim, which is payable on a water leak. I myself found this out this week with two house floods. Most landlords will seek your approval to drain down your property to avoid any water issues, this will cost approximately £85, including reinstatement and testing. In today's climate this is a viable suggestion. Some landlords will pay for this option, to secure their property from flood damage and the distress of the claim and reinstatement of the property.

Take care and have a wonderful holiday season and new year.