Winter is right around the corner, which means you will have to prepare yourself for some cold air. While a thick coat and a hot cup of coffee should do the trick for some people, it's a bit more complicated with homes, especially rental properties. As a landlord, there is a winter maintenance checklist you have to follow.
A Landlord's Winter Maintenance Checklist
Notify Your Tenants
Before you begin ticking off tasks on your checklist, you need to inform your tenants about your plans as winter approaches. Especially if it involves you going into their rental unit for inspections. A simple notice will do, which you can send via text message or written notice.
Include what kind of inspections you will conduct in the notice, as well as the time and date you'll be doing it. It would also help if you provide ice removal tools like shovels and ice melt for the cold months, and contact details for necessary services.
Check the Property's Insulation
Insulation protects the dwelling from the winter season cold, so you need to ensure that proper insulation has been installed in attics, walls, and even basements. Not only will this keep your tenants safe and comfortable, but it can also help with energy efficiency by reducing heating costs.
Winterizing Your Pipes
Like walls, you need to protect pipes in your rental property as well. Insulate exposed pipes since they are prone to freezing and frozen pipes may potentially burst. You can even go a step further and install freeze-proof faucets and frost-proof spigots.
It's also a good idea to clean your pipes before you winterize them since blocked pipes will cause water to accumulate on gutters and form ice dams. Not taking care of your irrigation system can turn into more costly repairs, and burst pipes will cut the water supply completely from your tenants.
Inspect the Heating System
In the winter months, the heating system in your rental property will be used more than ever. Schedule a professional inspection to make sure everything is in working order. Keep in mind that faulty heating systems can lead to higher energy usage, and getting them fixed will be cheaper in the long run.
If there are issues in the middle of winter, it's important to give prompt responses to keep your tenants happy. You can handle concerns yourself, but you can also opt for professional managers. Austin Property Management, for instance, has a tenant portal that renters can easily access for maintenance requests.
Conduct Exterior Inspection
Inspecting your rental property's exterior is just as important once the winter season begins, if not more. During your seasonal maintenance, check for things like damaged or missing shingles, cracks on the walls, or other damages that can let the cold air in, especially during winter storms.
This will prevent heat loss, keep the property warm, and ensure tenant safety from freezing temperatures. You should also perform winter landscaping and inspect trees since overhanging branches can pose a risk in harsh winter weather.
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your rental properties must go through a thorough inspection, given that heating systems will be used the most in colder months. With fire risks increasing, preventative maintenance will prevent costly repairs and potential carbon monoxide poisoning.
Develop Snow and Ice Removal Plans
Snow and ice removal isn't needed as often since it only snows about once every two years in Austin, Texas, so you might not have to worry about freezing temperatures. Still, good property management means you have to cover all your bases in winter property maintenance.
This means gutter maintenance, removing snow accumulation in driveways and walkways, having ice melt and snow blowers on hand, and other snow removal measures you might need for your rental property during the winter months.
Establish an Emergency Plan
You should be prepared for anything. Even if it's unlikely for Austin to get at least three feet of snow, a snow removal plan should still be set in place. Create plans for emergencies like frozen pipes or power outages in your rental property.
Educate tenants about emergency procedures for colder months as well as a snow removal plan they could contribute to, as it is a crucial aspect of keeping them safe. Keep emergency contacts saved just in case you might need them.
Winters for Austin Rentals: FAQs
How to promote energy efficiency?
You can suggest methods for heating efficiency, such as reverse ceiling fans. This can create an updraft that can force warm air down into the room. It can help them reduce energy bills as well.
Is property damage avoidable?
As long as you follow simple maintenance procedures, you can drastically reduce the risk of property damage, but they aren't completely avoidable.
How to avoid burst pipes?
Clean your gutters and pipes before winterizing them to ensure proper drainage. You'll be less likely to get ice dams and frozen pipes when they are insulated and functioning properly.
How to properly maintain traditional fireplaces?
If your rental property has a fireplace for heat, you should have it inspected and cleaned to avoid chimney fires. It's best to hire a professional for this since it won't be your typical cleaning task and you may need professional tools for it.
What is the recommended minimum temperature for my rental property?
Texas law states that rental properties should have a temperature of 68°F due to the city's housing code, requiring all residential properties to have heating systems that can maintain the temperature.
Hiring Professional Property Management
Managing your rental property during sunny seasons is already hard enough, and winters will require more from you. With the right preparation and research, you can do it all by yourself, but hiring a property management company can significantly reduce your stress.
Aside from having access to vendors and professionals who can perform the needed inspections and maintenance, Austin Property Management's services also prioritize tenant satisfaction and safety. You can get a free rental analysis or use our ROI Calculator to make an informed decision.
