Winter is upon us and it is fair to say that many of us have noticed a dip in temperatures. This can make home life uncomfortable and this is something that affects landlords and tenants. An unhappy tenant means bad news for landlords, so it is important that landlords do what they can to help tenants remain warm and cosy at home.
There are ways that tenants and landlords can act to ensure that a home is well cared for in winter, and by working together, everyone should be happy in the short and long-term.
Ensure curtains or blinds are drawn
It is sensible to retain as much heat as possible and given that heat can escape through cracks or gaps by the window, you want to protect these areas. Installing blinds or curtains and then drawing them can help to retain heat, making for a more comfortable home.
If you are a landlord, considering installing these items in the property and if you are a tenant, make sure that they are closed over when darkness descends and the temperature dips.
Close doors and retain heat
A smart tip that is often overlooked is the importance of closing doors properly. This helps to retain heat in a room and it prevents colder air from circulating around the house. Tenants are therefore encouraged to ensure that doors are closed over but if you are a landlord and you notice that your doors don’t fully close over, it is time to make a few changes.
Allowing a door to close over fully may just take a minor adjustment but it a change that can dramatically make a difference to how people feel at home in winter.
Think about the flooring
The style of flooring in a rental home is likely to have an impact on how cosy a house feels in winter. Wooden floors look stylish, but they aren’t great at retaining heat. A study undertaken by the National Energy Foundation suggests that floors which aren’t insulated can lose up to 10% of heat from a home.
Therefore, if you are a tenant, it makes sense to invest in a rug or a blanket to add some insulation to your flooring. If you are a landlord, you may wish to consider switching from a wooden floorboard to something which retains the heat in a more effective manner.
At Spencer Harvey, we have helped many landlords and tenants throughout the year, but we know winter poses fresh and sometimes chilling problems. If you’re looking for support and guidance, get in touch with the local letting experts.
As Stockport property specialists, we want to ensure you stay in touch with the latest property news. If you are looking for assistance in this area, give Spencer Harvey a call on 0161 480 8888 or send us an email at info@spencerharvey.co.uk. For a free valuation please visit: https://www.spencerharvey.co.uk/valuation-enquiry.html