Routine maintenance is a must for any rental property – and as we settle into the Autumn season, it’s a great time to prepare your property before the wet and cold winter months approach.
Gutters
While autumn leaves falling might look picturesque, they can cause real problems for your property.
Clogged gutters can lead to significant water damage if they’re unable to effectively divert water away from your home. So, before the leaves start to drop, make an effort to jump up on a ladder and clean out your gutters – it might be a good idea to install mesh guards to avoid future blockages.
Roof Care
While you’re up by your roof, take a look for any wear and tear. Keeping your roof in good shape will not only help keep heat in, but it’ll keep water out.
Tidy up the Garden
Along with heavy rain, the colder months often bring about high winds. Heavy branches – particularly those in poor condition, could cause significant damage to your property or those around it during storms. It’s a good idea to prune back your trees before the bad weather hits and err on the side of caution.
Heating
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend a minimum indoor temp of 18˚C. As a landlord, you must ensure your home complies with the Healthy Homes Heatings Standards to ensure your tenants are able to keep warm all year round.
The key points are that you must provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room of the home. The heater must be of the acceptable type and meet the minimum heating capacity.
Use the heating assessment tool here to calculate the heating requirements for the living room of your rental property.
Full details of the Healthy Homes Heating Standards are available here
Windows and Doors
Windows and doors can be major contributors to heat loss in your rental property this autumn & winter. We recommend adding weatherstripping to minimise the risk. You can find window insulator kits at Bunnings or Mitre 10 which are amazing for warmth and energy efficiency.
Our team at 360 Property Management work alongside our landlords to ensure their rental properties not only meet the healthy homes standards but are well equipped to handle the winter months. For advice and more information, please get in touch with your property manager today.
