Viewber looks at how property managers can prepare for the expected increase in planned and emergency call-outs this winter
Maintenance of buy-to-lets is a perennial problem but, come the colder months, managers can expect an increase in planned and emergency call-outs. From the small to the spectacular, staff are expected to come up with quick solutions whether it’s blowing a gale, or the streets are blanketed in snow.
For property managers, prevention is better than cure and if that fails, resolving minor issues before they escalate is the next best thing. For instance, lagging a pipe is better than finding a small leak as a result of a hairline crack. Subsequently, repairing a hairline crack is better than being called to a flooded house because a pipe has frozen, then burst.
Property managers also have a duty to landlords, keeping their properties safe and profits healthy. Helping focus the mind this winter is new research from Help Me Fix.
“Whether it’s planned or emergency maintenance, the colder, wetter, windier months do mean more property visits”
Its data found that maintenance costs for buy-to-lets now accounts for over a fifth of a landlord’s rental income, per property. That figure has increased by an alarming 4.7% since the start of 2022. Anything property managers can do to reduce that percentage – either by prevention or prompt action – will be appreciated.
So, just how do you keep an eye on your assets and get a regular preventative timetable – it will involve human beings.
Send communication to tenants
Now is a great time to remind renters about ‘tenant like behaviour’. When it comes to outside maintenance, encourage the sweeping up of leaves so they don’t block drains, the clearing of gutters so they don’t overflow and break, and the securing of any garden furniture and trampolines ahead of winter storms. Inside the property, issues around condensation, mould and damp will become more frequent.
Dispensing advice on good ventilation is vital, as is what to do with the central heating during prolonged spells of sub-zero temperatures and when the property is left empty for an extended period.
Book in preventative maintenance
While the day-to-day running of a rental falls under ‘tenant like behaviour’, landlords will also need reminding of their winter responsibilities. Gas and fire safety should take priority. A boiler service and/or a chimney sweep should top the list, while it’s also sensible to check all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
Checking if tanks and pipes are adequately lagged, and performing a health check on roof tiles, guttering and fence panels is time well spent – be sure to repair or replace anything that could easily dislodge in a storm. This type of maintenance will pay dividends before the worst of winter sets in, preventing small niggles turning into major maintenance problems.
Prepare for an increase in out-of-hours calls
Any property manager will tell you that the most stressful maintenance events seem to happen outside of office hours. While there are many outsourced services that will handle emergencies on behalf of property managers, we know many letting agents still look after this in-house.
Ensuring there is a fair ‘on call’ rota drawn up will ensure staff don’t feel overburdened by anti-social calls about broken boilers or flooded bathrooms.
Plan for more ‘let in and lock up’ visits
Whether it’s planned or emergency maintenance, the colder, wetter, windier months do mean more property visits. It’s an aspect Viewber was set up to help with, allowing property managers to focus on more important matters.
A Viewber can be booked to let a trade in, wait while the work is completed and lock up after. Alternatively, a Viewber can attend to initially qualify an issue – such as a leak or peeling wallpaper – and compile a report for the property manager, with written, photographic and video evidence.
As Viewbers can also be booked for weekend and evening visits, in addition to office hours, we make working with the schedule of tenants and trades a much easier process.
Ensure your list of trades is up to date
Finding a good plumber, electrician or gas engineer is a job in itself but finding one who has availability or can deal with emergency maintenance is another matter. Working through your held list of trades before you come to call on them more frequently makes good business sense.
While asking about their availability, it’s worth enquiring about their call out fees and prices for common winter maintenance jobs. Don’t forget to request proof that any gas engineers on your books are still on the Gas Safe Register.
Viewber can help
Viewber is here to help when winter property management ramps up a gear. Our benefits include:
- Pay for what you use’ set-up: there is no monthly fee or minimum requirement – use Viewber twice a week, twice a month or just twice over winter
- Nationwide coverage: our network operates across the UK, and we can send a Viewber to any property in any city, town or village
- No job too big, or small: our Viewbers are happy to perform low-cost check in and property inspections, while there’s scope to create a bespoke property visit tailored to your exact needs
- Add-on services: as well as letting in trades, assessing issues and inspecting repairs, our Viewbers offer additional core services. Book a Viewber to perform check in and check our procedures, meet tenants for key handovers and compile marketing materials, consisting of photographs, videos, 360° tours and floorplans
- Contact us to kickstart your winter property maintenance programme. After a quick account set up, you can book a Viewber to regularly visit a property on your behalf
Housing Digital Stakeholder Viewber offers a wide range of property services to the UK Housing Sector, working collaboratively with organisations to offer, via an intuitive portal and app, access to a fully nationwide network of trusted, vetted and local ‘Viewbers’.
Image: Alexey Fedorenko/Shutterstock
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