Christmas Property Advice

With Christmas just around the corner and the festivities about to start, it’s important to remember to keep informed about some of the potential issues that may arise over the Christmas period.

We have all seen/love the houses lit up with blow up Snowmen and Father Christmas on the roof. Though these displays are often impressive, if not a little garish, they also provide a host of potential hazards for properties. Christmas decorations and fire risk go hand in hand. A few things to remember:

  • Don’t overload sockets
  • Don’t leave fairy lights on all day and night
  • Don’t attach decorations to lights or heaters
  • Keep candles and flammable decorations away from one another

The Fire Service provides excellent advice regarding awareness for staying safe at Christmas. Landlords – it might be a good idea to print it off and send it to your tenants?

Another Christmas nightmare that no one wants, is a burst pipe. Burst pipes are not uncommon over the winter period and can cause serious damage to the property and peoples belongings. With heating bills rising and people tightening their belts, there is temptation to leave the heating off especially if you are away on holiday. Pipes are most likely to burst when the heating is left off, therefore it is critical to leave it on. Many properties are fitted with heating systems that have a Winter Setting. This should be used to prevent damage to your belongings and the property – no one wants to wake up on Christmas morning with the presents floating around the tree.

For many of us Christmas is a busy time of year and we often have more people than ever in our houses. This, though fun, does mean that you have to be extra vigilant when it comes to appropriate ventilation of your property. Condensation is unpleasant for tenants and landlords alike. With more people having showers and staying at the property it is vital to open the windows to let the property breath even if  “baby its cold outside!”.

One of the most important things is to know who to call! Landlords – make sure you give your tenants emergency contact numbers so they know. Tenants – keep these numbers handy, store them in your phone or pop them on the fridge. Communication is often hard over Christmas, especially with everyone having their own agenda. Preparation is everything and at Ogilvy & Sneyd we have a Christmas pack to give to all our tenants that gives in depth advice and tips. We don’t like to leave things to chance.

We hope you have a fantastic Christmas and please do get in touch if you need any advice or help with your properties.