Top tips to help landlords enjoy a merry Christmas
The festive spirit is in full-boom right across Cardiff, and with Christmas day now less than a week away we thought it’d be a great time to put together some festive tips to help you landlords ensure that both yourselves and your tenants enjoy a truly wonderful time of the year!
Ensure your rental properties are ready for Christmas conditions
Be it the white Christmas we all crave or a period full of high wind and rain, a case of extreme weather can cause all sorts of problems with a property. Therefore, it’s important to fully inspect your property before any bad weather sets in. Doing so could help save you a great deal of both time and money in the long run as you’ll be more likely to avoid costly repair and maintenance issues if you can nip them in the bud before they get out of hand.
Remind your tenants of their responsibilities
It may be the property of the landlord, but tenants still have responsibilities of their own that they must adhere to. With winter weather coming in to play, now may be the perfect time to remind tenants of those responsibilities. Some of these should include ensuring tenants are fully aware of where the stopcock is in the property and making sure they know how to change the thermostat if needed. Provide them with up to date contact information while you’re at it so that they can easily contact you in an emergency.
Check your tenant’s whereabouts over Christmas
Although many will be relaxing at home this Christmas, many others will be staying away with family over the festive season. This could mean that your rental property is left vacant for a length of time - in some cases this could be several weeks. Student tenants are a prime example, as they may break up early in December and head back home to family before returning in the new year. Working professionals who live and work away from home may also return to family over the festive season, leaving the rental property empty during this time. Find out if this is the case for your property, and make sure it’s left safe and secure.
Conversely, some tenants may be home all alone over the Christmas period. The vulnerable, such as the elderly or disabled, may appreciate you checking in on them to ensure that they are ok and are claiming all benefits that they are entitled to.
Access to trusted tradesmen
If the worst should happen and an emergency requires the attention of a tradesman, make sure you have the contact details for a set of reputable companies! Local plumbers and electricians with strong reputations will be ideal, and if you need a gas engineer remember to ensure they are Gas Safe registered.
Enjoy the festive period!
With everything now set in place, it’s fair to say that landlords have endured a busy year with new legislation changes, so you certainly deserve a good rest over this Christmas period!
If you have any questions regarding your property or the rental market, or if you’re looking to become a landlord for the first time in the new year, don’t hesitate to contact our expert lettings team here at CPS Homes. We have all the answers and advice you’re looking for, and with three branches across Cardiff we have a fantastic knowledge of this wonderful city, so do feel free to pop in. You can also call us on 02920 668585 or get in touch by e-mail on enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk.
