If your property is empty for a significant amount of time, whether that's due to a tenant being away or that the property is void, there are actions you should take.
These are five checks we recommend landlords make whenever their property is empty.
1. An opportunity for uninterrupted maintenance
Carrying out maintenance can be disruptive for your tenant, so carrying out work while the property is empty is ideal - especially if it's a large job like roof work or redecorating. An empty property will allow maintenance work to be carried out uninterrupted.
Once you know the tenant is going away, or when their tenancy is nearly over, you should organise an inspection to create a list of work that needs carrying out and book the necessary contractors ahead of time.
If you're a fully managed landlord, we can do this for you.
2. Check your insurance
Your landlord insurance policy will have a clause about how long the property can remain vacant before the policy is invalidated. This is usually 30 days so a tenant going on holiday for a few weeks won't be an issue, but it's still worth checking regardless.
If you already know that the property will be empty for longer than 30 days then you should get in touch with your insurer to enquire about extending your cover.
Our partner First2Protect can help provide you with standard landlord insurance, but they can also offer non-stand insurance, such as for vacant properties. Request a no obligation callback today to get started.
3. Perform safety checks
Whenever anyone goes on holiday there's always that worry that you forgot to turn everything off in your home. Therefore your tenant may appreciate a visit to the property while they are away to ensure everything is in order.
Note that as a landlord you need permission from the tenant to visit the property, and you must give the tenant at least 24 hours written notice.
4. Check for storm damage
As we've already seen earlier this year, storms can cause damage to properties. There are precautions you can take to protect your property from storm damage, but it's not completely unavoidable.
Therefore after adverse weather, you should inspect your rental property to ensure it remains in good shape, and to carry out work as soon as possible before the tenant returns or a new tenant starts their tenancy.
In vacant properties frozen pipes can occur, especially in winter, and create a safety risk as well as the costly bill for repairing a pipe once it cracks or bursts. It's advisable to enter the property semi-regularly to run hot water and turn the heating on for periods during cold weather.
5. Keep your rental property secure
Empty properties can attract burglars and squatters, so you should visit the property regularly to give the impression that it is being lived in.
We'd suggest visiting every 7 days or so, moving curtains around and clearing any post that may be piling up to create the impression that it isn't empty.
Are you securing the best monthly yield on your rental property? Find out with a free no obligation lettings consultation.
Reeds Rains E-marketing Executive
