Avoid giving tenants the big chill this winter

As the cold winter nights set in, for many of us it’s time to turn the heating up. But it’s also a bumper time for boiler repairs, as people switch the heating back on for the first time after the summer only to find it doesn’t work.

Stephen Ludlow, Chairman, ludlowthompson, says: “For landlords and their tenants this can be a major headache. Not surprisingly, tenants can get very frustrated when it’s cold and they have no heating.

“Understandably they will expect repairs to be carried out immediately, which may mean late night telephone calls to inform landlords about problems, and expensive repair bills for emergency plumbers to come out to the property.

“All this can be avoided simply by having the boiler serviced at the same time as the annual gas safety check. Although there will be an extra cost involved, as the service engineer is on site anyway there will only be one call-out charge.

More importantly, proper maintenance can minimise the risk of breakdowns and keep boilers going for longer.

“Of course, if a gas safety re-inspection falls due during the warm summer months getting the boiler serviced is not at the forefront of most people’s minds but it could save a lot of inconvenience and expense in the long run, ” says Ludlow.

Whatever time of year it is, a faulty boiler is bound to upset tenants, so it’s a good idea to get it serviced regularly to avoid problems later on.

Landlords that require assistance can get in touch with one of our offices.