Winterizing Your Rental Property: What Should Landlords Do?

Prepare the property and clarify tenant responsibilities to reduce winter damage, costly repairs and complaints.

Article Details

What should winterizing your rental property accomplish? It should reduce the risk of costly repairs while keeping tenants safe and comfortable. That means preparing the building for colder weather and making sure landlord and tenant understand their responsibilities. The work protects your investment, but it also addresses the drafts, heating needs and safety concerns that affect tenants. Some of the steps below may seem extreme. They are worth considering, though the recommendations depend in part on the property: an extended vacancy calls for attention to the water supply, while a larger multi-family property may benefit from an emergency kit in a common area. Start with the lease and a conversation Review the winter maintenance responsibilities in your lease agreement, then communicate your winterization plans and expectations to tenants. Share tips on keeping the property safe, including reporting issues promptly. Give tenants a checklist of tasks they can help with so those expectations are clear. Exterior: prevent drafts, water buildup and freezing Exterior preparation has specific purposes. Cleaning gutters helps prevent water buildup and ice dams. Sealing gaps around windo