Winterizing Your Rental Home: What Should a Tenant Do?

Start with your lease and your landlord's approval, then prepare your rental home's heating, windows, pipes and outdoor areas for winter.

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What should you do to winterize your rental home, and what needs your landlord's approval? Start with your lease, then discuss your plans with your landlord or property management company. Preparing for winter helps prevent costly damage and keeps your home comfortable, but your responsibilities and the changes you can make depend on your rental's rules. Review the lease for your maintenance and repair obligations. That gives you a starting point for deciding which preparations you need to handle, including snow removal. There is a good reason to take a proactive role: heating, drafts and exposed pipes all need attention before colder weather. But some properties have specific guidelines or restrictions. Before making significant changes, get approval for any modifications you intend to make. Indoor: Keep Heat Working and Drafts Out Check Heating Systems Heating preparation starts with a consistent thermostat setting, ideally 68°F (20°C) during the day and slightly lower at night. Check strata bylaws too: there is often a minimum heat requirement for empty units or rooms. If your rental has a furnace or central heating system, check and replace air filters as needed. A clean filter