5 Winter Mistakes Landlords Make - and how to avoid them

Winter brings with it festive cheer and cosy evenings, but for landlords, it’s also the season when property vulnerabilities become painfully apparent, often at the worst possible moment. As temperatures plummet and the first frost sets in, rental properties face their toughest test of the year.

The consequences of inadequate preparation can be severe, from burst pipes to slip-and-fall lawsuits draining your emergency fund, and heating failures leaving tenants in the cold. The good news is that many of these winter disasters are entirely preventable. The difference between a hassle-free winter and a costly catastrophe often comes down to simple, proactive maintenance.

Mistake 1: Ignoring energy leaks

One of the most overlooked and fundamental areas of a property is making sure the property envelope is sealed and insulated. Many landlords assume that if their rental looks fine on the surface, it must be protected against the elements. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Draughts from the cold weather don’t just make residents uncomfortable, they also force heating systems to work overtime, driving up heating bills for your tenants and, in turn, affect the energy efficiency of your property. In worst case scenarios, it can also result in condensation and mould issues.

The solution is refreshingly simple and affordable. Carry out a thermal audit of the property, or hire a professional to survey the home, to reveal where heat is escaping and cold air is coming in. Once you’ve found these spots, you can prioritise low-cost sealing like caulking, new weatherstripping around doors, and adding additional loft insulation.

Mistake 2: Waiting for the seasonal heating system breakdown

There’s a saying among property professionals: heating systems never fail in September. They wait until the coldest night of the year when parts are hardest to source, and emergency callout fees are at their highest. Yet year after year, landlords make the same error—waiting for the heating system to break down instead of performing preventative maintenance.

When a boiler fails during a cold snap, you’re not just facing repair costs. You’re dealing with urgent tenant complaints, legal obligations to provide alternative heating, and the very real possibility of property damage from frozen pipes if the temperature drops too low.

Take a proactive approach by having a qualified heating engineer inspect the heating system and test any safety systems before they fail. This is also the time to check and calibrate thermostats and bleed radiators to ensure they’re operating optimally.

Mistake 3: Relying on the wrong insurance policy

When it comes to insurance, landlords often make the dangerous assumption that their standard homeowner’s policy, or a basic landlord policy, will cover winter-related incidents. But it’s a misconception that can prove to be very expensive when disaster strikes. Standard homeowner’s insurance simply doesn’t cover rental properties, and your basic landlord policy might have significant gaps in its coverage.

The reality is that winter brings unique liability risks, from tenants slipping on an icy path to burst pipes that can result in thousands of pounds worth of water damage. Without the right coverage, these incidents can erode your rental profits and even threaten your entire property portfolio.

Take stock of your existing insurance cover and make sure that it covers your rental property and offers protection for any winter-specific risks. Buildings insurance should adequately reflect the full rebuilding cost of your property, not just its market value, but you should also consider if you will need extra coverage for any loss of rent if the property becomes uninhabitable.

Mistake 4: Leaving your property’s weakest links exposed

Garages, sheds, and other access points around the property are frequently neglected until something goes wrong. It’s an oversight that’s particularly problematic because these are often the weakest links in your property’s defences against winter weather.

Garages and external doors face particular difficulties during the winter. Cold temperatures cause lubricants to thicken, making moving parts prone to failure, and rubber seals become more brittle and crack, so cold air infiltrates and strains heating systems.

Before winter arrives, carry out a thorough inspection. For garage doors, lubricate all moving parts with a silicone-based spray that’s suitable for cold temperatures, check the balance and alignment of the door, and inspect any weatherstripping around the entire perimeter.

You should also test the openers and sensors on automatic doors, including the auto-reverse safety feature and ensure the battery backup is functional. Power cuts are more common in winter weather, and you don’t want tenants unable to access their vehicles during an emergency. Garage door specialists, like Wessex Garage Doors, will carry out on-site visits to assess the door and establish the root of the problem, so you can tackle any issues before they become an inconvenience or a danger.

Mistake 5: The snow and ice responsibility trap

Slip and fall accidents as a result of icy weather are very common, but also one of the most expensive liabilities you face as a landlord. Despite this, landlords often fail to establish clear, legally sound, protocols for snow and ice removal. This leaves them vulnerable to personal injury claims, not to mention putting tenants at risk of injury.

Much of the confusion stems from uncertainty around who is responsible: is it the landlord’s duty, the tenant’s obligation, or should a contractor be hired? This ambiguity is dangerous, but without a clear protocol documented in the tenancy agreement, you may find yourself responsible regardless of your original intentions.

The solution requires action on two fronts: clear contractual terms and practical preparation. Your tenancy agreement should explicitly state who is responsible for snow and ice removal, and if you’re assigning this duty to your tenants, make sure they have the necessary equipment and supplies to carry out the task safely. This means providing (and maintaining) a supply of rock salt or sand, snow shovels, and clear instructions on when and how to treat surfaces.

The common thread you’ll notice throughout all of these preventative measures is timing. Waiting until disaster strikes isn’t just inconvenient and expensive—it can be dangerous. Instead, take a proactive approach and get started now with checks and repairs so your rental property is winter-ready.