10 Winter Tips for Apartment Renters

By Lorena Roberts on December 4, 2017

Owning and managing properties is a tough job — and will definitely keep you on your toes! Making sure you have tenants who will take care of your place, collecting rent on time, making payments on mortgages, keeping up with maintenance…It’s all part of the lifestyle you live. But now that winter has arrived, it’s time to take some extra steps to ensure you’re fully prepared for what’s to come. Here are some tips to give your tenants about winter renting:

via Pixabay

1. Heating units.

Heating units should be inspected to ensure proper functioning before it gets too cold. The last thing you want is for your tenants to be upset that they’re without heat in the dead of winter. If you haven’t had the heating units on your properties checked yet, now is the time.

2. Windows and doors.

Check the seal on all windows and doors. Large cracks can cause higher heat bills and inefficient heating to begin with. Your tenants will very much appreciate you taking the time to check the seals on all windows and doors in their space.

3. Insulation.

Pipes that are subject to freezing should be protected with insulation. Making sure that pipes are insulated lowers the risk of them freezing and busting. That will cause you much more money in the long run to fix rather than just taking care of it now.

4. Snow removal procedure.

Your tenants will appreciate a procedure being put into place for inclement weather. No one wants to be snowed in. If you’re offering snow removal (which I’m sure they would appreciate), make sure you relay this to your tenants. They’ll worry less about getting to work if you assure them that you have a procedure in place.

5. Clean gutters.

If gutters are not properly cleaned before a heavy snow, drainage will be blocked, potentially causing roof leaks. It’s much cheaper to clean the gutters than to repair a roof. Plus, it makes your property look better.

6. Check on large/potentially problematic trees.

Snow and ice can cause large branches to break, potentially causing you much more money in repairs than necessary if you would take care of it now. Before large trees become an issue, take care of them.

7. Safety devices.

Before the start of winter is a good time to go through and check that all carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. It might be a good idea to go ahead and check fire alarms, too. As more and more people begin using fire places to warm their residence, keeping these up to date and in working condition is your best bet at keeping your tenants happy.

8. Check decks/stairs.

Loose boards and slippery spots on decks or stairs can cause injury to your tenants. Checking boards on decks and stairs will ensure the weather can’t deteriorate the boards even more, causing harm to anyone who visits your property.

9. Establish an “emergency” contact for renters.

When something devastating happens (like the heat goes out) in the middle of the night, your renters will want to have some way of reaching you. Whether it’s a phone number, an emergency maintenance number, or something else, having a plan will make them feel more secure and well taken care of.

10. Efficient use of heat.

Talk to your renters about the most efficient ways to use their heat. High heating bills aren’t ideal for anyone. Rather, renters will appreciate if you give them some money-saving tips. Plus, it’ll keep your heating units from being worn out faster than necessary.

Give your renters some tips for saving money on their heating bill:

Take advantage of the heat from the sun. Instead of keeping curtains pulled during the day, allow the sun to naturally heat up rooms.

If any of your windows feel drafty, install weatherizing drapes or shades that will insulate your windows better.

Maintaining your programmable thermostat is actually the most efficient way to heat your home. Turning it off and on will actually cause it to use more energy.

If you use a fireplace for heating, follow these tips from the Department of Energy:

  • Unless a fire is burning, close the damper on your fireplace. If you leave it open without a fire burning, it’s equivalent to leaving an entire window up during the winter.
  • When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly — approximately 1 inch — and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
  • If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flute.
  • If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
  • Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
  • Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Student Housing News Monthly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format