How Can Landlords Keep Their Tenants Warm This Winter?

Posted on October 7th, 2008 | by John Glenn |

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“Save on heating bills, put them on the fire” I have heard one landlord remark. Landlords should clearly apply a slightly more responsible attitude. With the last vestiges of the ’summer’ disappearing, a landlord’s thoughts naturally turn towards to safe their buy-to-let investment property for the winter. This possibly means a landlord trying to get the several outside jobs done before the weather comes.
There are two ways that a landlord can make their property warmer. Firstly a landlord can insulate their buy-to-let investment property more efficiently and secondly a landlord can set to raise the effectiveness of their heating system.

Insulation In Rental Property

Many buy-to-let residential properties particularly the older buy-to-let properties have sub-standard insulation. There are a various ways that a landlord can improve the insulation of their buy-to-let investment property such as cavity wall insulation, insulation in the loft, draft proofing, pipe and tank insulation and glazing.

There is some superb advice on the Energy Saving Trust website on the kinds of ways landlords can insulate their investment properties, the costs involved and the potential financial savings.

Insulation doesn’t need to cost landlords the earth

The big concern that landlords have with the creditable aim of energy conservation is that, whilst the capital investment is incurred by them as the landlord; it is the tenant that effectively receives much of the monetary assistance in the form of low cost heating bills.

However, landlords do need to be cautious that they do not by improving their residential investment properties insulation, which then cause damp troubles through inadequate ventilation.

Improving The Heating

The other way a landlord can keep their tenants warm and happy is by improving the heating. The vast majority of housing including buy-to-let investment properties now has central heating. In 2005 the English House Condition Survey pointed out that just under 9 out of every 10 properties (88%) had central heating a further 7% had storage heaters.

The reality therefore for most landlords is that an enhancement to the heating system involves an upgrade to the central heating system. The efficiency and effectiveness of a heating system largely depends on the type and age of the boiler, with most boilers lasting between 10-15 years.

What did I do? Risk having one part fitted to discover it was actually the other that needed replacing? Then potentially having replaced 2 parts would I have been better off having a new boiler fitted at the outset? In the end I contacted the manufacturer and their technical department was able to run through a few diagnostic tests to identify the part I needed. I am now hoping that the boiler lasts several years longer before it has to be replaced by a new condensing boiler.

Condensing boilers

Many landlords may not be aware that since the change in the Building Regulations in 2005 all newly fitted boilers have to be high efficiency, which usually means condensing boilers. Condensing boilers are also essential to be fitted in Scotland since 1st May 2007 with the revision of section 6 of the Building Regulations.

A high efficiency condensing boiler works of recovering as much as possible of the waste heat which is normally rejected to the atmosphere from the flue of a conventional (non-condensing) boiler.

How do they work?

The extra efficiency can be attained by using a big heat exchanger or sometimes two heat exchangers within the boiler, which maximizes heat transfer from the burner as well as recovering useful heat which would normally be lost with the flue gases.

If a landlord’s boiler is between 10-15 years old then it possibly is not effective by modern standards. Returning a landlord’s old boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler can probably save around a third of the heating bills straight away.

Costs

A new condensing boiler will cost about £750 inc. vat for a decent make. However the additional plumbing kit would likely cost another £250 and then there is the fitting costs of at least £250. Bank on at least £1250.

Having purchased a new boiler landlord can then insure themselves against further maintenance costs by applying for boiler insurance.

I would suggest the landlords that they should carefully understand the terms and conditions of this cover before applying for it. This is mainly that it guards a landlord against an unexpected large bill.

Certainly, keeping the tenants warm and happy this winter is not getting any easier or cheaper!