Boiler Breakdown Season is Here: Tips for Warrington Landlords
According to one survey, boiler breakdowns surge by 50% in October.* Here are some tips for avoiding headaches and hassles if your rental has a gas boiler.
Is your boiler due for a service?
As a landlord you’ll know that gas appliances, including boilers, need an annual gas safety check by law.
Gas safety checks don’t necessarily include a service, however. A boiler that is serviced annually is more likely to stay reliable and safe.
Check to see if your boiler is due for a service.
Do you need a new boiler?
The average life of a gas boiler is around 10 to 15 years.**
A new boiler could save your tenant money and keep their home warmer.
And it could save you, the landlord, the hassle caused by an old boiler breaking down frequently. It could also help maintain the value of your property.
It’s more convenient to replace an old boiler before it finally packs up, and it may be cheaper too.
Are gas boilers being banned? Should you fit a heat pump?
A few years ago, the government announced a plan to ban gas boilers in new homes in the future.
However, that policy was later abandoned, and there are no plans to ban gas boilers currently.
Heat pumps are considered a clean, green alternative to gas boilers. You may qualify for a government grant or loan to help cover the cost.
However, heat pumps might not suit all properties. If you’re considering a heat pump, be sure to consider the pros and cons.
Dealing with boiler breakdowns
Have a ‘boiler breakdown plan’. Give your tenant the number of who to call if their boiler breaks down, whether that’s you, your letting agent or a breakdown service.
Keep the contact numbers of heating engineers in your phone, just in case.
Boiler service plans
Service plans can save you the hassle of finding a heating engineer in an emergency and help you budget for the cost.
However, consider whether it would be more cost-effective to put some money into a monthly maintenance fund instead. You can then pay for repairs when they’re needed.
We hope you’ve found these boiler tips handy. If you’d like to know how our letting and management services can make your landlord life easier, please get in touch.
If you know a landlord who would find this guide useful, share it with them.
* Source: Which? survey
** Source: Worcester Bosch