The holidays are coming in hot – and while ‘tis the season for sunshine, sales and gatherings, it’s also prime time for the unexpected rental property hiccup.
For landlords, the festive season is notorious for untimely repairs, unexpected phone calls and tenant changes; tenants are spending more time at home and celebrations are ramping up, right as trades are winding down for the year.
A quick pre-holiday checklist can make all the difference in preventing emergencies, avoiding disruptions and protecting your investment – here’s what you need to know.
When things break: Trades over Christmas
Brilliant for beach days and backyard parties, not so brilliant for finding a plumber at 8pm. As Christmas approaches, many trades tend to run off reduced hours or close entirely, meaning response times can stretch right as you need them the most.
It pays to get ahead by having a reliable emergency network locked in, either your own or from your trusted property manager. Find out about your trades’ after-hours procedures, call-out fees and escalation steps – particularly for the common summer occurrences:
Plumbing – burst pipes, blocked toilets, clogged sinks, hot water issues, leaking showers
Electrical works – Power outages, tripped circuits, overloaded powerpoints, air conditioning failures
Pest control – Increased pests during hotter months
Locksmiths – Lost keys, jammed locks, emergency access
Roofing – blocked gutters after storms
Fire safety over summer
Sydney summers pack the heat – and with candles, BBQs, appliances and Christmas lights working over time, it’s a perfect season for fire risks.
In NSW, landlords are responsible for ensuring that smoke and heat alarms are correctly installed and in working order. Should you need to inspect your smoke alarms, you must provide your tenant with at least two business days’ notice – and tenants are responsible for reporting if an alarm is not working.
A quick insurance check
Empty homes, boozy BBQs and holiday guests can quickly become insurance headaches, so now is the time to check what you’re covered for – especially the common Christmas culprits:
- Tenant damage (accidental or malicious)
- Theft coverage (e.g. glass or window breakage)
- Water and fire damage
- Loss of rental income
Tenant chats = fewer holiday headaches
Touching base with your property manager and tenant is guaranteed to prevent last-minute emergencies, by knowing ahead what needs fixing, who will be in the property and any other potential issues. It’s the simplest way to avoid disputes and protect your property, over the end-of-year break – and well beyond.
Prudential Real Estate Macquarie Fields | (02) 9605 5333 | macquariefields@prudential.com.au
Prudential Real Estate Narellan | (02) 4624 4400 | narellan@prudential.com.au
