Before the cold weather sets in properly, landlords have five things worth checking off: a current gas safety certificate, a recent boiler service, a valid EICR, whether a cover plan makes sense, and a quick word with tenants about what to do if something goes wrong. None of it takes long individually, but leaving it all until a boiler breaks down in December is exactly how landlords end up dealing with an emergency call-out, an unhappy tenant, and a compliance gap all at once.
Start with the gas safety certificate
This is the one that isn’t optional. Every rented property needs a valid gas safety certificate, renewed every 12 months, confirming every gas appliance and flue has been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you’re not sure when yours is due, it’s worth checking now rather than finding out when a tenant asks for a copy.
Book the boiler service before the weather turns
A boiler service isn’t a legal requirement in the same way a gas safety certificate is, but it’s what actually catches the small faults that turn into a breakdown once the boiler is running flat out through winter. Booking it in October or November, rather than waiting for the first cold snap, means you’re not competing with every other landlord and homeowner trying to get an engineer out at the same time.
Check whether your EICR is still valid
Electrical safety checks get forgotten far more often than gas ones, mainly because the interval is longer. An EICR is required at least every 5 years for a rented property in England, which means it’s easy to lose track of when the last one was done, especially if a property has changed hands or letting agents since. Worth a quick check of your paperwork now if you’re not certain.
Consider a cover plan before, not during, a breakdown
A cover plan won’t stop a boiler breaking down, but it does mean you’re not starting from scratch trying to find an available engineer when it happens. For landlords managing more than one property, having a predictable annual cost and a guaranteed response time tends to be worth more than the saving from going without one, particularly once a boiler’s out of its manufacturer warranty.
Talk to your tenants before the cold arrives
A short conversation or a note left with tenants covers most of what prevents winter heating problems: where the stopcock is, who to contact if the heating stops working, and a reminder to keep the heating on low rather than switching it off entirely during a hard frost, even if they’re away for a few days. Our general seasonal boiler maintenance checklist is worth sharing with tenants directly, since most of it applies just as much to someone renting as it does to a homeowner.
The checklist, in one place
- Gas safety certificate current and a copy given to the tenant
- Boiler serviced within the last 12 months, ideally before the coldest months arrive
- EICR still within its 5-year validity, or booked if it’s due
- Cover plan considered, particularly for an older boiler or a portfolio of properties
- Tenants briefed on the stopcock location and who to contact for heating issues
- Any exposed pipework at the property insulated ahead of the first hard frost
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don’t have a valid gas safety certificate?
It’s a legal breach to let a property without one. It can also cause problems with insurance if you ever need to claim, so it’s not worth letting lapse even for a short period.
Do I need an EICR every year?
No, the requirement in England is at least every 5 years for a rented property, sometimes sooner if a previous report recommends it. It’s a much longer cycle than the annual gas safety certificate.
What should I tell tenants about frozen pipes?
Make sure they know where the stopcock is and encourage them to keep the heating on low during a hard frost rather than off entirely, even if the property’s empty. That alone prevents most winter pipe issues.
Getting everything sorted before winter
If any of these five are overdue, or you’re simply not sure where you stand on one of them, it’s worth sorting now rather than during the first cold snap of the year. We support landlords across Henley, Farnborough and the surrounding areas with gas safety certificates, servicing, and everything else on this list. Get in touch and we’ll help you get ahead of it.