Saving Money as a Landlord

Being a landlord of one or more homes can get pricey when things go wrong. As the landlord of the property, it’s your responsibility to ensure the home is running like clockwork and, should an issue arise, it’s up to you to put it right. If your tenant rings you mentioning a problem in their home that needs to be repaired, it’s your job to ensure it’s completed as soon as you can – especially when it comes to heating and plumbing issues that can drastically affect the quality of living if it remains unfixed. 

Luckily, there is such a thing as landlords insurance, which can help to cover your back if a big job crops up that you weren’t expecting. For an annual fee, you can protect yourself against any household emergencies and incidents, such as boiler breakdown, gas issues or plumbing problems, so that you’re not out of pocket and you don’t have to find what could potentially be thousands to get the problem rectified. 

Of course, in many situations, a tenant may call you with a problem that isn’t as bad as they make it sound. Visiting the property will help you to decide whether you need to call in the professionals such as the Dyno 24 hour plumbing services, or whether you can deal with the problem yourself. Bathroom and kitchen plumbing isn’t always as serious as it may first seem and it’s crucial that you try and analyse the problem rather than automatically thinking the worse. Many common household issues can be fixed yourself and, while it may not be the nicest task, it can save you money on emergency callouts and labour fees. 

Bathroom 

Toilet and sink blockages can often be a simple issue that can be solved yourself. Don a pair of marigolds and take a look at the problem to see if the blockage can be shifted without the need for a plumber. Purchase a plunger for times like these and, if necessary, prepare to get elbow-deep in drainpipes – most the time, build-up of debris such as grime and hair can be removed using sink unblocker or unscrewing the U-bend. 

Kitchen 

Whether you choose to use a kitchen sink unblocker that you can find in the supermarket, you try a combination of vinegar and bicarbonate soda, or you clamber underneath the sink and unscrew the pipes to manually remove the blockage, many sink issues can be solved with ease. Issues with appliances such as the dishwasher or washing machine will require an expert in the field, unless you know what you’re doing. 

As a landlord, you need to be able to distinguish between when a plumber needs to be called out and when you can tackle the issue yourself. Be a savvy landlord and use your landlord insurance only when required to help keep your outgoings as low as possible and your tenants satisfied.