If you own other properties that you like to stay in from time to time, chances are it’s standing empty for long periods in between your visits. Or perhaps, you own a rental property in a holiday resort and your rentals are seasonal meaning throughout the winter months your property is empty. Whatever the cause, keeping a property vacant can be a risky business and a source of immense stress for you, the property owner! Read on for the top 5 problems that occur with vacant properties…
1. Structural damage to the building
Without someone keeping a close eye on a vacant property, leaks or infestations can occur, mould, damp and damage follows and over the long term the structural issues can be immense and immensely costly. Even without an actual leak, the risk of damp is high in vacant properties as they have inadequate ventilation and no heating; prime conditions for damp and mould.
2. Weather damage
The weather is one of the biggest culprits in the fight to protect the vacant property. There are the obvious problems such as water, storm or ice which damage the exterior of the property but the interior can be impacted too by harsh weather. Chimneys collapsing, windows getting smashed, tiles becoming loose and burst pipes are all classics. Of course, with habited properties, these problems would be immediately identified and could be resolved straight away. In vacant properties however, they often aren’t discovered for quite some time and the damage becomes a lot more severe, leading to bills that can run into the thousands.
3. Vandalism, fly tipping or worse squatters
With no one living in or monitoring a property, it becomes a target for ill-reputable types who may wish to add their own mark to the building’s exterior. Often this highlights to other individuals that it’s a vacant property and the games begin, what may have started as a small ‘tag’ can quickly escalate into a full blown mural on the wall of your property and not in a desirable Banksy style either! Then the fly tippers take over and a pile of rubbish accumulates outside your front door, perhaps with a few items of old furniture too. In the worst cases, squatters can make themselves at home and before you know where you are you are navigating the legal minefield that is evicting squatters.
4. Something Blows Up!
The risk of a utility or an appliance breaking down or leaking, and yes in very extreme situations even blowing up, is a big concern with vacant properties. Even not flushing a toilet on a regular basis can lead to stagnant water building up in the pipework and the entire property can take on the aroma. Even appliances can cause problems when left unused. Valves in dishwashers can get stuck in the closed position and the door sealing gaskets on fridges and dishwashers can deteriorate.
5. Eyesore
Councils are no big fans of empty properties. Perhaps they’re all too familiar with the other 4 points in this article and know the problems that can arise with vacant properties. Their biggest concern tends to be that they don’t want the property to become an eyesore. If a property becomes extremely unattractive due to a lack of care, there is even the option for councils to take legal action against the owner of the vacant property. The law states that you must keep your property, the grounds and any garden, looking pleasant and maintained to a certain standard.
If you’d rather not take your chances with your property standing empty, reach out to Nest In Bath; we can help you by being there when you can’t. Whether it’s turning off your utilities, turning off your water and draining down the system, securing access points, checking the roof and clearing gutters, carrying out any repairs to help prevent weathering, checking the property after extreme weather and simply monitoring your property on a regular basis. All of which can save hassle, time and money in the long run.
Contact Nest In Bath.