Preparing your holiday home for winter

Whether it’s a coastal retreat, country bolthole or somewhere you escape to throughout the year, a holiday home may sit unoccupied for longer periods over the winter months. With nobody there to spot a leak, a slipped tile or a problem with the heating, relatively minor issues can be left to develop and cause more damage before they are discovered.

That makes preparing your property for the winter particularly important. With El Niño potentially bringing wetter, windier and stormier conditions to north-west Europe, including the UK, during autumn and early winter, now is a good time to make sure your holiday home is ready for the months ahead. While the precise impact of El Niño cannot be predicted, some simple preventative measures can help make your property more resilient to whatever the season brings.

Start with the outside of your property

For a property that may be empty when severe weather arrives, preventative maintenance can make a real difference.

• Check the roof. Look for loose or missing tiles, damaged flashing and other vulnerable areas. Gutters, valleys and downpipes should also be kept clear so rainwater can drain freely rather than overflowing against the building.

• Clear drains and surface-water channels. We recommend cleaning gutters, valleys and hoppers at least twice a year and checking drains again once trees have shed their leaves.

• Assess trees close to the house. Dead, damaged or unstable branches can become a greater risk during high winds, particularly where they overhang buildings, vehicles or access routes. Larger or potentially vulnerable trees should be assessed by a qualified arborist.

For more advice, read El Niño and your home: practical steps to reduce weather-related risks

Reduce the risk of escape of water

Escape of water can be particularly disruptive when nobody is at the property to spot the problem.

Before winter arrives, make sure your boiler has been serviced and repair any dripping taps, fittings or cisterns. Exposed pipes, particularly those in lofts, garages or other colder areas, should be adequately insulated.

If you leave the heating running while you are away, check your insurance policy for any minimum temperature requirements that may apply to your property.

Technology can provide another layer of protection. Smart heating systems allow you to monitor and control temperatures remotely, while water leak detection systems can identify potential leaks. More advanced systems can automatically shut off the incoming mains water supply.

For more advice, visit Howden Insurance | Escape of Water

Check your fire detection

A smoke alarm is easy to take for granted, particularly in a property that you only visit periodically. Before leaving your holiday home for an extended period, make sure your smoke and heat detectors are working correctly and have been properly maintained.

It’s also important to check your insurer’s requirements. The level and type of fire detection required can vary, particularly for larger, higher-value or thatched properties.

Read more: Fire Detection and Insurance

Review your security before you leave

An empty property can present different security risks, so take time to check that your existing arrangements are working as intended.

Lock doors and windows, set your intruder alarm and make sure CCTV and other security systems are operational. If your policy specifies particular security arrangements or alarm requirements, make sure these are being followed.

Technology can help with the appearance of occupancy too, from remotely controlled lighting to other smart-home devices.

There is a digital consideration as well. Avoid advertising that your home is unoccupied through social media. It is also worth considering what information about your property is publicly available online, including historic estate-agent listings and images that could reveal entry points or the layout of your home.

Read more: Intelligent Security: strengthening protection for high value homes

Don’t forget outside spaces

Preparing the house itself is only part of the job. Check garages, outbuildings and external stores to make sure they are secure and that roofs, doors and guttering are in good condition. Secure garden furniture and other loose items too, particularly if strong winds are forecast.

Arrange regular inspections

Smart technology is useful, but it doesn't replace somebody physically checking a property.

Your holiday home insurance may contain specific requirements around how frequently the property needs to be inspected when unoccupied. Definitions of “unoccupied” and the requirements that apply can vary between policies.

Check your own policy wording and arrange for a trusted neighbour, friend, house-sitter or property management company to visit if necessary. Keep a record of inspections where required.

Check your insurance before an extended absence

Don't assume that the arrangements that apply while you are regularly using your holiday home will remain unchanged when it is empty for an extended period.

Check your policy's:

• definition of unoccupancy

• inspection requirements

• heating and water requirements

• fire and security conditions

• requirements for alarms and other protective systems.

If your property is going to be unoccupied for longer than expected, tell your insurer or broker. Likewise, if you know you will be unable to meet a requirement of your policy, don’t simply leave it. Speak to your insurer or broker about what you need to do.

This is important because failing to tell your insurer about a relevant change, or not complying with the terms and conditions of your policy, could affect your cover and may cause difficulties if you need to make a claim. Your broker can help you understand what is required and whether your insurance needs to change while the property is unoccupied.

Protecting more than the property

Preparing a holiday home for winter isn't simply about complying with an insurance policy. Good property management can help prevent a relatively minor issue becoming a costly and disruptive loss.

Our approach goes beyond arranging insurance. We work with clients to understand the risks around their homes and lifestyles and help identify practical measures that can reduce the likelihood or severity of a claim.

That could mean reviewing water leak detection, fire and security arrangements, considering weather resilience or simply making sure your insurance continues to reflect how your holiday home is being used.

To speak to us about your holiday or second home insurance, call 020 8256 4901 or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk.