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The first cold snap is when the calls start: a boiler that won’t fire, black mould behind a wardrobe, a burst pipe in an empty flat. Most winter problems can be prevented with an hour of checks now. Here’s our checklist for landlords in Evesham, Worcester and across Worcestershire, with the legal duties behind each item.

1. Heating and hot water

Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords must keep the installations for heating and hot water in repair and proper working order. A broken boiler in January is your problem to fix, quickly.

• Gas safety record: every gas appliance and flue needs a check by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months. You can do it up to two months early and keep the original renewal date. Give your tenant a copy within 28 days, and keep records for two years.
• Boiler service: the gas safety check isn’t a full service. A service before winter catches worn parts before they fail.
• Radiators and controls: check every radiator heats up, the thermostat and timer work, and the tenant knows how to use them.
• Boiler pressure: show your tenant how to check it and how to top it up, or who to call. It’s one of the most common winter call-outs.
• A back-up plan: if the heating fails, know who will fix it and whether you can supply temporary heaters while you wait.

2. Damp, condensation and mould

Rented homes must be fit to live in, and damp and mould is one of the hazards councils look at. Since June 2026, councils can fine landlords up to £7,000 for failing to deal with the most serious hazards. The government is also consulting, until 18 December 2026, on Awaab’s Law for private landlords, which would set fixed deadlines for investigating and fixing them.

• Extractor fans: test the kitchen and bathroom fans. A fan that hums but doesn’t pull air is a common cause of mould.
• Trickle vents and windows: make sure vents open and window seals are sound.
• Leaks first: before blaming condensation, rule out leaks from gutters, roofs, pipes and blocked drains.
• Act on every report: look at it promptly, write down when you heard, what you found and what you did. That record will matter under Awaab’s Law.
• Help your tenants help you: keeping the heating at a steady low level, drying washing outside or near an open window and using the fans all cut condensation. Explain it kindly; it isn’t a way to pass the problem back.

3. Frozen and burst pipes

• Lag the loft: insulate pipes and water tanks in the loft and any unheated spaces.
• Outside taps: fit a cover, or turn them off inside and drain them.
• Stopcock: make sure the tenant knows where it is and that it turns. A stiff stopcock can turn a small leak into a flooded kitchen.
• Away over Christmas: ask tenants to tell you if they’ll be away and to leave the heating on low.

4. Empty properties

An empty home between tenants is most at risk in winter, because nobody notices a leak until it’s done real damage.

• Check your insurance: many landlord policies limit cover once a property has been empty for a set number of days, or require regular visits. Read your policy’s unoccupancy section and tell your insurer if you need to.
• Keep it warm: leave the heating on a low setting rather than off.
• Visit regularly: check for leaks, damp, post building up and signs of break-ins.
• Long gaps: for a long empty period, ask a plumber about draining down the water system.

5. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Blocked flues and boilers working hard make winter the main season for carbon monoxide. The rules in England:

• At least one smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation.
• A carbon monoxide alarm in every room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance, such as a gas, oil or solid fuel boiler or a wood burner. Gas cookers are excluded.
• Check the alarms work on the day a new tenancy starts, and repair or replace any alarm once you’re told it’s faulty.
• Councils can fine up to £5,000 for not complying.

6. Outside the property

• Gutters and drains: clear leaves once they’ve fallen. Overflowing gutters are a leading cause of damp walls.
• Roof: look for slipped tiles and damaged flashing, and check again after storms.
• Paths and steps: make sure outside lights work, especially on shared paths and steps.
• Chimneys: if there’s a working fireplace or wood burner, have the chimney swept before it’s used.

Your winter checklist

If we manage your property

Our own maintenance team, Spectro, is on call 24 hours a day, so a winter breakdown doesn’t wait for a gap in a contractor’s diary. You’re also welcome to use your own contractors, with Spectro as back-up. Tenants report repairs online, and every report is logged with the date it came in and what was done. On our full management packages, we arrange certificate renewals such as the gas safety record and keep the paperwork, so you don’t have to chase it.

Written by Lukasz Rusiecki, Managing Director of Gallery Properties. We’ve managed landlords’ homes across Evesham, Worcester and Worcestershire since 2010.

Last checked: 13 November 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Sources: Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 11; Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018; HSE, gas safety for landlords; GOV.UK, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm guidance; GOV.UK, Awaab’s Law consultation.