Archive for Maintenance Advice
Posted on 16/02/10, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be lethal. There have been a number of tragedies in this country and abroad in recent years. Most notably the tragic story of the two children who inhaled lethal levels of carbon monoxide in their holiday apartment on Corfu.
 Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly without warning. Early symptoms include: headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness and drowsiness. CO poisoning can be caused by incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated cooking and heating appliances.
Those who rent holiday accommodation such as cottages, lodges, apartments and villas, should understand their obligations with regards to carbon monoxide safety.
In the UK, holiday let… read the rest of “Carbon monoxide: stay safe at your holiday home” >>
Posted on 22/01/10, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
As temperatures drop, central heating systems are put under increased pressure and boilers often breakdown. We occasionally get calls from customers when this happens who have holidaymakers staying in their holiday let – “can we claim for the boiler repair and hotel expenses” they often ask.
 Boiler breakdowns and heating failures are not covered under a holiday let insurance policy. It is the holiday home owners responsibility to maintain heating systems.
For peace of mind one solution is to take out separate ‘home emergency’ insurance policy, which covers boiler breakdowns. The type of policy that utility companies offer.
The other alternative is to have the boiler serviced annually and have someone on hand for emergency breakdowns… read the rest of “Dealing with boiler breakdowns at your cottage” >>
Posted on 19/01/10, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
Finally, after weeks of freezing temperatures the mercury is beginning to rise, but be aware, as the thaw begins frozen pipes often burst.
 Most insurers are experiencing large volumes of claims following the big freeze. In fact, whilst discussing a holiday home burst pipe claim, our loss adjusters commented that one insurer received 3,000 claims on Friday.
Have you checked your holiday home?
Due to second homes being left empty for long periods, the damage caused by burst pipes can go undiscovered for days, even weeks. During this time hundreds of gallons of water can cause widespread destruction, costing thousands.
As frozen water pipes begin to thaw they often burst, so it is… read the rest of “Burst pipes - 3000 claims in one day” >>
Posted on 27/11/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
Following the recent floods where holiday cottages and second homes in Cumbria were flooded, we continue our flood advice posts.
According to the Environment Agency, one in six homes in England are at risk of flooding. And with climate change, the risk of homes flooding through rising sea levels, rainstorms and overflowing drains is expected to increase. Even if a property is situated away from a river or the sea, it could still be susceptible to surface water flooding.
 Combined with the complexity of trying to get insurance for a holiday home in a flood risk area and the effect this will have on the property value, it is essential that you research if a… read the rest of “How to check if a home is at risk of flooding” >>
Posted on 24/11/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
Following on from our last post on how to prepare for a flood and the subsequent floods in Cumbria, here is some advice on what to do during a flood and the steps to take if your holiday home is flooded. Always put your safety before property and be prepared to act quickly.
Unfortunately, floods are becoming more frequent and more severe, so be prepared.
 What to do during a flood
- Listen to and act on the advice of the emergency services
- Use your flood kit and put your flood plan into practice (as discussed last week)
- Put flood protection equipment in place such as sandbags
Posted on 19/11/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | 1 Comment
With the worst storms of the year currently hammering parts of the UK, forecasters are warning those with properties in the second home hot-spots of Cumbria, North Wales and Scotland to be prepared for flooding.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings – with up to 50mm of rain expected to fall on already saturated ground, there is a risk that holiday homes will be damaged by flooding.
Parts of the UK are also expected to be battered by gale force winds of up to 70mph, which is strong enough to cause damage to holiday homes by falling trees, branches and roof tiles being blown off.
Be vigilant to any signs of damage to your holiday home, alert your insurer should the worst happen and… read the rest of “Holiday Homes at Risk of Flooding” >>
Posted on 27/10/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
The clocks have gone back and summer has officially ended. As the nights get darker and the bleak weather approaches, winter can be undeniably harsh for holiday homes.
Unfortunately, break-ins tend to increase in winter as opportunistic thieves take advantage of darker evenings. There is also the onslaught of rain, frost, snow and storms – all these can cause damage and destruction at holiday homes.
Although insurance will cover some instances, insurance isn’t a maintenance contract. Unfortunately, there will be ‘wear and tear’ incidents when you can’t claim. Therefore, it’s better to protect your home with some preventative winter maintenance and lessen the chance of suffering damage in first place. This will hopefully prevent you having to deal with unexpected repair bills… read the rest of “Is Your Holiday Home Ready for Winter?” >>
Posted on 24/09/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | No Comments
Accommodation establishments with a high rate of occupant turnover such as self catering holiday cottages and apartments, should be on the look out for bed bugs, as infestations are most frequently found in these types of dwellings.
According to the BBC there has been a massive increase in the number of bed bug infestations. Statistics from councils in London and the Midlands show the rate increased three-fold in the last decade.
Holiday rentals are particularly vulnerable due to the high turnover of guests, from both the UK and overseas. Bedbugs are effective hitchhikers and holidaymakers could infest your property by coming into contact with bugs on their travels. Once at your holiday home, the bed bugs disembark from luggage or clothes and set up home, breeding… read the rest of “Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite” >>
Posted on 11/05/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | 2 Comments
As previously discussed, theft and burglaries are expected to rise due to the economic downturn. Most house burglaries happen when a property is empty, and as holiday homes are only used for on average 30 weeks a year, they are particularly vulnerable.
 To help ensure your second home is as you left it upon your return, follow the basic security tips below, which should hopefully deter all but the most determined burglars and opportunistic thieves.
- Lock side gates, sheds, outbuildings and don’t leave tools lying around which thieves can use to break into your home, such as forks or spades.
- Remember to lock all easily accessible windows and doors when your property is left
Posted on 16/04/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | 2 Comments
Following the recent freezing temperatures, thousands of un-prepared second homes have suffered burst pipes and leaks – causing substantial water damage.
To avoid the prospect of returning to your holiday home and discovering water damage following a burst pipe or leak, take a few precautions to avoid being caught out by a big freeze…
Leave the heating on
One of the main causes of frozen pipes is switching the heating off completely when your holiday home is left empty. While this will save money in terms of fuel bills, it will expose your home to sub-zero winter temperatures and the cost of repairing water damage.
It is advisable to leave the heating permanently on (at least 10 degrees… read the rest of “Prevent Frozen Pipes And Bursts” >>
Posted on 10/04/09, filed under Maintenance Advice | 1 Comment
If you discover that you have frozen pipes in your holiday home, there is the danger that thawing pipes could burst. If in doubt always consult a registered plumbing and heating engineer for assistance.
If you discover frozen pipes you could try the following, but have some buckets and towels on hand to deal with water in case pipes burst.
- turn off the water supply at the stop tap to limit the amount that could escape in the event of a burst
- if you have a water tank, turn off the stopcock
- turn off the central heating system
- open the taps nearest to the frozen pipe, so the when the frozen water thaws
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