Damage from burst pipes and other problems created by the cold weather can be expensive to repair. Landlords may therefore wish to follow some advice on how to protect their buy-to-let properties from the freezing temperatures.
Halifax recommends ensuring that water pipes, the water tank and the loft of the property is properly insulated, to avoid the liquid inside from freezing.
If a property is without tenants, then leaving the heating on a low setting will help to keep the water in the pipes from going below zero degrees Celsius.
The home insurance company noted that 16 per cent of all claims during the two weeks to January 4th were for damage caused by burst pipes.
Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at the company, said: "The average cost to repair damage caused by a burst pipe is around £2,000, so it is worth ... taking steps to prevent frozen pipes ... [and] knowing what to do to limit damage."
The Met Office predicts that the current cold snap could continue over the weekend (January 9th and 10th) and there could also be an additional risk of more snow.
Written by Claire Doyle
