6 ways of keeping your property warm for less this winter

As a tenant, you might worry about the cost of all this. But fear not, there are many effective ways to keep your rental property warm this winter while keeping costs down.

When it gets colder and darker, keeping as much heat as possible becomes that much more important. One way of doing this is drawing blinds and curtains – and keeping all windows closed – to prevent heat escaping from your home. This is particularly important in the bedrooms and bathrooms – rooms you will want to keep warmer than most.

What you don’t want to do, however, is deny your home any outside air whatsoever, as this could cause problems with condensation, damp and mould. While the temptation will be to keep all windows firmly shut when winter really bites, it’s advisable to ventilate your property well, particularly after cooking a meal or taking a shower.

They might not sound glamorous, but they serve an instrumental purpose. These handy little things come in all shapes, sizes and colours and are excellent at keeping the heat in and the cold out. Moreover, they’re cheap and found in all sorts of shops. Prices vary but expect to pay between £4.99 and £19.99 (depending on how fancy you’re willing to go).

Most of us have been guilty of hanging our washing on radiators to help it dry quicker, but this can affect your home’s ability to heat itself. Instead, it’s wise to use a clothes horse or find somewhere else to hang your wet clothes and linen.

Keeping your heating on a constantly low heat can be more effective and less expensive than switching it on and off for short bursts of heat. To ensure you can do this efficiently, you will first need to get to grips with your thermostat (and its timer settings) to ensure your home is being heated the right amount.

One way of the chilly air moving around a house or heat escaping a room is for doors to be left wide open. Closing the doors in your property will help keep rooms as warm and toasty as possible to capture rather than lose the heat you mustered.

If you have wooden flooring in your rental property, you are likely to lose more heat than if you have carpet. According to the National Energy Foundation, uninsulated floors can lose as much as 10% of the heat from a home. If you have wooden flooring, you could pick up reasonably priced rugs and blankets to help to keep in the heat.

The above tips could help keep your property warm as the winter months hit, saving you money in the process. Remember, if you’re unsure what you can do to your property under your tenancy agreement, always check with your landlord first.

If you have any serious problems with heat retention, your boiler or the property’s insulation, you should contact your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible.