How to Look After Your Home During the Colder Months: A Tenant's Guide
As the nights draw in and temperatures start to drop across Darlington, Teesside, and County Durham, it's a good time to think about how to keep your home warm, dry, and comfortable through the autumn and winter months. Whether this is your first time renting or you're a seasoned tenant, a little seasonal know-how can make a real difference, not just to your comfort, but to the condition of your home and the health of everyone living in it.
At Castle Homes, we believe that a well-looked-after property is a shared effort. Landlords have responsibilities, and so do tenants and when both sides play their part, everyone benefits. Think of this guide as a friendly heads-up from your local property team: practical, straightforward advice to help you get ahead of the colder months before any problems have a chance to take hold.
Keep Your Home Warm and Your Heating Working
One of the simplest things you can do during autumn and winter is to maintain a steady, consistent temperature throughout your home. It might be tempting to turn the heating off completely when you head out for the day, but this can actually cause more problems than it solves, particularly in older properties where pipes and walls are more vulnerable to the cold.
What a steady temperature actually means
Aim to keep your home at at least 18°C, especially in rooms that are regularly occupied
If you're going out, try not to let the temperature drop below around 15°C - this helps prevent pipes from freezing
Use your thermostat's timer function to bring the heating on before you wake up or return home, rather than cranking it up suddenly
Make sure your radiators can do their job
Blocked radiators are a surprisingly common issue. Furniture pushed up against them, clothes draped over them, or curtains hanging in front of them all reduce their effectiveness, meaning your boiler works harder and your rooms stay colder.
Keep at least a small gap between radiators and any furniture
Make sure curtains fall above radiator level where possible, or use thermal blinds instead
If a radiator feels cold at the top but warm at the bottom, it likely needs bleeding, this is usually a tenant responsibility, but check your tenancy agreement if you're unsure
Report heating problems straight away
If your boiler stops working, a radiator fails, or your heating system isn't performing as it should, report it to us straight away. Heating failures in winter are classed as urgent repairs, and your landlord has a legal obligation to address them promptly. Don't wait and hope it resolves itself, get in touch with us at Castle Homes and we'll make sure the right people are on it.
Ventilate Every Day, Even When It's Cold Outside
Opening a window when it’s cold outside might be the last thing you want to do, but good ventilation is one of the simplest ways to help prevent condensation, damp and mould in your home.
Everyday activities such as cooking, showering, bathing, breathing and even drying your hair add moisture to the air. If that moisture has nowhere to escape, it can settle on cold surfaces such as windows, walls and ceilings, creating the conditions where mould can develop.
Make ventilation part of your daily routine. Use extractor fans when cooking or showering, open a window for a short period when practical, and keep trickle vents clear and open. If you’re drying laundry indoors, good ventilation is especially important.
A dehumidifier can also help reduce excess moisture, particularly when drying clothes indoors, but it shouldn't replace normal ventilation.
A few minutes of fresh air each day can make a big difference to keeping your home warm, dry and comfortable throughout the colder months.
Simple daily habits that make a big difference
Open windows briefly in the morning, even just 10 to 15 minutes helps flush out overnight moisture
Use extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom every time you cook or shower, and leave them running for a few minutes afterwards
Use trickle vents if your windows have them, these small slots at the top of window frames are designed to allow a gentle flow of air without draughts
Keep internal doors open where possible to allow air to circulate through the property
Don't seal your home too tightly
It's natural to want to keep the warmth in, but completely sealing every gap can trap moisture and create the perfect conditions for mould. A well-ventilated home is actually easier and cheaper to heat, because the air is drier and holds warmth more effectively.
Be Mindful of How You Dry Clothes Indoors
This is one of the biggest contributors to excess moisture in rented homes during winter, and it's one that's easy to overlook. A single load of laundry can release up to two litres of water vapour into the air as it dries. In a poorly ventilated room, that moisture settles on cold surfaces and quickly becomes a problem.
Better alternatives to drying on radiators
Dry clothes outdoors whenever the weather allows, even a cool, dry day will do the job
If you must dry indoors, use a heated airer with a dehumidifier running nearby, in a well-ventilated room
Avoid drying clothes directly on radiators, this not only adds moisture to the air but also reduces the efficiency of your heating
If you have access to a tumble dryer, make sure it's properly vented to the outside, or use a condenser dryer and empty the water reservoir regularly
Keep an Eye on Condensation
A little condensation on windows on a cold morning is perfectly normal; it's simply warm, moist indoor air meeting a cold surface. But if you're regularly seeing heavy condensation that doesn't clear during the day, or if you're noticing it on walls and ceilings as well as windows, that's a sign that something needs attention.
What to look out for
Persistent water droplets on windows that take a long time to clear
Damp patches on walls, particularly in corners, behind furniture, or in wardrobes
A musty smell in rooms, even when they appear clean
Black spotting beginning to appear on window frames, sealant, or walls
What you can do
Wipe condensation from windows and sills with a dry cloth in the morning, this removes the moisture before it can cause damage
Move furniture slightly away from external walls to allow air to circulate behind it
Keep wardrobes from being overpacked, and leave small gaps between clothing and the back wall
A note on mould: If you spot mould beginning to develop, don't ignore it. Small patches on window sealant can often be treated with an appropriate mould remover, but mould on walls, ceilings, or soft furnishings should be reported to your landlord. Mould can pose a genuine health risk, particularly for children, elderly residents, and anyone with a respiratory condition.
Know What to Report and When
Part of being a responsible tenant is knowing the difference between what you can manage yourself and what needs to be escalated. As your letting agent, Castle Homes is here to make that process as straightforward as possible, we'd always rather hear from you early than deal with a much bigger problem down the line.
Things you should report to your landlord or agent promptly
Leaks, from pipes, roofs, or around windows and doors
Persistent damp that doesn't respond to improved ventilation
Mould growth on walls, ceilings, or structural surfaces
Heating or hot water failures
Broken or draughty windows that can't be properly closed or sealed
Faulty extractor fans or ventilation systems that aren't working as they should
Frozen or burst pipes, treat this as an emergency and contact us immediately
How to report issues effectively
When you get in touch, it helps to be as specific as possible. Note where the problem is, when you first noticed it, and whether it seems to be getting worse. Photos are incredibly useful, they give us a clear picture and help us brief any contractors quickly and accurately.
You can reach the Castle Homes team by calling 0330 124 8889 or emailing info@castlehomesproperty.co.uk.
A Shared Responsibility, and a Team Effort
Looking after your home during the colder months isn't about following a long list of rules, it's about developing a few good habits and staying in communication with your landlord and letting agent. The vast majority of winter property problems are preventable, and when tenants and landlords work together, homes stay in great condition and everyone's experience is a much happier one.
At Castle Homes, we're committed to supporting our tenants just as much as our landlords. If you're ever unsure about something, whether it's your responsibility, your landlord's, or somewhere in between - just ask us. That's what we're here for.
Stay warm, stay dry, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you need us.
Castle Homes are your local property experts, proudly serving Darlington, Teesside, and County Durham. For lettings advice, maintenance queries, or to find out more about our managed properties, visit www.castlehomesproperty.co.uk or follow us on Facebook