{"id":186371,"date":"2025-12-22T07:13:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T14:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=186371"},"modified":"2026-01-05T07:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:17:14","slug":"the-necessary-winter-tasks-to-protect-you-and-your-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-necessary-winter-tasks-to-protect-you-and-your-property","title":{"rendered":"The Necessary Winter Tasks to Protect You and Your Property"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article is presented by <\/span>NREIG<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter has a way of exposing every weakness in a rental property. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first deep freeze can turn a hairline pipe crack into a flooded basement. One unshoveled walkway can become a slip and fall dispute. A furnace that worked “just fine” in October can suddenly fail the moment temperatures drop into the teens. And when these issues hit, you\u2019re looking at liability exposure, frustrated tenants, and preventable property damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why smart landlords treat winter like the high-stakes season it is. The risks are predictable. The solutions are straightforward. But clarity is everything. When you assign winter responsibilities clearly, before the first snowflake, you drastically reduce emergencies, misunderstandings, and costly claims.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter is one of the top seasons for insurance claims. Partners like <\/span>National Real Estate Insurance Group (NREIG)<\/span><\/a><\/strong> help landlords stay protected when the unexpected happens, even when you\u2019ve done everything right.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s break down the biggest cold-weather threats to your property, why these risks spiral when <\/span>lease language<\/span><\/a> is unclear, and how to structure winter responsibilities so you and your tenants stay aligned from day one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter may be unavoidable, but winter damage doesn\u2019t have to be. Let\u2019s get ahead of it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biggest Winter Risks Landlords Face<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winter exposes weaknesses in a rental property faster than any other season. Even well-maintained homes can experience failures when temperatures swing, snow loads increase, and moisture builds in hidden places. Understanding these risks in detail is the first step to preventing midwinter emergencies, insurance claims, and tenant disputes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frozen and burst pipes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When temperatures plummet, water inside pipes can freeze and expand, causing cracks or catastrophic ruptures. A single burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water in minutes, damaging drywall, flooring, electrical systems, and tenant belongings. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These events often trace back to simple oversights <\/span>like<\/span> a tenant turning the thermostat too low, a drafty crawlspace left uninsulated, or an outdoor spigot not <\/span>winterized properly<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frozen pipes also tend to trigger disputes about responsibility. Tenants may blame the property, while landlords suspect improper thermostat settings or <\/span>failure <\/span>to<\/span> drip<\/span> faucets. Without clear winter expectations in the lease, determining fault becomes <\/span>messy,<\/span> fast.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice dams and roof damage<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ice dams form when heat from the home melts <\/span>roof<\/span> snow unevenly. The meltwater refreezes at the edges, trapping water behind it. That water can then seep under shingles, causing leaks, ceiling stains, mold, and <\/span>insulation damage<\/span>. Landlords often don\u2019t realize there\u2019s a problem until tenants report water spots, and by then, repairs can be extensive.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roofs also bear extra weight in winter. Heavy snow accumulation can strain older structures, loosen shingles, damage gutters, and <\/span>set the stage<\/span> for leaks during the thaw.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slick walkways, stairs, and driveways<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Slip-and-fall incidents spike during winter. Even a thin layer of ice can send someone to the ER. Landlords risk liability if walkways, stairs, and driveways <\/span>aren\u2019t addressed<\/span> promptly, and tenants may assume the owner is responsible unless the lease explicitly states otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular clearing of snow and ice is critical, but problems arise when expectations aren\u2019t <\/span>communicated<\/span> clearly<\/span>, <\/span>or when a tenant believes \u201cminor ice\u201d isn\u2019t worth reporting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heating system failures<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A broken furnace in winter is both inconvenient and a habitability issue that can force tenants into hotels, damage your property, and trigger rent credits or claims. Heating systems work harder in extreme cold, so worn parts, dirty filters, or overdue maintenance can lead to sudden failure.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inconsistent heating also increases <\/span>pipe-freeze<\/span> risk and pushes tenants toward unsafe temporary solutions <\/span>like<\/span> ovens or portable heaters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Space heater fire risks<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Space heaters cause thousands of residential fires each year, many of them in rentals. Tenants often place them too close to bedding or curtains, plug them into overloaded power strips, or leave them running unattended. Without clear rules and education, landlords may face fire, smoke, and liability fallout.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor fixtures and drainage<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unwinterized hoses and spigots can freeze and burst. Clogged gutters and downspouts create ice dams. Poor drainage causes meltwater to pool near foundations, leading to seepage or basement leaks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each issue is predictable and preventable when both landlords and tenants know exactly what to do and whe<\/span>n. <\/span>That\u2019s why the next section digs into why clarity in the lease is the most powerful winter-proofing tool you have.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Winter Responsibilities Must Be Crystal Clear in the Lease<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winter issues can cause property damage and create confusion when the lease isn\u2019t <\/span>specific<\/span> about <\/span>winterization responsibility<\/span>.<\/span> When a pipe freezes, a walkway ices over, or a furnace stops working, tenants and landlords often have <\/span>completely<\/span> different assumptions about who should have prevented the problem, and who must fix it now. And that confusion turns into dollars lost\u2014fast.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its core, unclear winter responsibilities open the door to three <\/span>major<\/span> risks: disputes, liability exposure, and preventable losses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear responsibilities prevent costly <\/span>losses<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Winter property damage is expensive, but most common issues are preventable with the right actions: dripping faucets, clearing gutters, insulating exposed pipes, and reporting heating issues immediately. The problem is that tenants don\u2019t automatically know they\u2019re supposed to do these things.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the lease clearly outlines winter expectations and those expectations <\/span>are communicated<\/span> early, problems <\/span>are resolved<\/span> quickly, before they turn into emergencies. A well-written lease protects both landlords and tenants, so keep winter specifics in mind when drafting your lease. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Winter Responsibilities Should Actually Look Like<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you understand <\/span>why <\/span><\/em>winter duties must be clearly defined, the next step is translating those expectations into practical, actionable responsibilities. The goal is to eliminate any guesswork about who is responsible for what and when.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tenant Responsibilities: Daily and Weekly Winter Tasks<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tenants play a key role in preventing winter damage, but they can only do so effectively when their responsibilities <\/span>are spelled out<\/span> in the lease.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snow and ice removal<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tenants should be responsible for clearing snow and applying ice melt on walkways, steps, driveways, porches, and any areas they use regularly. <\/span>This<\/span> reduces slip-and-fall risk and keeps access points safe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thermostat minimums<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A <\/span>clear<\/span> minimum temperature, often 55 to 60 degrees, prevents pipes from freezing. <\/span>Tenants must understand that turning the heat off to “save money” can <\/span>lead to<\/span> thousands <\/span>in<\/span> damage.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dripping faucets and cabinet access<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During extreme cold, tenants may <\/span>be required<\/span> to drip faucets and open cabinet doors to allow warm air <\/span>around<\/span> pipes<\/span>.<\/span> These small steps can prevent major plumbing failures.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prompt reporting of issues<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tenants should immediately report:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n