Tips For Easier Repairs This Christmas.
December 8, 2014
Santa might not be the only one calling this season – don’t forget your tenants this year.
IT may be time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, but while it’s tempting to abandon yourselves to festive frolics come tinsel time, your responsibilities to tenants don’t stop up just because it’s the silly season. Wise letting agencies will plan ahead to ensure their clients aren’t frozen out, locked out or in a whole host of other sticky situations, asking themselves bitterly, “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?”
They may not be at the top of your Christmas list but our top tips for keeping clients happy this festive season might just be the best present you’ll get this year:
Make sure your tenants know your Christmas opening hours and how to get hold of you in an emergency. Nobody expects you to forego the turkey in order to man the phones in an empty office (which is where an online repair reporting service could come in handy – more about that later), but it is reasonable for tenants to have some means of contacting their letting agency in an emergency. Just not a brussels sprout related one.
Substitute location, location, location for education, education, education. Common pain points can sometimes be headed off with a bit of knowledge and common sense – perhaps encouraging tenants to undertake a few simple self-help steps in key maintenance areas before getting in touch, could pay dividends.
Speaking the language. It can be hard enough to get your point across at Christmastime, let alone when you’re trying to tell someone who doesn’t speak your language. For those with an international tenant base, ensure your staff have been through their client lists closely with the colleague who will cover them before they take annual leave.
Standards may slip under the mistletoe, but not on the phone. It can be easy to let things slide when you’re operating a skeleton staff and you’re dealing with the inevitable energy crash after Christmas, but it’s imperative that you remain meticulous when it comes to note-taking and record-keeping. ARLA and TPOS members are required to keep written communications with tenants for 6 years and for good reason – not having an accurate account of all contact is the fastest way to land in hot water when it comes to a dispute. We’ve seen it happen before but it’s easily avoided.
And now for some festive cheer – why not let Fixflo make all your Christmas wishes come true this year with our effective and easy to use repair reporting software? With a 14 day free trial period and only a 15 minute installation time required, why not let us cut the time you have to spend on tricky customers in half this year? To be set up in time for Christmas, just contact Fixflo for a 15-minute remote demonstration by 15th December. At last – something to celebrate!
You May Also Enjoy
Breaking Property News 21/11/25
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. VE+ the new procurement engine cutting developers costs without compromise Finishes packages are specification sensitive and expensive components of any build – VE+ fixes this As construction costs continue to climb and procurement timelines tighten, developers and contractors are being pushed harder than ever…
Read More 
Inheritance Tax Receipts raise £5.2 billion in seven months
Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts hit £5.2 billion in the first seven months of the 2025/26 tax year, according to data released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this morning. This is £0.2 billion higher than same period of the previous tax year and continues an upward trend over the last two decades. Nicholas Hyett, Investment…
Read More
FMB calls on Reeves to scrap housing tax threat
The Chancellor needs to scrap the Government’s proposed landfill tax quarry exemption which will add up to £28,000 to the cost of homes on small sites in next week’s Autumn Budget, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “At a time when the Government is failing to…
Read More 
Full Steam Ahead! UK Construction to return to growth in 2026
Construction intelligence specialists predict renewed activity following false-start over the summer. Revised figures will see UK construction sector grow 21% over the next two years Private housebuilding remains on course to grow significantly, with activity still predicted to rise by almost a fifth in 2027 Commercial office starts set to continue their ascent, and increasing…
Read More 
Winter is Coming: Douglas & Gordon Warns Landlords and Tenants to Take Action Before Disputes Occur
Mould, damp, burst pipes and boilers on the blink? With temperatures set to plummet in London this week, real-estate agent Douglas & Gordon is advising landlords and tenants to take action before issues occur. With 45% of landlords experiencing arrears or disputes, often linked to property condition or delayed maintenance* the agent’s expert lettings team…
Read More 
Home sellers slashing asking prices amid Budget speculation
The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that homesellers are slashing asking prices across the country in an attempt to attract buyers in a stagnant pre-Budget housing market. The latest asking price data* shows that the average asking price in Britain (£364,833) fell by -1.8% between October and November 2025, contributing to an overall annual…
Read More