10 hot tips for a toasty house this winter

How to Keep Your House Warm This Winter: A Cosy Guide

Winter is the season for crackling fires, hot drinks, and cosy nights in, but it can also bring a chilly reminder of just how cold our homes can get. Keeping your house warm during the winter months is essential - not just for comfort, but also for health and energy efficiency. Whether you're facing frosty mornings or battling icy winds, staying warm in a rental property can sometimes feel like a challenge; especially if you're working with restrictions on costs or major home improvements.

The good news is, there are plenty of affordable and landlord-friendly ways to keep the chill out and the warmth in. Here are some practical tips for tenants to create a warm, comfortable home without breaking the bank - or the tenancy!

1. Draft-Proof Like a Pro

Drafts are a major culprit for heat loss, but they’re easy to fix with inexpensive solutions:

• Draft excluders: Place them at the base of external doors to block cold air. You can even make your own by rolling up a towel or blanket.
• Window seals: Stick-on weatherstrips are affordable and effective for sealing gaps around windows, and easy to remove in the summer.
• Curtain hacks: Invest in thermal curtains or add a fleece blanket as a liner to keep heat from escaping through windows.

2. Layer Up Your Floors

Bare floors are notorious for sucking up heat, leaving your feet - and the rest of the room - feeling chilly. 

• Cover them with rugs or mats to create an extra layer of insulation. If you’re on a tight budget, check out charity shops, Facebook Marketplace, or budget home stores for affordable options.
• Check for gaps between floorboards and fill them with sealant to stop drafts from sneaking through.

3. Keep the Heat In

To maximize the warmth from your heating system:

• Bleed your radiators: This ensures they’re working efficiently by removing trapped air.
• Add foil panels behind radiators on exterior walls to reflect heat back into the room.
• Avoid blocking radiators with furniture or curtains to allow heat to circulate freely.

4. Make Use of Smart Heating

Smart thermostats and programmable timers let you heat your home more efficiently:

• Set your heating to come on just before you wake up or arrive home.
• Zone heating allows you to warm specific areas, like the living room during the day and bedrooms at night, without wasting energy on unused spaces.

5. Cook Up Some Heat

Winter is the perfect time to embrace baking and hearty cooking:

• Using your oven or stovetop generates heat, helping to warm up your kitchen. Bonus: you’ll also have delicious treats or meals to enjoy!
• Leave the oven door open after baking to let residual heat warm the room (but keep pets and kids in mind for safety).

6. Embrace the Layers

While insulating your home is key, don’t forget to layer yourself:

• Invest in cozy blankets, throws, and wooly socks.
• Consider heated blankets, hot water bottles or fleeced bedding for an extra touch of warmth on frosty evenings.

7. Use Your Curtains Wisely

Natural sunlight is free heat! During the day, open your curtains or blinds to let in sunlight. Once the sun sets, close them to trap that warmth inside. Tension rods can be used to hang extra layers like thick blankets without drilling holes. Arrange furniture to make the most of warm spots, like sunny windows or near heating vents.

8. Get Creative with Natural Warmth

Use candles or fireplaces (if you have one) for both ambiance and warmth. If your fireplace is capped off, consider adding decorative but warming elements like faux flames or LED logs.

9. Stay Active

Sometimes, the best way to stay warm is to keep moving. Exercise or even a quick tidy-up session will get your blood pumping and help you feel toasty.

10. Communicate With Your Agent

If your rental has serious cold issues, such as broken heating or large drafts, contact us straight away. Repairs like fixing windows and fixing the boiler are your landlord's responsibility, and a well-maintained property benefits everyone.

Winter doesn’t have to mean shivering under a pile of blankets. By focusing on insulation, efficient heating, and a few cosy touches, you can create a warm, inviting space that’s perfect for enjoying the chilly season. Many of these tips will also save energy, keeping your bills in check while keeping you warm.