Is there such a thing as "house-watching" services?

[PrincessOlga]

I purchased a flat next year, but circumstances mean that I am now working abroad and can only go back to the flat for short visits every 6-8 weeks. That is not really a problem, but with winter coming I worry on the one hand about temperatures dropping and pipes freezing, and on the other about leaving the heating on for over a month in an unoccupied flat (as I know anything can break down!).

[I know you can pump the water out your pipes, but I would still be visiting every so often and would need to do it every time]

I do not want to rent out the flat and I moved to a city where I do not really know anyone. So I cannot ask friends to pop in once a week or even hire someone like a retired person to look in for some payment.

Does anyone have any bright ideas what someone in my position could do? Has anyone ever found a private company which could provide such a service? It is more a case of going in once a week just to check all is well, opening windows, etc. I thought of asking a neighbour, but sometimes it is good that your neighbours do not know too much about your private business...

How about hiring a cleaner for an hour a week? They could do a weekly freshen up and check flat at same time. Trick will be finding someone you can trust

Be careful with your buildings insurance, most have an exclusion for unoccupied properties over a specified period of time so worth checking your documentation to see if it applies and if so what the time limit is

This might not be helpful but back when I first set up as a SE cleaner, my very first job had nothing at all to do with cleaning - it was doing exactly what is in your OP.

A couple were moving abroad for a year for the husband's work and he was actually very astute in calling me. I was insured to hold keys, I was DBS checked... and I just popped in, checked over the place, picked up the post, and logged it in a little book they'd set up for their insurance that the house had been checked. They were probably a bit overzealous tbh but I was happy to do it.

It wasn't something I ever advertised, but he realised what he needed 'the service provider' to have and realised cleaners have them. You might be able to find similar (SE, not agency) who is happy to swing by between jobs or on their way home.

I second a cleaner, fortnightly perhaps who can pick up the post and keep the dust at bay. As you aren't around it's an ideal job for them as they can fit it around other work at different times (this also helps with security). If you happed to live near me i would certainly be interested in this sort of job (I'm dbs etc!)

home security firm? once a week check? they are usually bonded.

@PrincessOlga

Id be happy to do this too & stay over occasionally if you need that to meet your insurers/mortgage lenders requirements.

the easiest way to find someone though is looking for cleaners

It's not exactly what you're looking for but I guess you could consider house-sitting. I don't know much about it but I think there's organisations where the house sitters are vetted and can provide references from previous house sitting assignments.

I'm also sure I remember an ex colleague having a pet sitter (vetted and with good references from previous jobs) pop in once a day to check on and feed her cat whilst she was on holiday (not house-sitting - the pet sitter stayed at her own home and just came round every day).

So you could maybe try a pet sitting company. Even if you don't have pets I'm guessing if you pay they could come round and check on your flat.

Yes, I'd agree with a cleaner. Added nbonus that dust doesn't build up, toilets get flushed etc.

Anotehr option could be if there's a local handyman service. Someone on here once mentioned she has a handyman who comes round once a month or so at a set time and does all the little jobs she'd been saving up. I have wnated such a person as part of my life ever since!

Re pipes and heating, I'd be tempted to leave heating on (research if it's better to leave it on 24/7 or on a timer) but set super super low. Similarly hot water - turn the thermostat right down.

We use a cleaner for this. But also agree to check your insurance carefully - in my experience this will invalidate any usual insurance (and somebody else staying over occasionally won’t be enough to fix that). But unoccupied insurance is invalidated as soon as you stay in the house. It’s a real pain.

Ask a pet sitting service. They maybe able to help.

Can't help re a sitter idea. Sorry.

Re pipes: Leave your heating at "on" on a low heat 24-7.

Or on a timer.

Good idea to have someone pop in as if a pipe in a neighbouring property burst or something like a washing machine overflowed in a neighbouring property into yours , you'd not know.

Letting agents will do this too. Definitely get the right insurance.

There's a company called Trusted House sitters. But it has means you've got someone living in your house out without you getting any actual rent. Getting a cleaner in sounds better.

There are very limited insurance options for an unoccupied property when not UK resident. There will more than likely be a stipulation that heating is on at x degrees from Oct to April (x varies depending on the insurance company) and that it is checked every y days (30 if you're lucky, 15 if not). You need someone trustworthy as they'll know you aren't around- I would try letting agents, it's a very easy manage for them.

It's a difficult one as you don't know that you could trust a neighbour, whom you don't know, to be reliable, and the same thing with a cleaner when you are not there to supervise.

I would try a search for professional service companies that provide bespoke mobile security patrol and keyholding services for domestic premises but I have no idea if they do the sort of service of that means entering the flat - and how that would work with your insurance company policy - or how much it would cost.

Could you AirBnB it (or the like). There are companies that manage it for you and then people and cleaners would be in there regularly and you might even make some money from it. Plus any maintenance issues would be raised and dealt with. It would need to be allowable on your lease and you'd have to be insured. But might be a good solution?

Look for a local "extra pair of hands" type person. They tend to be self employed and do things like run errands for people. We have a great lady we use for all sorts and this would be right up her street.

Hi OP when I was in this situation I phoned around estate agents until I found one who agreed to monitor it for me. It wasn't very expensive at all and they were great.

Ps you know you need special insurance for uninhabited homes? I was caught out by this and I suddenly found I was uninsured....