» Read the full story

On top of all the concerns buy-to-let landlords usually have to deal with, now there is the added headache of making sure your property stays in one piece during the cold snap – make sure you have buy to let insurance so as to cover any cold-related problems.

As the freezing temperatures hit many parts of the UK again this week, many homes are under threat from burst and leaking pipes, causing extensive damage to property including structural problems and electrical faults. British homes may be sturdy, but few are fully engineered to cope with the temperatures we have been facing over the last week or so. That's why you need to make sure that if the worst happens, you are covered with the right insurance products.

According to Halifax, over the past two weeks one in six of all home insurance claims to Halifax were for burst pipes, compared to just over one in ten claims for early December. The insurer anticipates a significant increase in burst pipe claims this year as the UK is gripped by what experts say could be the coldest winter in 100 years.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax says: "The average cost to repair damage caused by a burst pipe is around £2000, so it is worth ensuring the home is properly insured, taking steps to prevent frozen pipes, making sure you have adequate insurance in place and also knowing what to do to limit damage if a pipe does burst."

Could you handle a £2000 bill right now? Could you afford to replace carpets, decorate rooms and even replace structural brick and woodwork? Could you afford to house your tenants elsewhere? If you have the right insurance it shouldn't be a problem but without cover, the cold can be a nightmare for unready landlords.

SOURCE: Halifax, 07/01/10

To keep up with the latest News and comment on the UK buy to let market visit the Buy to Let Mortgage Blog