Over the past few decades, the United Kingdom has seen a significant increase in the number of people renting properties. Government figures show that up to 19% of households in England are owned by private sector landlords, meaning over 4.4 million households. A further 17% of households rent from local authorities or housing associations, representing around 3.8 million flats and houses. Landlords hoping to attract good, long-term tenants need to ensure that what they offer is competitive. The most important factors that tenants take into account are the costs of using the property, its durability and aesthetics. Our aluminium window joinery perfectly meets all these needs.
4 benefits of aluminium windows and doors in rental properties
According to WindowBase data, in 2006 only 27.7% of suppliers in the finishing industry included aluminium joinery available in what they offer. By 2023, this was already 63.5% of companies, meaning that interest in aluminium windows and doors has increased significantly. Today, this type of joinery already covers 28% of the market. Why is there such an interest in aluminium?
When preparing a property for future rental, it is worth bearing in mind that there are several reasons for this.
Lower heating costs of the facility
The data cited above shows that renting is one of the most important forms of residence for millions of people in Britain. Statistics show that they spend between 27% and 33% of their monthly income on rent. This means that when deciding to rent a particular property, they pay very close attention to both the cost of the rent and of the utilities. This includes heating, which constitutes a large part of the fixed costs.
Given such challenges, any solution that helps reduce heat loss is a huge plus for the tenant. And modern aluminium windows, such as those in the MB-86N system with thermal insulation or in the economical MB-79N system, cope perfectly with this need.
“It is worth noting that aluminium windows were once considered “cold”, but they are now suitable for use, even in buildings with high insulation requirements, such as passivehaus constructions,” says Wojciech Brożyna, Aluprof UK managing director. Thanks to the thermal barriers used in the Aluprof MB-104 Passive system, it was possible to achieve sufficient parameters to obtain a certificate from Passive House Institute Darmstadt.
Decrease in room heating
Reducing energy costs is not just a matter of window tightness. Aluprof’s analyses show that the lack of an external sunshade means that between 30% and 80% of the sun’s radiation passes into to the room, causing it to heat up. The result is not only the poorer well-being of the facility’s users, but also higher costs of energy consumption needed to cool it down.
All you need to solve this problem is to think about external and internal shades. There is a wide range of products available, from the modern SkyTwin shutters combining an external roller shutter and a screen-type sunshade in a single product, SkyFlow façade blinds with adjustable slats or SkyRoll screens with fabrics reflecting the sun’s rays.
“The research that Aluprof carried out together with Serge Ferrari in one of the Berlin hospitals showed that the energy demand for the southern façade fitted with screens can be reduced by up to 50%,” explains Wojciech Brożyna.
Higher durability of window and door joinery
Anyone who has rented a residential property at least once knows that even the best tenant never treats the rented property as their own. When preparing a property for rental, you can therefore choose one of two strategies: low-quality materials needing constant renovation or top-shelf products, meaning that you can forget about repairs for years to come, even if the tenant is careless about the property.
The second option is all the more advantageous as it reduces the involvement of the landlord in the property, reduces the risk of downtime of the facility during renovation and raises the standard of the facility, increasing its rental value.
Aluminium windows and doors mean not only cost-effective heating, but also ensure that the windows will not require renovation or replacement for many years. Aluminium does not warp, deform or rust. It is a corrosion-resistant material, which makes it ideal in climates where moisture and changing weather conditions can increase the wear for other materials, such as wood or PVC. Aluminium windows and doors can last up to 45 years or more, which is significantly longer than other materials.
Aesthetics and visual appeal
Tenants, especially those with higher expectations, pay attention to the aesthetics of the property. Aluminium windows and doors are distinguished by a modern, elegant appearance that adds prestige to the property.
“At Aluprof, We remain focused on ensuring that the solutions we design are not only energy-efficient and convenient for everyday use but also meet the diverse needs of everyone involved in the design process.,” says Brożyna. One of the latest models of Aluprof terrace doors, the MB-82HS lift-and-slide system model, is an example of the successful combination of energy efficiency with aesthetics, thanks to various fitting options, a sill built into the floor and the lack of masking strips. Visual values go well together with functionality and user convenience in this door.
Those tenants for whom the visual appeal and prestige of a building are important elements of the rental decision are often also conscious consumers who are more willing to choose ecological products. This trend is also clearly visible among the younger generation. Aluminium, as a 100% recyclable material, fits well into the need to support and protect the environment, which further increases the prestige of a given investment in the eyes of potential tenants.
Control the climate, control the costs
Although the United Kingdom currently boasts inflation lower than the average for the Eurozone countries, everyone remembers its outbreak in October 2022 when it reached a rate not seen in the country for 40 years. This surge was caused in part by the rise in gas prices, which is still one of the most popular heating systems. Any solution that lowers the cost of the day-to-day use of the apartment will be welcomed by potential tenants. The property will not only be easier to rent, but it will also increase the rental price. The investment in environmentally friendly and at the same time energy-efficient doors and windows pays off in two ways. Aluprof, in its latest promotional campaign “Control the climate, control the costs”, with the participation of that international football referee, Szymon Marciniak, emphasizes the slogan: “We play fair with nature”. At the same time, we play fair with tenants!
Article sponsored by Aluprof
ALUPROF UK LTD
Unit A5
Altrincham Business Park
Stuart Road
Altrincham WA14 5GJ
Cheshire, United Kingdom
+44 161 941 4005
[email protected]
aluprof.co.uk
Main image: Lancer Square, London, UK. Systems used: MB-70, MB-86 ST, MB-SR50N
