Given the rise in popularity of HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation), it’s important to ensure tenants have a comfortable living environment.
With more people moving away for work opportunities, to experience a new city, or to downsize due to skyrocketing prices, landlords must ensure that their properties stand out for current and prospective renters, with dim top floors often presenting a real challenge.
An effective way to make HMOs a great place to live is by swapping out old roof windows for new ones – doing this can work wonders for the rooms throughout the house, letting in more natural light, fresh air, and generally improving people’s mood – as well as reducing the risk of additional costs brought about by common issues experienced by older roof windows, like mould, moisture, and condensation.
Therefore, both the tenants and landlords win from roof window replacements – the former has a happier environment, and the latter a more sustainable property – but just how do roof lights make such a significant difference?
The Impact of Outdated Roof Windows in HMOs
Diminished aesthetic appeal and lower tenant satisfaction
Starting with the most overt reason to replace old roof windows, they can harm the entire property’s feel.
Rather than having a cosey place to live, old roof windows can make HMOs feel less homely largely due to their inability to attract natural light, leading to a dim environment.
These miserable living conditions can lead to a high turnover of tenants, which means time-consuming room viewings and contract sorting.
Moreover, it may be trickier to attract your ideal tenant as they may be turned off by how the property looks.
Minimal Energy Efficiency and Higher Bills
Another way that old roof windows make HMOs uncomfortable places to live is their poor thermal efficiency.
This will not only lead to a confining environment for tenants but an expensive one.
It’s costly because older windows often don’t have good insulation, which means heat can slip out when it’s cold outside, increasing reliance on financially draining radiators.
With the construction of these older windows, heat doesn’t just escape through the glass but also gaps around them. It also means that in the hotter summer months, unwanted warmth can seep into the home, making it uncomfortable.
This leads to higher costs for all involved by using more energy – by switching outdated windows for newer ones designed to save energy, such as the options available from Dakea, everyone inside will stay warmer, and the bills cheaper.
Stagnant Air & Moisture Issues
Many older roof windows lack proper ventilation options.
This can lead to stagnant air, creating a stuffy and unhealthy living environment.
Furthermore, poor ventilation can contribute to moisture build-up, which can be a significant concern in shared living spaces like HMOs.
Moisture can lead to mould growth and other health problems for your tenants.
What are the Benefits of Modern Roof Window Replacements?
Enhanced Natural Light and Ventilation
One of the main perks of getting new roof windows is how much more natural light they let into HMOs.
These windows are made to let in as much sunlight as possible, making rooms look brighter and more welcoming. When there’s more natural light coming in, it can lift everyone’s mood and make living areas nicer to spend time in, attracting potential tenants and retaining existing ones.
On top of bringing in more light, modern roof windows help air out the place too – at Dakea, our range includes windows for flat and pitched roofs, some of which are operatable with a wall switch.
New roof windows allow you to make use of every corner of a building, shining light on areas that may previously have been uninhabitable for furniture or decorations.
Improved Energy Efficiency and Insulation
Modern roof windows, such as the options from Dakea, feature high-performance double or triple glazing with advanced thermal insulation – the choice is yours.
This significantly reduces energy loss, leading to lower heating bills in winter and cooler summers, making your HMO more energy-efficient and potentially appealing to sustainability-conscious tenants.
The window frames are made from high-quality materials, either PVC or wood depending on your choice.
Increased Property Value and Tenant Attraction
Putting in new roof windows has a lot of perks, like making your property worth more and catching the eye of people looking to rent or buy.
With these modern roof windows added to an HMO (House in Multiple Occupations), the place can become much more valuable. The extra sunlight that comes through makes rooms feel bigger and brighter, adding a feel of luxury.
On top of all this, having these updated windows can make your property stand out. A lot of people are drawn to homes that offer plenty of natural light and give them a bit closer feeling to nature right from their living room or bedroom, particularly given the now scientifically-proven benefits of natural light exposure, something incredibly appealing to the increasingly health-conscious society we live in.
This feature alone could make it easier for you as an owner by attracting reliable tenants faster than before while also keeping those empty periods short.
Choosing the Right Roof Windows for HMOs
When picking out roof windows for HMOs, it’s really important to think about a few key things.
Considering Size, Style, and Functionality
Firstly, it’s vital to think about how big they should be, their style, and picking the right features so that everything fits well with the house and satisfies the tenants.
The size of your roof window directly impacts the amount of natural light that enters the room. An undersized window might leave corners and areas far from the window feeling dim and uninviting.
Conversely, an oversized window could create excessive glare or heat gain in the summer.
As for looks, choose window styles that make your property look good from both inside and outside. You could go with top-hung ones which open upwards or side-hung ones opening sideways; maybe even centre pivot designs where they rotate around a middle point are more your style – whatever matches best.
Roof windows from Dakea offer much more than letting in natural light and air – they can come with special blinds built in, rain sensors, and noise reduction glazing – the choice is yours!
High Performance
When picking out roof windows for HMOs, it’s really helpful to know about the different types of glass you can choose from.
You can choose options that prioritise thermal efficiency, sound reduction, natural light intake, UV ray protection, ventilation, and so much more.
Choosing glass that cuts down on outside noise is a great move for places near loud spots like airports or busy main roads. It helps make things quieter inside so everyone can have a peaceful place to live.
However, if your priority is to reduce energy bills, you’d be wise to choose Dakea’s Ultima Energy, as it achieves U-values as low as 0.99 W/m2k.
Regardless of your specific needs, there’s sure to be a suitable option for you.
Budget
Of course, knowing that there is an option to fit into your budget is a key factor in getting any project off of the ground.
At Dakea, we strive to offer modern roof windows across various price points, meaning whatever budget you have, there’s an exceptional option for you.
You’re promised high quality, professionalism from start to finish, meticulous attention to detail, and a product that excels in key features like durability, security, and energy efficiency.
Installation Considerations for HMOs
When putting in roof windows for HMOs, it’s vital to plan well and think things through so you don’t cause too much trouble or inconvenience to your tenants.
The cost of getting these windows installed can change based on how big or complicated the job is. But spending money on a professional installer is worth it because they make sure everything’s sealed up tight, insulated properly, and follows all the relevant regulations.
It’s also vital that you know your roof, and are sure it can structurally support the additional weight of roof windows – if you’re unsure, Dakea offer support through every step of the installation, from choosing the right roof window through to support and aftercare.
Modern Roof Windows from Dakea
At Dakea, we provide a huge range of roof windows at affordable prices.
We have specialist categories for both flat roof windows and pitched windows, with each product tailored to your requirements.
An example of the exceptional products we offer is our Azure Electric Roof Window, an openable flat window that includes a rain sensor to ensure no unwelcome water is allowed into your home.
Although given that the majority of roof windows for HMOs are pitched, here are a few examples of our offerings in that category.
Ultima Energy PVC Roof Window
The Ultima Energy PVC Roof Window is famed for providing exceptional sound and heat insulation.
Common issues of moisture, humidity, and dirt are eliminated thanks to the PVC frame, with the panes including pane coating as well as being filled with krypton gas to create improved energy efficiency.
Noise block technology protects the occupants from external noise and disruption, reducing it by 50% compared to standard windows.
Easy to open, they allow great ventilation and exterior views, to bring any bedroom, attic, or general upstairs area to life.
Dakea’s ‘Good’ Range
At Dakea, our Good range features high quality roof windows at affordable prices.
Dakea Good is a centre-pivot construction, consisting of a ventilation valve and a handle with two additional locking positions to allow easy, comfortable ventilation.
The promise that these windows don’t compromise on excellence is backed up by their additional lacquer coating and toughened outer glass for increased durability and comfort of use.
They can be installed in all roofing materials, in a roof pitch between 15 and 90 degrees, making the Good range perfect for a refurbishment project.
About Dakea
Dakea makes high-quality roof windows affordable.
Our professional-grade products deliver exceptional value, exceeding expectations with better prices.
For total peace of mind, Dakea roof windows come with a 20-Year Guarantee and are independently tested for top performance.
We’re committed to sustainability, using only FSC-certified wood from responsibly managed forests. Get a free, no-obligation quote online for your roof window replacement project, or call our friendly, expert team on (+44) 20 3970 5080 for personalised assistance.
