5 Preventative Maintenance Tasks for Landlords

Staying on top of maintenance tasks can help you avoid more costly repairs in the long run. Here are 5 preventative maintenance checks that every landlord should be doing on the regular.

1. Check for leaks – start at the top of the property and work your way down. Give the roof a regular, thorough once over to make sure the flashing, tiles, roofing felt, and other materials are in good condition and that there are no gaps or cracks. In the loft, check for signs of water leakage from the roof and any water pipes that may be running through the area. As you work your way down the building, look for signs of water damage (like damp patches, mould, staining or pooled water) and feel around any pipe joints for moisture.
2. Look for trip hazards – inside, check laminate or wooden flooring is in good condition and that there’s no warping, separation or areas that are standing proud. Check that floor tiles are not cracked or loose and that the grouting doesn’t need attention. Make sure carpets are not worn, ripped or coming loose where they join. Externally, check any areas that belong to the property such as pathways, steps and car parking areas. Any cracked concrete, potholes or loose paving could be a safety hazard and will need repairing a.s.a.p.
3. Clear gutters and drains – regular drain maintenance, drainage pipe checks and gutter clearing will help prevent water damage and potentially costly flood repairs. Obviously, autumn is a time when this is particularly important, but you should also be doing regular checks and clearing throughout the year. Unfortunately, floods are becoming a more regular feature of modern life, so your building needs to be as prepared as possible for sudden heavy downpours and rising water levels. Do whatever you can to help water run away from your property effectively.
4. Fire safety checks – make sure any fire doors are well-maintained and up to code, that fire exits are kept clear, the correct fire stopping measures and materials are in place and that any fire extinguishers are in date and are the appropriate kind for that specific space. Also, check all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in perfect working order. If you’re not sure whether your building meets the required fire safety standards, you need to consult the professionals. You can find more guidance here.
5. Heating checks – as a landlord, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the heating system is in good working order and that the boiler is maintained and serviced properly. Gas appliances must be serviced (annually or according to the manufacturers guidelines) by a registered gas safe engineer and records of every service must be maintained by you. If the heating system breaks down, it’s considered a hazard and must be repaired as an emergency, so it’s best to try and keep things ticking over nicely with regular maintenance. It’s also useful to bleed the radiators periodically to ensure that the property is heated properly. It’s a really good idea to make sure your tenants understand how the heating works and what to do when things go wrong, so that you can take the appropriate action quickly.

Preventative maintenance contractors

At Groom Property Maintenance, we’ve been providing preventative maintenance services to commercial and residential landlords for over 30 years. We’re here to keep things running smoothly so you and your tenants don’t have to worry. As well as scheduled maintenance, our multi-skilled team are also on hand 24/7 to get things fixed when emergency repairs crop up. So, you know your rental property is in safe hands.

If you’d like to know more about our fire stopping services, drainage services, plumbing services, roofing services or general building maintenance services, call us on  01269 841416 on or contact our helpdesk online.