Property maintenance is an essential part of being a landlord or property manager. By implementing a proactive approach to property maintenance, landlords and property managers can save time and money. Property
Tips From a Leading Property Maintenance Services Company
Safehouse services have worked for some of the largest landlords and property management groups in London and the south of the United Kingdom. We see firsthand what unnecessary damage and cost can occur when a property is not maintained in a timely manner.
We have created this blog post as a guide and checklist for Landlords, property managers, and homeowners to help you spot and stay on top of your properties maintenance, property management, and rental property.
UK Landlords and Property Managers Legal Responsibilities
As a property manager or landlord, you have legal responsibilities for your rental property and tenant’s safety. Landlord’s responsibilities include structure and exterior repairs to the property, heating and hot water systems, basins, sinks, baths, and other sanitaryware.
The safety of gas and electrical appliances. The fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy.
It is always worth checking with your local authorities. You can also find out more here.
Legal Roughten Landlord Rental Property Maintenance
As a landlord, your responsibility is to provide a safe and habitable property for your tenants to live in. This means that you must maintain the property promptly and address any issues that may arise. When it comes to the law, there is one phrase that all landlords must remember: “the tenant comes first.”
Rental Property Boiler Service and Certification
The law also requires that landlords have all boilers serviced in their rental property and certified every year. If your boiler is not up to code, you could face heavy fines from your local council.
Other helpful tips for maintaining and looking after a boiler
In addition to following the law, there are several best practices that all landlords should follow when it comes to property maintenance:
- – Have your boiler serviced and certified by a Gas Safe registered engineer at least once a year.
- – Make sure your boiler is the correct size for your property – too small, and it may not be able to heat the home adequately, too large, and you could be wasting energy and money.
- – Keep the area around your boiler clean and free of obstructions.
- – Check the filters on your boiler every month and replace them when necessary.
- – If your boiler is more than ten years old, it may be time to consider replacing it.
Electrical EICR Certification
Landlords have a responsibility to maintain their properties in a safe condition for tenants. This includes ensuring that the electrical installation is in good working order. A periodic electrical inspection can flag up any problems with your electrical installation and ensure it is safe. As a landlord, you are legally required to have an EICR carried out every five years.
If you would like advice or more information on electrical services or EICR services, you can contact safehouse services here.
Safehouse Services provide electrical services throughout London and the south of the UK on a day for our clients. Our team of electricians is experienced in EICR testing and reports as well as repairs and new installations of electrical items.
Test All Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
It is required that landlords install and test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in their rental properties at the start of each tenancy. Landlords who do not comply may be subject to fines.
Safehouse Services recommends for good property management that landlords test all rental property’s detectors at the beginning of every tenancy and during each annual safety check. Detectors should also be tested immediately if there is any sign of a problem, such as a chirping noise.
Proactive Rental Property Maintenance Tips for Landlords and Property Managers
One of the most important aspects of being a successful landlord is staying proactive concerning the rental home. You can head off many potential problems before they occur by taking a preventative approach. A well-maintained property will keep your tenants happy in the process. Here are some tips for carrying out and managing your regular maintenance on your rental properties.
Preventative Maintenance
The key to preventing more significant, more costly problems is to spot maintenance issues as they arise. Property maintenance professionals recommend the following approach:
Rental property visual inspections
Spotting Maintenance Issues by implementing a proactive approach to property maintenance, landlords can minimise the chances of costly and time-consuming repairs down the road. Here are some tips for implementing a successful property maintenance plan:
Regular walkthroughs of the property are essential for identifying any damage or potential issues. This allows landlords to address any problems before they become bigger issues.
Reactive rental property management
Addressing any damage or issues as soon as they are identified is key to keeping maintenance costs down. small repairs can often be fixed quickly and cheaply while letting damages go untreated can lead to more significant, more expensive problems down the road.
Preventative Maintenance
While reactive maintenance is essential, it’s always better to prevent problems from happening in the first place. Property owners can do a few things to help keep their property in good condition and minimise the chances of emergency repairs.
Create a maintenance schedule
Creating a schedule for regular property maintenance tasks can help landlords maintain multiple rental property maintenance. Tasks such as checking HVAC filters, changing light bulbs, and cleaning gutters can be easily forgotten if left unchecked.
Create a system for tracking repairs
Another important part of property maintenance is creating a system for tracking repairs. This will help landlords and property managers keep track of all the work that needs to be done on the property and when it was last completed.
This can help avoid any overlap or confusion when it comes to repairing the property.
Proactive Property Maintenance Checklist
Landlords and property managers who take a proactive approach to property maintenance can save time and money. The following is a checklist of proactive steps that can be taken to maintain a property:
One of the most critical aspects of property maintenance is inspecting the property regularly for damage or needed repairs. This can help landlords and property managers catch minor issues before they become more significant problems. Additionally, it helps to ensure that the property is always in good condition and meets safety standards.
Inspect the Roof for Damage and Wear
Roofs are an essential part of the structure, and leaks of a building can lead to costly damage.
Inspect roofs for damaged or missing roof tiles for any signs of water damage. Check the gutters and downpipes for blockages and leaks.
Clean your gutters regularly to avoid water damage
Blocked and overflowing gutters can cause water to run back under the roof tiles and into the property, damaging ceilings, walls, and floors. Blocked gutters are an easy fix but regularly overlooked and can cause significant damage if not remedied.
Ensure that guttering and downpipes are clear of debris and functioning correctly.
Check the exterior walls for cracks or holes.
Checking the exterior of the property’s walls and structure for holes and cracks is essential for property maintenance. These can be caused by weathering, pests, or even poor construction, foundations, or ground movement, and left unchecked, can lead to expensive repair bills.
Inspect the property for any damage that storms or other events may have caused, and make repairs before they turn into a more expensive problem.
Inspect all central heating and plumbing fixtures.
Central heating and plumbing systems are an important part of any property. It is crucial to inspect these systems for any leaks or other issues. Property maintenance professionals recommend checking these systems at least once a year.
Visually check all plumbing and central heating fitting and pipes. Check radiators are heating correctly. Is the central heating system making any noises?
You should spot any issues before they become a costly emergency by carrying out these checks. Here are some more central heating maintenance tasks and assessments.
- – Keep all filters clean and replace when necessary
- – Check the pressure gauge regularly and adjust as needed
- – Make sure all radiators are properly bled
- – Inspect the boiler for any signs of corrosion or leaks
If a leak is found, it should be fixed as soon as possible to avoid water damage and expensive repairs.
Reactive Maintenance Services
We know no matter how well you maintain your property, there will always be a time when you have an emergency. At safehouse services, we understand the need to be reactive and get to the emergency fast, whether it is a burst pipe or a broken window.
Emergency Property Services
Having a plan for emergencies will help landlords deal with unexpected problems swiftly and effectively. Emergency procedures might include having a list of qualified contractors or service providers who can be called upon in a pinch and setting aside money in the budget for unexpected repairs.
Work with your tenants.
Tenants can also help to maintain the property by following a few simple guidelines. They should keep all areas clean and free of debris and report any maintenance issues immediately. Landlords and property managers should respond quickly to repair requests to ensure the property is always in good condition.
If you quickly react to your tenant’s maintenance needs, they are more likely to take care of your rental property.
Provide Regular Maintenance Visits to Tenants
In addition to dealing with emergencies, landlords should also schedule regular maintenance for the property. This might include checking for leaks, cleaning the gutters, changing air filters, and other tasks that need to be done regularly. By staying on top of regular maintenance, landlords can help avoid expensive repairs down the road.
Landlords and Property Managers Duties
The Property Managers Association outlines your essential duties:
- – To keep the property in good repair
- – To liaise with tenants to agree on what alterations they can make
- – To manage gas safety and other safety issues
- – To provide a written statement of condition before the start of a tenancy
- – To ensure that all furniture and furnishings provided as part of the tenancy are safe
- – To provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- – To comply with The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
Rental property maintenance is an integral part of being a successful landlord. By following the tips in this article, landlords can keep their property in good condition and avoid costly repairs. If an emergency does occur, having a plan in place will help landlords deal with the situation swiftly and effectively.
At Safehouse Services, we understand the importance of property maintenance for landlords. We provide various services to help you keep your property in top condition, including emergency property services, regular maintenance visits, and more. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you maintain your
If you are a landlord or in charge of maintaining or managing multiple rental properties or just a homeowner and would like more information on the maintenance mentioned above. Or how we can help you with your planned or reactive maintenance needs, please give us a call on 01903 372137 or contact us here.