Every landlord should have a rental property maintenance checklist to ensure their properties are always compliant with building and safety regulations and remain both habitable and comfortable throughout the duration of their tenant’s stay.
A maintenance checklist should be comprehensive and cover all aspects of the condition of the property, safety and compliance for appliances and fire regulations, and regulated tenants’ issues.
Below you will find the ultimate property checklist for landlords.
Key Takeaways
- Fire, Gas, and Electrical Safety Checks should always be your number one priority
- Central Heating and Hot Water maintenance should be carried out at least once every 6 months
- External maintenance checks often go overlooked but are just as important as many internal checks
Maintenance checklists should focus on checking the status of the tenants as much as the condition of the property and safety compliance.
Landlord Checklists for Renting a House
As a landlord, there are a number of requirements you must meet to remain legally compliant when it comes to property maintenance. The government clearly stipulates that you must
- Keep your rented properties safe and free from health hazards
- Make sure all gas equipment and electrical equipment is safely installed and maintained
These requirements lead us to our essential landlord maintenance checklist.
Essential Maintenance Checklist
1. Fire Safety Checks
Your fire safety maintenance checklist should include the testing of all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers, and checking that all fire escapes and escape routes are accessible and clearly signposted where applicable.
2. Gas Safety Checks
All gas appliances including cookers, gas fires, and flues must undergo an annual safety inspection carried out by a certified and registered gas engineer. Upon completion, you will receive your Landlord Gas Safety Record which records the results of the inspection.
3. Electrical Safety Checks
Maintaining electrical equipment safety is another legal requirement of landlords and is overseen by the Health & Safety Executive, about which you can read more information here.
Secondary Essential Maintenance Checklist
Whilst the above list constitutes the most fundamental checks that need to be carried out to meet legal safety requirements, the following maintenance checks should be considered equally as important.
1. Central Heating & Hot Water
Check to see that your boiler, radiators, and/or alternative heating systems are fully functional. Turn the heating on, ensure the controls are working properly, and run the hot water from every outlet. You should have your boiler serviced at least once every six months.
2. Appliances
You must ensure that all appliances are working properly. This includes everything that was included in the terms of the rental agreement which usually involves the cooker (oven/hob), the fridge-freezer, washing machines, and dishwashers.
3. Damp and Mould
You should check the property for signs of dampness or mould at least every six months. Leaving damp to go unchecked over a prolonged period of time could result in structural damage leading the property to become unsafe. A significant build-up of mould can also pose a risk to the health of your tenants which could leave you vulnerable to potential legal action.
External Maintenance Checklist
1. Roofs and Guttering
You want to check the roof and guttering at least twice a year, normally in spring to ensure that there is no damage to the roof of your property caused by the colder winter weather, and at the end of autumn to confirm that the roof is fit for the winter months ahead.
Check the roof externally and from inside the loft or attic to make sure you have a complete picture of its condition.
The regularity of ensuring that guttering and drainage points are clear is much to the discretion of the landlord, but we recommend that this should be carried out at least twice a year at the same time you are inspecting the roof.
2. Subsidence
If your property is experiencing subsidence then you want to know as soon as possible.
Check for any cracks that have developed in the walls or any misalignment that may pose a risk of structural damage to the property.
Subsidence can be caused simply by changes to the condition of the ground beneath your foundations, but it could also be the result of roots from nearby trees or a sign of burst pipes or leaking drainage which you will want to fix asap.
Additional Maintenance Checks
1. Common Areas
If you own an apartment block or rent out a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) you are responsible for maintaining the common (shared) areas such as entrances, hallways, landings, and other common living spaces (lounges, etc.).
Maintenance checks for common areas should include that all lighting is working and keeping the area sufficiently well lit, ensuring that the internal common areas are kept to a high standard of cleanliness and external common areas (gardens, patios) are not in disrepair or causing a safety issue with a build-up of debris or other hazards.
2. Tenant Checks
Besides carrying out maintenance checks on the property itself you should also regularly check that everything is ship shape with the tenants themselves.
This should include things like checking that tenants are not smoking in the property or otherwise causing damage or disruption to other tenants, checking to see that the tenants are not sub-letting any part of the property outside the tenancy agreement, or keeping pets at the property (in cases where they are not permitted).
FAQS
When Can I Enter the Property to Carry Out Maintenance Checks and Work?
It is always best to pre-arrange your maintenance activities with the tenant(s) well in advance, but from a legal perspective, you can enter your property after issuing a 24-hour notification.
Do I have to rehouse my tenant if I make repairs?
No. There are no legal requirements for private landlords to rehouse their tenants if a property becomes uninhabitable unless that agreement has been stipulated in the tenancy agreement.
That being said, if you failed to act on information provided by the tenant that subsequently leads to the property becoming uninhabitable, you may be in contravention of section 11 of The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, in which case you may be liable for the costs of any alternate accommodation.
How much money should I allow for maintenance on a rental property?
Whilst there are no hard and fast rules the generally accepted wisdom is that you should be prepared to spend up to as much as 50% of your rental income to keep your property fit for purpose. This not only includes all maintenance and repair costs but also includes additional costs such as insurance and additional administrative expenses.
Conclusion
Whether you are renting out a property for the first time, or you are well versed in maintenance property management, there are strict landlord requirements in the UK that must be met to remain in compliance with the law.
Using a home maintenance checklist will ensure that you carry out all necessary checks at the required times and allow you to carry out any work or repairs in a timely fashion. This not only keeps you compliant but will nurture the relationship between you and your tenants.
Alternatively, you might consider using professional property management services from experienced professionals like MMC Manchester.
We handle every aspect of property maintenance including landscaping, roofing, renovation and repairs, and emergency call-outs. Get in touch today for a free no obligation quote and find out if our services are right for your property maintenance needs.
