Landlord maintenance checklist: what to check and when

This guide covers England. It's general information, not legal advice. Rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are different.

The short version

Get the heating checked before winter, and clear gutters after the leaves fall.
Check ventilation and look for damp through the winter.
Do outside jobs like roofs, paint and windows in spring and summer.
Use the time between tenancies for anything that's hard to do with someone living there.

Autumn

Book the boiler service, and the gas safety check if it's due. A yearly service isn't the same as the legal gas safety check, but doing both together saves a visit.
Ask tenants to test the heating early, before the first cold snap.
Clear gutters and drains once the leaves have fallen.
Check outside taps and pipes in unheated spaces are insulated.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Winter

Make sure tenants know where the stopcock is, in case a pipe bursts.
Watch for condensation, damp and mould. Check extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms work. Our damp and mould guide.
Check for roof leaks after storms.
If a property will be empty, keep the heating on low to stop pipes freezing.

Spring

Look over the roof, chimney and flashing for winter damage.
Check window seals and sealant around baths and showers.
Clean or replace extractor fan filters.
Check fences, gates and paths for anything that could cause a trip or fall.

Summer

Do outside painting and woodwork while it's dry.
Cut back trees and plants from walls, gutters and paths.
Check for pests like wasps' nests in roofs and sheds.

Between tenancies

Do your check-out inspection and compare it with the check-in inventory.
Fix anything that's hard to do with tenants living there, like redecorating, flooring or bathroom work.
Check every alarm works on the day the new tenancy starts. This is a legal requirement in England. Alarm rules.
Make sure the gas safety record and EICR are in date, and give the new tenant copies before they move in.
Give the new tenant the way to report repairs.

All year round

Most expensive repairs start small: a slow drip, a bit of damp, a loose tile. Tenants are your early warning, so make reporting easy and reply quickly. Keep track of your certificate dates so nothing lapses. The compliance checklist covers the legal ones.