In real estate, proactive maintenance is essential to protecting your assets, complying with UK regulations, and delivering a positive tenant experience.
Regular inspections and preventive checks can save your business time, money, and reputational damage. Below are five key maintenance checks that every real estate business should implement as part of a robust property management strategy.
Statutory Safety Checks: Gas, Electrical, and Fire Safety
Landlords and property managers in the UK are legally obligated to carry out specific safety checks on rental properties. These include:
- Annual gas safety inspections, conducted by Gas Safe registered engineers.
- Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) every five years.
- Fire safety compliance, such as functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor and in high-risk rooms.
Additionally, landlords must also ensure that all furnishings provided meet fire safety regulations. Maintaining an accurate, up-to-date log of all inspections and certificates is not only required by law but vital for both compliance and liability mitigation.
Water System Health: Legionella and Drainage
Landlords are responsible for controlling the risk of Legionella in water systems. While full and formal testing isn’t always necessary for low-risk properties, maintaining clean systems and ensuring proper temperature control is crucial.
Beyond Legionella, businesses should routinely check plumbing systems for blockages, minor leaks, and drainage issues. Don’t overlook grout lines and seals in bathroom showers – a common source of slow leaks that can lead to damp or rot over time.
Structural Integrity: Roof, Gutters, and External Fabric
The condition of a property’s exterior plays a crucial role in long-term upkeep. Regular inspections should focus on:
- Roofs – check for loose or broken tiles, moss accumulation, or cracked flashing.
- Gutters – clear out leaves and debris that could lead to water ingress.
- External walls, including render, brickwork, and paintwork, should be examined for signs of deterioration.
Neglecting these checks can compromise both the building structure and the internal environment for tenants.
Energy Efficiency and Environmental Considerations
Although the UK government recently stepped back from requiring all rental properties to meet an EPC rating of C by 2030, the pressure on landlords to improve energy efficiency remains. Check insulation in lofts and walls, seal draughty entry points, and review boiler or heating system performance.
These upgrades not only increase property value but also reduce tenants’ energy bills and support sustainability goals.
Internal Condition and Security: Damp, Mould, and Entry Points
Regular inspections are crucial for both tenant well-being and the long-term health of your property. Pay close attention to the internal environment, specifically monitoring for damp, mould, and condensation. These issues often arise from poor ventilation, leaks, or condensation and are frequently found around windows, pipes, and high-humidity areas like showers and bathrooms. Catching these problems early is vital. In parallel, always prioritise tenant security by thoroughly testing locks, doors, and windows to ensure they close and lock properly, providing peace of mind for your tenants.
