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Maintenance Tips
Practical advice to help London landlords and property owners prevent costly repairs and keep properties safe.
Plumbing Maintenance Tips
Insulate exposed pipes before winter
Lagging pipes in loft spaces, garages, and external walls prevents freezing. Burst pipes in winter are one of the most common — and costly — property emergencies.
Know where your stopcock is
Every property should have its main stopcock easily accessible. Turning it off quickly in an emergency can prevent thousands of pounds of water damage.
Check for slow drains early
Slow draining sinks and baths indicate a partial blockage. Left untreated, these escalate into full blockages or drain overflow. Monthly enzyme treatments help maintain flow.
Service your boiler annually
Annual boiler servicing catches problems early, maintains efficiency, and is often a condition of your boiler warranty and landlord gas safety obligations.
Leak Detection Tips
Monitor your water meter
Turn off all water in the property, note the meter reading, and check it again after 2 hours. If it has moved, you likely have a hidden leak.
Check for damp patches regularly
Inspect walls, ceilings, and floors — especially in bathrooms and kitchens — for unexplained damp patches or discolouration. These can indicate a leak behind the surface.
Act on water stains immediately
Yellow or brown staining on ceilings below bathrooms indicates ongoing or historic water leaks. Early investigation prevents structural damage and mould growth.
Don't ignore high water bills
A sudden unexplained increase in water bills is often the first sign of a hidden leak. Cross-reference with meter readings and call a specialist if in doubt.
Heating & Gas Tips
Bleed radiators at the start of the heating season
Trapped air stops radiators heating fully. Bleeding them annually improves efficiency and reduces energy bills.
Keep boiler pressure between 1 and 1.5 bar
Most boilers have a pressure gauge on the front. If pressure drops below 1 bar, the system needs re-pressurising — follow your boiler manual or call a Gas Safe engineer.
Test your carbon monoxide detector monthly
CO detectors save lives. Test them monthly, replace batteries annually, and fit one in every room with a gas appliance.
Don't block air vents
Air vents around gas appliances provide essential ventilation. Blocking them — even accidentally — creates a dangerous CO build-up risk.
Electrical Safety Tips
Get an EICR every 5 years (landlords: every 5 years or change of tenancy)
An Electrical Installation Condition Report is a legal requirement for rental properties and essential for owner-occupiers seeking peace of mind.
Test RCDs monthly
Your consumer unit should have RCD (residual current device) switches. Press the test button monthly to confirm they trip and reset correctly.
Never overload sockets
Overloaded sockets are a leading cause of electrical fires. Use one plug per socket where possible and avoid daisy-chaining extension leads.
Replace damaged cables immediately
Frayed, cracked, or damaged cables present a serious fire and electrocution risk. Do not use temporary tape fixes — replace the cable or have it inspected.
Fire Safety Tips
Test smoke alarms weekly
The London Fire Brigade recommends testing smoke alarms every week. Replace batteries annually and the full unit every 10 years.
Inspect fire doors every quarter
Check that fire doors self-close fully, seals are intact, and there are no gaps exceeding 3mm around the frame. Report defects immediately.
Keep fire escape routes clear
Corridors, stairwells, and fire exit routes must be kept clear of all obstructions at all times — this is a legal requirement for HMOs and commercial properties.
Carry out a fire risk assessment
Most non-domestic premises require a written fire risk assessment. For HMOs, this is a licensing condition. Review it annually or after significant changes to the property.
General Property Maintenance Tips
Inspect roofs and gutters twice a year
Spring and autumn gutter clears prevent water ingress, damp, and structural damage. Blocked gutters overflow into walls, causing costly remediation.
Seal gaps around windows and doors
Draughts cost money and cause damp. Reapply silicone sealant around window frames and external doors every 3–5 years.
Keep a maintenance log
Recording all works, inspections, and certificates for each property protects you legally and makes portfolio management far simpler.
Act quickly on tenant maintenance reports
Addressing issues early prevents them escalating. For landlords, delayed repairs can constitute a breach of your Section 11 obligations.
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