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Carrying out regular property repairs and maintenance tasks is essential to keep your home attractive and structurally sound but it can be hard to know where to start. Check out our home maintenance calendar to help you keep your house in order.
Why is Property Maintenance Important?
Property maintenance isn’t very glamorous; it’s much more exciting to scope out new furniture, choose a new kitchen suite or even plan a whole new extension than it is to make sure your gutters are unclogged, leaky taps are fixed or windows are regularly cleaned – but the small stuff really does count. A neglected property can quickly begin to look shabby, lose value and become hazardous to live in – since your house is probably the most expensive thing you’ll ever own, it make sense to look after it, right? If you still need convincing here are the top reasons why you should carry out regular home maintenance:
- Improve living conditions – carrying out home maintenance will keep your home safe, energy efficient and pleasant to live in.
- Increase its value – keeping on top of home repairs and maintenance tasks can actually increase the value of your property.
- Appeal to buyers – if you’re looking to sell your home, buyers will be much more interested if the property looks well cared for and maintained; new owners probably don’t want to deal with years of neglect unless they’re specifically looking for a cheap property to renovate.
- Save money – carrying out regular maintenance can save you money in the long-run. Small house repairs for example can be cheap to fix if you do so immediately rather than waiting for the problem to become more severe.
House Maintenance Schedule
House maintenance can be difficult, tedious and time consuming but often the biggest hurdle is knowing where to start. All those little maintenance tasks can quickly build up and become overwhelming, so it’s always best to figure out exactly what needs to be carried out and then prioritise the more urgent tasks. When it comes to home and garden maintenance it’s easier to spread out the tasks throughout the year, according to season. So, we’ve created the home maintenance schedule below to help you keep up to date with all those tasks that need to be carried out.
Spring Home Maintenance Tasks
As the weather starts to warm up it’s time to repair any damage that’s occurred over winter and start getting your home and garden ready for summer. Spring is traditionally a time to clear out the old and revamp your home, so it’s also a great time to start decorating or even planning more ambitious home improvements such as extensions, conversions or full-scale landscaping work. Whatever new ideas you have for your home in spring, don’t forget to carry out these basic maintenance tasks:
- Carry out roof and gutter repairs
Frequency: Fix problems as soon as they arise
Rain, wind and snow over winter can leave your property exterior battered and damaged. Check the inside and outside of your roof for missing, cracked or broken tiles or slates. Also be on the lookout for gaps between joins, defective fascias and soffits, crumbling chimneys or broken gutters. Repair roof defects as soon as possible and hire a professional for best results; roof work can be tricky, not to mention dangerous, so don’t attempt it unless you have experience. Get more advice about roof repairs and maintenance in our guide. Flat roofs often need more maintenance and repair work than pitched roofs do – get some expert advice on flat roof maintenance here.
- Clean decking, patios and driveways
Frequency: At least once a year
Winter can take its toll on your garden, leaving decking, patios and driveways suffering from frost damage or covered in slime or algae. Repair any damage and clean surfaces with a power washer to completely remove any moss or slime. Get some decking repair tips here.
- Fix broken fencing, gates or garden furniture
Frequency: Once a year and whenever necessary
High winds, storms and regular rainfall may have broken your fences, gates or caused your garden furniture to rot and degrade. Make sure any repairs are made as soon as possible for aesthetic, as well as safety reasons; most intruders enter homes through the back garden so it’s particularly important to make sure garden fences and gates are repaired and fitted with secure locks – get some fence repair tips here. If you have a shed or greenhouse, make sure that’s also in good shape and wasn’t damaged over winter.
- Clear debris from the lawn
Frequency: Once a month
It’s likely that your garden looks a bit of a mess after winter, so spend some time removing debris such as litter, dead leaves, fallen branches or dead plants so that you have a blank canvas ready to work on over the warmer months of the year.
- Carry out tree surgery tasks
Frequency: Once a year
Spring is a key time for tree maintenance tasks. Always hire a professional tree surgeon to carry out pruning, felling or topping; working at height with dangerous saws is a recipe for disaster if you don’t know what you’re doing. Qualified tree surgeons can also check your trees for disease and provide treatments should you need them. Find out more about what tree surgeons do, how much they cost to hire and why you might need one in our guide.
- Start your lawn maintenance
Frequency: Once a week during spring and summer
Lawns may need seeding and aerating in the spring, depending on their condition – you can also start fertilising and mowing to make sure your lawn stays healthy. Get more advice on lawn mowing and lawn maintenance in our detailed guide.
- Spring clean your home inside and out
Frequency: Thoroughly clean and de-clutter every six months in addition to regular daily and weekly cleaning
Get cracking with your spring cleaning by de-cluttering your home and having a good clear-out. Recycle or give away items you no longer use and thoroughly clean the inside and outside of your home; focus on cleaning carpets and flooring, washing windows and curtains, scrubbing tiles and removing mould from tile grout, dusting, vacuuming and wiping down skirting boards, furniture and dusting.
- Service air conditioning systems
Frequency: Once a year, or more often if the air con manufactures advises
If you have a home air conditioning unit or are responsible for an office air con system, spring is the time to get it serviced. A professional air conditioning service will involve cleaning filters, fixing defects and checking for any refrigerant leaks; find out more about air con servicing in our guide.
Frequency: Once a year
Now that the weather is warmer and there’s a breeze in the air you can revamp your interior walls; a new lick of paint will transform the look of your property and keep it weatherproofed. Start by fixing any cracks or holes with plaster and then apply a new coat of paint or wallpaper, leaving the windows and doors open to dry off the work. Get some expert painting tips and check out our plastering advice.
Summer Home Maintenance Tasks
As long as the weather’s good, summer is the ideal time to get on with property exterior and gardening maintenance tasks. Your garden decking or patio should be in good shape ready for all those BBQs and summer parties; plants should be blooming and the lawn should be freshly mowed so children and pets can run around in the sunshine. As well as enjoying the sun think ahead to the colder months and carry out some weatherproofing tasks that’ll keep your property protected throughout autumn and winter – here’s a summer maintenance checklist:
- Lawn maintenance, gardening work and irrigation
Frequency: Once a week during spring and summer
Summer is the time to get out your gardening gear and get on with gardening maintenance. Depending on the size of your garden and how much grass, plants and foliage you have, you’ll need to spend time weeding, fertilising and pruning. Weeding can be an especially time-consuming task, to make it easier, check out these weed control tips. Lawns and plants can suffer in hot, dry summer weather and become parched and brown so you may need to regularly water your garden. For a more convenient solution, set up a sprinkler or irrigation system to keep your garden looking lush and green.
Frequency: Check for pests once a week during summer
During summer it’s likely that a number of different pests will invade your garden, especially if you grow fruit and vegetables, so learn about how to protect your garden from pests. If you’re struggling to keep on top of your garden maintenance tasks, you can always hire a professional garden maintenance company to take care of things for you – here’s how to find a reliable tradesmen/company.
- Outdoor plumbing maintenance
Frequency: Once a year and whenever problems arise
Check that all outside pipes and drains are in good shape and don’t have any blockages before the cold season kicks in.
- Exterior plastering and painting
Frequency: Once a year
Summer is the best time to carry out external plastering and painting, when you can work uninterrupted by rain and have hours of sunlight to dry walls. Painting and plastering will improve the appearance of your property and also works to seal and weatherproof exterior walls, which is important to keep your home warm and dry; cracks and leaks can cause penetrating damp which can lead to damp and mould problems, as well as more serious structural damage. Working at height on exterior walls can be extremely time consuming, not to mention dangerous – in fact, it might even require scaffolding – so you should hire a professional painter or plasterer if you’re unsure what you’re doing. If you want to give it a go yourself, find out how in our exterior painting guide.
- Door and window maintenance
Frequency: Once a year and whenever necessary
While the weather’s warm, take the opportunity to carry out and door maintenance and window maintenance tasks. In terms of security, doors and windows are one of the most important aspects of your home; they also play an important part in keeping your home warm, energy efficient, dry and draught-free. So, carry out any door repairs or replace broken window panes or frames as well as making sure locks are securely fitted. If you have wooden doors or window frames these will need regular painting, varnishing or sealing to keep them weatherproof; make sure you do this every summer in preparation for the colder months ahead.
Frequency: At least once a year
If you live in a rural area you might have a septic tank instead of a traditional sewerage system. Septic tanks need regular emptying and servicing, so get a professional out to sort yours at least once a year – get more information about septic tank servicing and how much it costs.
Frequency: Once year
Carry out any necessary decking maintenance while the weather’s good; same goes for patio and driveway maintenance. While you’ve got the paint or sealant out weatherproof any garden furniture, especially if it’s made of wood, in preparation for autumn and winter.
- Swimming pool maintenance
Frequency: Once a week during summer
If you’re lucky enough to have a swimming pool you’ll know that it can be hard to maintain – here’s what swimming pool maintenance entails. Cleaning and adding chemicals can be costly and take up a lot of time, so if you need help it could be a good idea to hire a swimming pool maintenance company.
As the weather turns cooler and autumn takes hold, there are some essential maintenance jobs that need to be carried out to make sure your property is ready to take on the elements. Roofs and external walls should be able to withstand wind, rain, snow and freezing temperatures and protect from moisture and cold. Make sure your heating system is ready to use and that all the expensive heat you generate isn’t sucked straight out the building through lack of insulation – start with these tasks:
- Chimney cleaning and repairs
Frequency: Once a year and whenever necessary
If you have a working fireplace, chimney maintenance is essential to keep your home and family safe; blocked chimneys can cause fires and trap poisonous smoke and carbon monoxide fumes, which can cause serious illness or even death. Hire a professional to clean your chimney at least once a year, preferably in early autumn before you start using your chimney. You should also make sure the outside of your chimney isn’t crumbling or leaning to one side – find out more about chimney cleaning and maintenance here.
Frequency: Once a year and whenever necessary
Check again for holes, cracked or broken tiles and damaged fascias and soffits before the harsher weather comes. Make sure that there isn’t any moss or grass growing on the roof; look out for signs of vermin too, such as squirrels or nesting birds as they can easily damage roofing. Regular roof cleaning can really help to maintain the condition of your roof. The amount of roof maintenance you need to carry out will also depend on what material it is made of; wood or thatch roofs require a lot of maintenance while slate and metal roofs need hardly any looking after. Clay tiles can easily be cracked while concrete is more durable.
Frequency: At least once a month during autumn and winter
Leaves can block gutters in autumn causing overflows and penetrating damp problems. Have your guttering regularly cleared and inspected for cracks and leaks; check rain pipes, gullies and drains too. To maintain guttering you might want to install grills at the top of pipes and around gutters to stop debris blocking them. Check that there isn’t any moss or grass growing in your gutters and if your guttering is made of metal, repaint it every five years or so – get more gutter maintenance tips.
Frequency: At least once a year or more often if the manufacturer advises
This is probably the most important heating maintenance tasks so it’s best to make sure this is done in early autumn before you need to switch on the heating. A boiler service check will make sure that your boiler is safe and running at its most efficient, as well as detect any minor faults which could lead to serious problems such as Carbon Monoxide leaks which can cause serious illness and even death. Always hire a qualified boiler engineer to service your boiler; find someone Gas Safe Registered if you have a gas boiler; an OFTEC engineer if you heat with oil or someone qualified in electrical work if you have an electric boiler. Find out more about what a boiler service entails and how much it costs.
- Central heating maintenance and repairs
Frequency: At least once a year and whenever necessary
As well as making sure your boiler is working properly, autumn is a good time to get an engineer to check the other parts of your central heating system. Pipes and radiators may have become blocked over time or the entire system could require a clean out; find out whether you might need to power flush your central heating system or completely drain your system before the heating season starts. Any necessary central heating repairs should be carried out as soon as they’re detected to make sure you have access to hot water and heating over the cold months of the year.
Frequency: Once a year
Make sure that your interior flooring is up to scratch by inspecting for damage. Wooden and laminate flooring in particular may need repairing or resealing to keep it in good condition; carpets can become worn, frayed or stained so consider getting yours professionally cleaned. Stone floors may need polishing and minor repair work if they’ve been damaged. Clean flooring regularly to reduce the amount of maintenance required; you can get some maintenance tips for each type of flooring here.
Frequency: Check whether your insulation needs topping up once a year
Energy-efficiency maintenance tasks such as topping-up or installing more insulation will ensure your property stays warm and cosy as well as keep your fuel costs to a minimum. Check that your loft has the recommended levels of insulation and that your walls are externally insulated or fitted with cavity insulation. Find out more about the benefits of installing loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation or floor insulation. You could even be eligible for a government grant towards the cost of insulating your home.
Winter can be one of the most difficult times for your property as severe moisture and wind batter its exterior and demand on your heating and plumbing systems increase. Try to make sure that you carry out essential maintenance tasks before the cold sets in but throughout winter be aware that you may need to carry out the following tasks:
- Plumbing maintenance and repairs
Frequency: Once a year and whenever necessary
Pay close attention to your plumbing over winter; look out for blocked pipes, clogged drains, leaks or dripping taps which can lead to more serious problems if left untreated. Regular cleaning and maintenance can really help prevent common plumbing problems. There are many plumbing jobs you can take on yourself such as fixing leaky pipes or taps; find out more in our guide to DIY plumbing but leave more complicated problems such as replacing pipes to a professional plumber as mistakes can be costly to rectify. In really cold weather look out for frozen pipes which can burst and cause major damage – find out how to prevent and fix frozen pipes.
Frequency: Once a year
Once temperatures plummet and those icy winter winds start blowing you might discover some draughts in your home. Plugging up draughts around your doors and windows is a relatively simple home maintenance task; don’t forget to draught proof letterboxes and cat flaps too. You can use either sealants or strips made of rubber or plastic for draught proofing; this will help keep your home warm and save you money on your fuel bills – read more about the advantages and costs of draught proofing.
- Damp proofing and damp treatment
Frequency: Once a year
Winter weather can cause damp to creep into your home, which looks horrible and can cause mould and structural damage. Rising, penetrating or condensation damp can be prevented with regular maintenance such as checking that you damp proofing course is in good condition, ventilating your home, insulating, fixing leaks and keeping humidity levels at a steady 65 to 70 percent. If you suspect you have a damp problem you can always get a professional damp survey carried out. Damp treatment should be carried out as soon as possible to prevent permanent property damage – find out more about how to treat damp and also how to prevent it from taking hold by damp proofing your property.
Frequency: Once a year and whenever necessary
With less hours of daylight and more demand on electrical appliances and heating it’s important to keep on top of electrical maintenance tasks over winter. You can prevent serious problems by carrying out basic electrical maintenance such as not overloading sockets, servicing appliances, regularly dusting and using circuit breakers where necessary – get more electrical maintenance advice. To avoid electrical fires and accidents it’s important to fix any problems as soon as possible and hire a professional electrician to carry out electrical repairs such and work such as rewiring. By law, electrical work must be carried out by a trained, competent professional who is able to comply with the Building Regulations Part P. Most electrical work needs to have an electrical installation and building regulations compliance certificate to prove it’s safe. The NICEIC recommend having an electrical survey carried out at least once every 10 years as part of your property maintenance regime to make sure your home is safe – get some information on how much an electrical survey costs and what it entails.
General Maintenance Tasks
- Resealing wooden furniture and fittings
Frequency: Once a year
Wood will rot and warp due to moisture and temperature exposure if it isn’t regularly sealed or repainted, so make a point to treat all your indoor and outdoor wooden furniture and fittings at least once a year. Also regularly check wood for damage from woodworm; find out how to spot, prevent and treat woodworm here.
Frequency: Test alarms weekly, replace batteries annually and fit new systems every 10 years
Keep you home safe and secure by carrying out regular burglar alarm maintenance, CCTV maintenanceand fire alarm maintenance. Fire alarms should be tested once a week, batteries should be replaced annually and the whole alarm should be replaced at least every 10 years. Burglar alarms and CCTV systems should also be regularly checked and tested to ensure they’re working properly, you may have a maintenance contract with the company that installed your alarm, especially if you pay for alarm monitoring services; check your contract for details. If you have gas or solid fuel burning appliances, install a carbon monoxide detector to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning which can cause paralysis, brain damage or death – find out more about carbon monoxide alarms and how much they cost here.
Frequency: Have an immediate survey if you suspect there’s asbestos in your home
If your home was built before the year 2000 it could contain asbestos materials, which, if disturbed, can give off lethal particles which can cause cancer if inhaled. Around 4,000 people die from asbestos inhalation every year and the Health and Safety Executive advise getting a professional asbestos survey carried out if you suspect that your property may contain asbestos. Asbestos was widely used in building materials such as insulation, roofing, ceiling tiles, cement and walls before it was banned in the year 2000. An asbestos surveyor will advise on whether you need to have asbestos removed or managed – get more advice on asbestos removal and surveys in our guide.
Frequency: Have an immediate survey if you suspect there’s lead paint in your home
Another hazard lurking in your home could be lead paint, which was commonly used until the 1960s. Lead paint can be harmful when it flakes off, causing serious illness, so if you suspect that there’s lead paintwork in your home, contact a professional to remove it safely. Get more advice on how to spot lead paint here.
Frequency: One-off installation
Double or even triple glazing is a great safety feature and is worth installing to stop heat escaping your home and prevent any condensation problems from occurring. Installing double glazing will reduce the amount of window maintenance you need to carry out in future and could save you up to £135 a year on your fuel bills says the Energy Saving Trust; find out more about the benefits and costs of getting your windows double glazed.
Frequency: As and when necessary
Be it rodents, insects or birds, pests can invade your home at any time of the year. The most important thing is to call in a professional pest control company as soon as you spot an infestation; the longer a problem is left untreated the worse it will get. To prevent pest attacks in the first place you can carry out some basic maintenance such as blocking off gaps in the home exterior and clearing rubbish regularly – get some more pest control and prevention tips here.
Frequency: Daily
One of the best ways to maintain a healthy home is to regularly ventilate your property. This prevents damp and circulates air, keeping your home fresh and clean. Ventilate by opening windows for a short period every day and installing extractor fans in steamy rooms like the bathroom and kitchen – find out more about ventilation solutions here.
House Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance needn’t cost the earth, as long as you keep on top of tasks and don’t leave minor damage or problems to escalate; taking out home maintenance insurance can reduce the cost of maintenance tasks. Here are some guide prices for popular home maintenance projects:
- Boiler servicing costs between £50 and £75
- Painting costs around £170 per room if you hire a professional. If you paint yourself prices will vary; for example, a 2.5 litre tin of Dulux matt paint costs £13.99, get more paint prices here.
- Pest control costs will vary depending on the type of pest and scale of infestation. Our pest control price guide puts average bedbug treatment prices at between £100 and £200 and rodent control at around £100.
- Roofing costs will depend on what type of maintenance work needs to be done; you can get more specific costs in our roofing cost guide. If you’re replacing broken tiles, this can cost between £0.41 and £8.85 per tiles, depending on material.
- An asbestos survey will cost around £250 and the average price of removal work is around £780 – get more specific prices in our asbestos survey and removal cost guide.
Hiring a Home Maintenance Company
If you find you lack the time or skills to keep on top of your home maintenance you can always hire a company to do this for you. Home maintenance companies are particularly popular for those who live in apartments or rent out properties; prices for home maintenance services will vary depending on where you live and the size and age of your property – shop around to get the best deal. If you live in a rental property there are certain maintenance tasks that your landlord is legally obliged to carry out; find out more about what these are in our guide to maintaining rental properties.
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