A little regular upkeep stops small jobs becoming expensive ones. A blocked gutter becomes a damp wall; a boiler that's never serviced breaks down on the coldest night of the year. Here's a UK home maintenance checklist, month by month and season by season, for homeowners and renters.
If you rent, your landlord is responsible for most repairs and safety checks, but it's still worth knowing what should happen and when, and reporting problems early.
Every month
- Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. UK fire and rescue services advise testing smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button and make sure everyone in the house knows the sound.
- Check your boiler pressure on the gauge. Your boiler's manual tells you the right range; if it keeps dropping, call a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Clean the extractor fan filters in the kitchen and bathroom, and clear the tumble dryer lint filter after every use.
- Run water in rarely used taps and showers, such as in a spare room, to keep the water fresh.
- Look for leaks under sinks, around the toilet and behind the washing machine.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is the most important season for home maintenance, because it gets your home ready for winter.
- Book your boiler service. Gas boilers should be serviced every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Booking early in autumn, before the cold weather, usually means shorter waits.
- Bleed your radiators if they're cold at the top, and check the boiler pressure afterwards, as bleeding can lower it.
- Clear gutters and downpipes once most of the leaves have fallen. Blocked gutters can overflow and cause damp inside.
- Have your chimney swept before you start using an open fire or wood burner for the season.
- Check draught-proofing around doors and windows, and fix any gaps.
- Bring in or cover garden furniture, and clean and store the barbecue.
Winter (December to February)
- Know where your stopcock is, and check that it turns. If a pipe bursts, it's the first thing you'll need. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
- Insulate exposed pipes in the loft, garage or outside walls with pipe lagging to help stop them freezing.
- Keep the heating on low if you go away in very cold weather, so pipes don't freeze.
- Watch for condensation and mould, especially on windows and in bathrooms. Open windows briefly, use extractor fans and wipe away condensation in the mornings.
- Check the roof from the ground after storms for slipped or missing tiles, and get them fixed before water gets in.
Spring (March to May)
- Clear the gutters again of anything that built up over winter.
- Check outside walls and window frames for cracks, flaking paint or rotten wood, and plan repairs for the drier months.
- Clean windows inside and out, and check that window locks and seals still work.
- Service the lawnmower and garden tools before the grass starts growing.
- Check fences and sheds for winter damage.
Summer (June to August)
- Treat fences, decking and sheds with preservative while the weather is dry.
- Clear outside drains of leaves and debris so they can cope with summer downpours.
- Do the bigger jobs: exterior painting, repointing or roof repairs are easier and often quicker to book in summer.
- Check the loft for signs of damp, pests or daylight through the roof.
Once a year
- Boiler service, as above.
- Gas safety check if you rent. Landlords must have a gas safety check carried out every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer and give tenants a copy of the record, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
- Check smoke alarm batteries and dates. Fire services generally advise replacing the whole alarm after about 10 years; the date is usually printed on the back.
- Review your home insurance before it renews, and check the details are still right.
- Check your appliances: descale the kettle and washing machine, and clean the oven and fridge seals.
Don't forget the car
In England, Scotland and Wales, a car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, and then every year after that, according to GOV.UK. You can get your MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. Northern Ireland has different rules. Alongside the MOT, keep track of:
- vehicle tax renewal
- car insurance renewal
- servicing, by time or mileage, as your car's handbook recommends
- tyre tread and pressure, which are worth checking monthly
Keep a record
Write down when each job was last done, who did it and what it cost. It helps you plan ahead, makes it easier to spot a problem coming back and is useful when you sell your home or end a tenancy. Keep the boiler service records, gas safety certificates and receipts for any big repairs somewhere you can find them.
Share the jobs
If you live with other people, split the maintenance jobs just as you'd split the cleaning. One person books the boiler service, another clears the gutters, another keeps the car on track. Put them on a shared calendar with reminders, so nothing depends on one person remembering.