The arrival of spring brings with it an increase in rental enquiries, with the warmer, longer days encouraging people to venture outdoors for viewings, instead of hurrying back home after work. So, if you are a landlord this is the ideal time of year to give your property a makeover to take advantage of this surge in interest. With that in mind, we’ve put together a spring property maintenance checklist to help you along the way.
Inspect the roof and gutter
The winter places a lot of strain onto the roof of your property, with rain, snow, ice and wind taking aim at the tiles and guttering. Carry out a close inspection of the roof space to see if there are any damaged or missing tiles and that the guttering is not blocked or broken. You can hire a professional company to attend to any roof related issues and they will ensure it is repaired and ready for the milder weather ahead.
Clean windows
The start of spring is also a good time to give the windows a good clean. Wipe down the panes with warm, soapy water and use a vacuum or soft brush to clean out the tracts and seals. The exterior of the windows will have been exposed to a lot more dirt and dust over the winter, especially with the faster wind speeds, and you can use a standard commercial cleaner to bring them back to life.
Touch up with paint
Over time, painted areas will start to chip away due to the wind and general wear and tear and will also start to fade due to ongoing exposure to UV rays. If the outside of the property has been painted, you may want to hire a professional firm to take on such a large project.
But for smaller tasks, like repainting the front door or the fencing, this may be something you are willing to do yourself. A quick touch up with paint can really make a difference, especially if you need to put the property back onto the market to find a new tenant.
Rearrange your indoor and outdoor living area
It’s not just the exterior of the property that you should attend to in preparation for spring. You should also take stock of the interior space to see what can be done to freshen things up a little. It doesn’t mean you have to spend big and go for huge changes, but even a simple rearrangement of the furniture and layout can do wonders when it comes to making an impression.
If you have an outdoor living area, such as a conservatory, orangery or patio with tables and chairs, think about how you can change things up a bit to maximise the space and make it feel more enticing to prospective tenants when they come to visit.
Check seals and trimmings
Take a close look at the various seals and trimmings and around the property to ensure they are still in good condition. For example, damaged seals around the windows can let in cold air and moisture, that can reduce the energy efficiency and also lead to mould growth.
Check the seals on the doors and also the caulk used around sinks, baths and showers. Over time this can blacken or become dirty and will look much better when cleaned, especially ahead of showing the property to new tenants.
Smoke Detectors
The smoke detectors may be rarely used but they should always be active, and this is the ideal time to check the strength of the batteries (if they are not hard-wired into the property’s electrics). Every rental property must have a smoke alarm installed on every level that contains a room that is used.
The same rule also applies to carbon monoxide detectors which will be battery operated. A carbon monoxide alarm must be in any room that is used as ‘living accommodation’ and that contains a ‘‘fixed combustion appliance’ (not including a gas cooker).
Inspect the boiler
The winter months will be the busiest period for your boiler, with the system required to keep the property heated whilst still providing its normal levels of hot water. Its usage will start to lessen over the coming months as summer comes into view, but now is a great time to give a full service to ensure everything is in working order.
Preventative measures are usually more cost effective than waiting for the boiler to break down, which could force you to pay high prices for emergency call outs. Plus, a well-maintained boiler will also help the energy efficiency of the property, which can keep you compliant and make you a more attractive proposition to tenants.