"As a landlord, property upkeep isn’t optional; it’s an essential part of protecting your investment and ensuring tenants remain safe and satisfied"
- Colion Stokes - Adiuvo
Following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which increases landlords’ obligations to keep properties in good condition, new research from Adiuvo looked at how much annual rental income landlords should set aside to cover repairs and maintenance
Adiuvo analysed ten of the most common repair and maintenance tasks faced by landlords, calculating the typical annual maintenance costs for a rental property and compared these with average rental income to determine the proportion of earnings landlords should reserve to ensure prompt and effective upkeep.
Some maintenance jobs need to be carried out every year, including safety inspections and system checks. For example, inspecting and replacing electrical systems costs around £691 annually. Heating systems require similar annual attention, costing approximately £680, while plumbing issues average £632 per year.
Other tasks occur less frequently. Boiler replacements, needed on average every two and a half years, cost £714, equivalent to £286 per year. Repainting walls on the same timeline works out at £251 annually.
Longer-term jobs, occurring roughly once every three years, include roof maintenance (£313 per year), kitchen white goods (£279), carpeting (£262), windows (£234), and locks and security (£203).
Adding these together, Adiuvo estimates that landlords should set aside £3,832 per year for maintenance. While some years may see lower bills, other years could exceed this amount, making the fund essential for covering unexpected costs.
Based on the average UK rent of £1,354 per month, or £16,248 annually, this recommended maintenance fund represents 23.6% of rental income.
“As a landlord, property upkeep isn’t optional; it’s an essential part of protecting your investment and ensuring tenants remain safe and satisfied,” said Colin Stokes, founder and managing director. “Our research shows that landlords should be setting aside almost a quarter of their annual rental income for maintenance and repairs. It’s money that will inevitably need to be spent, but acting promptly can prevent that figure from climbing even higher.
At Adiuvo, we handle maintenance issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so landlords never have to worry about problems being left to worsen overnight or over a weekend. Immediate action not only keeps properties in good condition but also helps landlords avoid unnecessary stress and far greater costs in the long run.”
