Landlords and property managers are being urged to use the start of autumn to address maintenance requirements at rental properties before winter conditions make them harder, and more expensive, to resolve.
Property management specialist Rushbrook has identified ten areas that should be reviewed now, arguing that relatively routine defects can develop into more disruptive problems once temperatures fall and weather deteriorates. The firm's guidance covers boilers, gutters, drainage, damp prevention, external fabric, windows, pipes, vacant property protocols, alarm testing, and contractor readiness.
"The biggest mistake landlords and property managers can make with winter maintenance is waiting for winter to arrive," said Roma Sharma, managing director of Rushbrook.
"Once temperatures fall and the weather deteriorates, relatively minor weaknesses within a property have the potential to become much bigger and more disruptive problems."
The case for acting early is particularly relevant for those managing multiple properties. When poor weather strikes, maintenance requirements across a portfolio can surface at the same time, complicating the task of coordinating inspections, contractors and repairs.
"This becomes particularly important when managing a portfolio because seasonal issues don't conveniently occur one property at a time," Sharma noted. "A spell of heavy rain or a sudden drop in temperature can expose problems across several properties simultaneously, at which point securing contractors and coordinating repairs becomes considerably more challenging."
Rushbrook's ten recommended checks ahead of winter are:
- Gutters and drainage: clear leaves and debris before heavier autumn rainfall and check downpipes and drains are flowing properly.
- Boilers and heating systems: test systems before tenants need to use them. Servicing during late summer or early autumn allows faults to be identified before demand for heating engineers increases.
- Damp and condensation: inspect bathrooms, kitchens, external walls and any areas with a history of damp, with particular attention to extractor fans and ventilation systems.
- Roofs and external fabric: look for slipped tiles, damaged flashing, cracks and deteriorating render that could leave a property vulnerable to wet and windy weather.
- Windows and doors: check seals, address draughts and confirm windows close properly to prevent heat loss, condensation and tenant complaints.
- External areas: check and secure fencing, gates, sheds and loose items; assess overhanging trees and vegetation; review external lighting as daylight hours reduce.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: test alarms, replace batteries or devices where needed, and confirm compliance with the relevant legal requirements.
- Pipes and water systems: identify exposed or poorly insulated pipework, particularly in vacant properties and vulnerable areas such as lofts, garages and external spaces.
- Vacant properties: establish winter protocols for any properties likely to sit empty, covering heating, inspection schedules, leak response and emergency contacts.
- Contractor and emergency planning: review contractor availability and emergency procedures, and confirm tenant contact details are current before the winter maintenance period begins.
On the question of boiler servicing, Sharma highlighted the timing advantage of acting before the season turns. "September provides a valuable window in which to identify those issues while they are still manageable," she said.
"It's far better to discover that a boiler needs attention now than when a tenant switches the heating on during the first cold spell, just as engineers are entering one of their busiest periods."
The firm frames pre-winter preparation not as a reactive measure but as a core part of portfolio management.
"Good property management isn't simply about responding quickly when something goes wrong," Sharma explained.
"A large part of the job is anticipating where problems are likely to occur and putting measures in place to prevent them wherever possible."
"A relatively modest amount of preventative work ahead of winter can help protect the condition of the property, provide a better experience for tenants and reduce the likelihood of landlords facing a string of urgent maintenance issues during the months when properties are under the greatest seasonal pressure," she added.
