UK Home Maintenance Checklist: What to Do and When

• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms using the test button.
• Check the boiler pressure gauge is within the range in its manual.
• Look for drips under sinks, around the toilet and near the boiler.

• Clear gutters and downpipes once the leaves have fallen.
• Bleed radiators that are cold at the top.
• Check that outside pipes and taps are insulated against frost.
• Make sure you know where the stopcock is, and that it turns.

• Look at the roof from the ground for slipped or missing tiles after winter storms.
• Check that air bricks near the base of the walls are not blocked.
• Look for cracked or missing sealant around baths, showers and windows.
• Clear any gullies and drain covers of leaves and silt.

• Have a gas, oil or heat pump system serviced, as the manufacturer recommends.
• Have chimneys and flues swept if you burn wood or solid fuel. Wood burners may need sweeping more often.
• Check trees and large shrubs close to the house, walls and drains.

• Repaint or treat exterior woodwork before it starts to flake or rot.
• Have the electrics checked with an EICR. For an owner-occupied home, every 10 years is a common recommendation.
• Check the condition of any flat roof covering, and plan for its replacement.

Some of these checks produce certificates. Understanding an EICR explains one of the most common.

A maintenance log shows a buyer that the home was looked after, not just what condition it is in today. Record the date, the cost and who did each job.

On Propvio, you can set a reminder on each job, and a tradesperson can confirm the work they did.