Having a solid plan to look after your rental property is essential to avoid unnecessary irritations and higher repair costs at inconvenient moments. 

Proactive maintenance does more than preserve your property's value; it nourishes tenant relationships, keeps you legally compliant, and protects your cash flow from unexpected bills.

Our system for efficient, effective and low-stress management helps landlords in the Wilton and Salisbury area by blending mandatory yearly checks, additional mid-term inspections, and a detailed checklist.

Part of the magic formula is close collaboration with tenants, because when everyone knows and meets their responsibilities, life is simply better all round. So let’s look at:

• Annual essential tasks

• Autumn preparations

• Winter bolstering

• Spring reviews

• Summer protections

With these annual and seasonal steps in place, you can maintain a profitable, compliant, and smooth-running rental business, ensuring your investment stays in great shape.

ANNUAL ESSENTIAL TASKS

With every rental property comes a list of yearly tasks, covering legal compliance, tenant safety, and avoiding massive fines from breaching lettings rules.

• Book an engineer to perform the annual gas safety check and issue a certificate. It’s a good idea to schedule this for the autumn so the boiler gets a checkup in readiness for winter.

• Test and inspect smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to ensure they work. Reconfirm with your tenant that they know where they are and how to replace batteries.

• Review your insurance. For maximum peace of mind in any eventuality, it’s wise to have policies for buildings cover, your contents and fittings, public liability, and rent guarantee.
  
• Make regular inspections. We suggest at least three times a year to nip potential problems in the bud, maintain contact with your tenant, and alert them to any seasonal upkeep jobs.

Set recurring reminders in your diary a couple of weeks before each deadline. Not just so you never forget them, but also to have plenty of time to get everything sorted by the due date.

AUTUMN PREPARATIONS

Autumn is the season to prep your rental property for the chilly months ahead and avoid the costly damage winter can bring.

• Inspect all gutters and downpipes for blockages from fallen leaves and airborne debris: overflowing water can cause extensive external and internal damp issues.

• Check the interior window and door seals for drafts. Sealing these gaps is a quick fix that significantly improves energy efficiency and reduces winter energy bills.

• Ask your tenant if they know how to bleed radiators and have a radiator key. A quick boiler refresh covering system restarts, timer settings and adjusting the pressure is also wise.

A proactive autumn check dramatically reduces the likelihood of emergency call-outs, saving you thousands on winter repairs, not to mention the hassle of calls from an upset tenant.

WINTER BOLSTERING

Properties can take a battering in winter from the cold, rain, wind, and snow, so it’s essential to make your tenants aware of the season’s risks and remind them about:

• Inspecting high-moisture areas — bathrooms, window frames, walls behind furniture — and maintaining good airflow to prevent damp and mould.

• Preventative freeze measures like leaving the heating on low during extreme cold spells or while they’re away to avoid burst pipes from frozen water in the system.

• Keeping an eye on the roof and flashings, both now and after high winds or heavy rain, so you can address any issues swiftly and avoid further damage.

As well as turning potential crises into manageable issues, these simple steps show your tenant that you’re on top of all eventualities and help them to avoid the costs of common tenant mistakes.

SPRING REVIEWS

As the days get longer, spring is ideal for visual inspections of your rental property to address any damage left behind by winter, and keep nature in check as it bounces back to life. 

• Mow any lawns and remove weeds from flower beds and pavers. Whether it’s down to you or your tenant depends on the rental contract, but either way, it should be done. 

• Check garden fences, gates, and retaining walls for storm damage in case any repairs are necessary for your tenant’s safety and security.

• Keep pests out by checking outside for insect activity (ants and wasps are active now) and sealing small cracks and gaps to prevent rodent entry later in the year.

Think of this as a post-winter check-up to get your property ready for the seasons ahead. It’s also a useful kerb-appeal boost for the upcoming months, when tenant changeovers are most common.

SUMMER PROTECTIONS

Summer is the true maintenance sweet spot, with dry and warmer weather making it the perfect time to focus on long-term investment protection.

• Inspect any chimneys for blockages and dirt, and check if any exposed pipes in unheated zones (lofts, cellars, outside walls in cupboards) could do with insulating.

• Use the dry weather window to clean, stain, or seal exterior wood, such as decks, fences and sheds, to prevent rot and maximise their lifespan.

• Take a look at the joins where bricks, mortar or render meet door and window frames to see if any silicone needs cutting out and replacing.

Finally, summer is also the perfect season for carrying out any major exterior works that arise from time to time, like repairs to brickwork and render, or repainting window frames and front doors.

Do you find property maintenance a chore?

Proactive maintenance is the core of successful lettings, and this seasonal blueprint helps us eliminate costly surprises and ensure our landlords remain legally compliant and profitable.

If you’re a landlord in the Wilton and Salisbury area and you’d like a trusted partner as a managing agent, call us on 01722 580059 or message us at info@piccoloproperty.co.uk - we’re here to keep your property in top condition.