This document discusses various routine maintenance tasks that landlords are obligated or recommended to perform to ensure tenant safety and property upkeep. It covers required annual gas safety checks, the benefits of maintenance service contracts, mandatory electrical condition reports every 5 years, installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, preventing legionnaires' disease through water maintenance, and other routine maintenance tasks like redecorating and carpet replacement every 3-5 years. Communicating these maintenance checks with tenants is also advised.

1. Routine maintenance

2. 2
• There are several routine checks that landlords
are either obliged or recommended to do to
ensure safety of premises
• Routine maintenance will reduce emergency
incidents
• Communicate to tenants on moving in that they
can expect these checks to be done and that you
will be requesting access at a mutually
convenient time
Ignore this titleRoutine maintenance

3. 3
• As previously discussed, Landlords must
maintain all gas appliances (and flues serving
them)
• Annual safety check by a Gas Safe
registered engineer is a legal requirement
• Consider completing a service of gas
appliances at the same time
Ignore this titleGas safety certificate

4. 4
• Several providers; often supplied by utility
companies
• Monthly fee
• Different tiered service levels; standard usually
includes annual gas safety certificate, boiler
service and any maintenance
• Can also extend to cover full plumbing system
and electrical checks
Ignore this titleService contracts

5. 5
• Now mandatory for all PRS although a consultation
process underway – Housing and Planning Act 2016
• Recommended to have full check minimum every 5
years
• Visual checks to be completed on each changeover of
tenant (can be completed by landlord or agent)
• Landlords should also consider carrying out Portable
Appliance Testing (PAT testing) where appliances are
provided by the landlord
Ignore this titleElectrical condition reports

6. 6
England only
• Applies from 1st October 2015
• Requirement to provide smoke alarm on
every habitable floor of property
• Must be tested at start of tenancy
(battery operated acceptable) and record
of check recorded
• Recommended to test at each property
inspection, get tenants to sign inspection
form to confirm they’ve been checked
• Carbon monoxide reader in ‘high risk’
rooms such as those with solid fuel
systems
• Civil penalty for non-compliance
Ignore this titleSmoke alarms and carbon monoxide

7. 7
• High risk in warmer temperatures, particularly
where there is standing water
• Landlords must carry out risk assessments and
take precautionary actions
• Flush out all water outlets for 3+ minutes and
disinfect with particular care to shower heads
• Ensure hot water reaches 60+ degrees to kill
bacteria
• Standing water tanks should be cleared from
debris and adequately covered
Ignore this titleLegionnaires disease

8. 8
Landlords should consider carrying out other regular
maintenance in order to prevent dilapidations such as:
• Regular redecorating both internally and externally
(standard every 3-5 years depending on condition)
• Replacing carpets to prevent threading and trip hazards
(standard every 3-5 years depending on condition)
• Cleaning of gutters and checking for slipped roof tiles
(standard every year)
• Whilst tenants may be responsible for general upkeep of
gardens, landlords will be expected to maintain fences
and borders and keep large trees under control where
needed
Ignore this titleOther routine maintenance