Routine Maintenance

We recommend that you consider a list of routine maintenance work you need to do to the property.

As a starting point you should consider the following:

• Replacing batteries on smoke detectors every 12 months (you should have two fully functional smoke detectors in the property, if not, contact Property Services)
• Cleaning out gutters, downpipes and gullies on a regular basis. Most problems with buildings stem from water not getting away from the building. Frequency of cleaning will often depend on the number of trees you have around the property
• Cutting back ivy and creepers from trees and the house walls. Ivy should be removed and creepers should be maintained at a manageable height well away from tile /slate hanging or windows and roofs. If not maintained creepers or ivy can cause tremendous damage to buildings or trees that is very expensive to rectify.
• Most UPVC/PvCU or timber double glazed windows or doors need to be maintained once a year to preserve guarantees and to keep them operating satisfactorily. This requires hinge mechanisms to be hoovered out to remove any debris and mechanisms should be lubricated using a silicone lubricant. There are FREE silicone lubricant sprays available from the Parsonage Department.
• You are responsible for internal decoration and we suggest, as a rule of thumb, that one room is decorated every year to keep the house in good condition.
• Familiarising yourself with the house and maintain as applicable a supply of light bulbs to suit fittings, starters for fluorescent fittings, fuses, keys for electrical and gas meter boxes, radiator bleed key etc.
• House occupiers currently have available to them a range of offers from local authorities and energy companies who will provide free surveys of your homes thermal insulation and in most cases free or low cost insulation upgrades. If you instruct a free survey, Property Services would be pleased to consider covering or contributing to any cost of upgraded roof insulation. Consideration of installation of cavity wall insulation is on a case by case basis, there are significant problems caused by some insulation systems.

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