Household guide

Monthly home maintenance checks

Use this checklist to keep on top of common checks around a rented home without overcomplicating things.

Monthly home maintenance checks

A short monthly walk-through helps you spot small problems early. It is especially useful in shared houses, where everyone assumes someone else has reported the dripping tap, loose handle or extractor fan that stopped working.

This is not about taking on repairs yourself. It is a simple routine for noticing, cleaning, testing and reporting.

The habit: Spend ten minutes checking water, heating, ventilation, appliances, alarms and obvious signs of damage, then report anything that needs attention.

Monthly walk-through

Walk room by room and look for leaks, loose fittings, damaged seals, slow drains, mould patches, sticking doors, cracked glass or appliances behaving unusually.

In shared kitchens and bathrooms, check extractor fans, taps, waste areas and sealant around baths, showers and sinks. These are the places where small issues often grow.

Seasonal checks

Before winter, check radiators heat evenly, windows close properly, and external doors are not letting in heavy draughts. During warmer months, check ventilation, fridge performance and signs of pests.

After heavy rain, look for new damp patches, gutter overflow marks or water around doors and windows. Early reporting makes these easier to investigate.

What to report

Report anything broken, leaking, unsafe, repeatedly failing, or likely to damage the property. Include clear photos and describe when you first noticed it.

For shared homes, agree who is reporting the issue so messages do not get duplicated or missed.

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