By the Sleak Property Services team ·
Most expensive repairs start as cheap ones. A gutter that overflows for a winter becomes a damp wall, a failed bead of sealant becomes a rotten floor under the bath, and a wobbly fence post becomes a whole run of panels on the drive after the first big storm.
Living on the coast speeds all of this up. Salt air, wind and rain off the Irish Sea are hard on paintwork, metal fittings and anything outside. This is the checklist we work through on maintenance visits, organised by season.
Autumn: get ready for the weather
- Clear the gutters and downpipes once the leaves have dropped
- Check fence posts and panels for rot or movement before the gales arrive
- Re-felt or repair shed roofs and check the doors close properly
- Clear drains and gullies of leaves
- Bleed radiators and check the heating comes on (and book the boiler service if it's due)
- Cut back hedges and shrubs that rub against walls or windows
Winter: keep water out
Winter is when problems show up, so the job is mostly looking. After heavy rain, walk round the house and look for water spilling over gutters, damp patches on walls and ceilings, and puddles sitting against the house.
- Look at ceilings under bathrooms and flat roofs for new stains
- Check window seals and sealant around frames on the windward side
- Make sure outside taps are insulated or drained
- Check doors and locks still work smoothly (cold and damp make them stick)
Spring: repair and refresh
- A second gutter clear if the property is under trees or near the sea
- Pressure wash drives, paths and patios that went green over winter
- Renew tired silicone around baths, showers and sinks
- Touch up exterior paintwork on doors, sills and fascias
- Repair any fence panels or gates damaged over winter
- Get the garden back under control before the growing season takes off
Summer: the bigger jobs
Dry weather is the best time for jobs that need the outside to stay dry for a few days: exterior painting, render repairs, fence replacement and decking. It's also a sensible time to look at anything you've patched more than once and plan a proper fix.
Rentals and holiday lets
If you let a property, a short maintenance visit between tenancies or changeovers saves a lot of call-outs later. As well as everything above, check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work, that every window opens and locks, and that the garden and outside are in a state you'd be happy to photograph for the next listing.
Keep a record of what was checked and when. Dated photos and invoices are useful if there's ever a dispute about the condition of the property.
When to call someone in
A lot of this list is easy to do yourself. The jobs worth handing over are the ones at height, the ones you've already patched once, and anything involving water getting in. Gas and electrical work always needs a qualified engineer or electrician.
We do planned maintenance visits for homeowners, landlords and holiday let owners across the Fylde coast. We work through the list, fix what we can on the day and send you photos of what was done.
Common questions
How often should a rental property be maintained?
A check between every tenancy, plus a visit or two a year covering gutters, sealant, doors, locks and the outside, keeps most rentals in good order and catches problems before tenants report them.
What's the most important maintenance job on the coast?
Keeping water out. Clear gutters, sound sealant and well-fixed fences prevent most of the damage we're called out to repair after winter.