Spring Into Action: What South London Landlords Should Be Doing Right Now

Spring is in the air! It’s been here for some time, but strangely enough, other things seem to have been dominating the news…

And whilst all that newsworthy stuff was and is very interesting, we think we’ve covered what we need to say about it, and that it’s high time we got on with the business of doing what we do best: helping landlords across South West London to let out their properties, and then manage the tenancies for them.

So, time to drop something entirely normal, but yet strangely rare to find, back into the narrative. Some good old-fashioned advice about letting out a property in this part of London.

And as mentioned, spring is here! Our days are getting longer, the mornings brighter, and after what felt like an endlessly grey winter of biting winds and persistent rain (good grief, the rain!), the season has turned.

Here at Your Home Managed, we love this time of year – not just because it lifts the mood (but it does that too), but because it's an ideal time for us to help our landlords to take stock and get their properties in the best possible shape for summer and beyond.

Winter isn’t kind to any property, rented homes included. Months of cold, wet and windy conditions can take their toll; slipped or entirely displaced tiles, cracked or blocked guttering, overworked boilers, compromised seals, grimy, possibly penetrated and now damp paintwork…

The list goes on.

But now that the worst is behind us, there's a golden window of opportunity to carry out inspections and to identify and tackle maintenance issues before small niggles become expensive problems.

Plus, with new energy efficiency requirements on the horizon, it is sensible to think strategically about improvements that protect both your tenants and your investment. The minimum ‘C Rating’ EPC requirement isn’t written into law yet, and even if it happens it isn’t expected until 2030 – but we can read the runes and expect it to be well and truly on the cards. So it may as well come into any landlord’s plan, if their current rating is D or E.

If it is worse than that, then unless you have a valid exemption, you may already be in breach.

A good place to start: property inspection

Before anything else, we'd encourage every landlord to arrange a thorough property inspection now that the weather has improved enough to assess things properly. It is what we will be arranging for our own clients.

That means a thoughtful, deliberate walk around the exterior to look carefully at the roof; missing or slipped tiles are common after a stormy winter and can lead to serious water ingress if left unaddressed. Check the gutters and downpipes too; they're frequently clogged with winter debris, and a blocked gutter is one of the most common causes of damp patches on internal walls. Plus, once again, when it comes to prolonged periods of stormy, windy weather, which we have experienced over the winter, gutters can crack, downpipes can come loose, etc.

Inspect the condition of external paintwork, window frames, and door seals. Freezing temperatures and driving rain cause expansion and contraction that can loosen caulking, crack paint, and seep into wooden frames, leading to rot if left unattended. Catching these early might mean as little as a pot of paint and a tube of sealant; leave them be, and it might mean a much more expensive task later to fix or replace, with unhappy tenants in the meantime.

Internally, check for any signs of condensation, mould, or damp that may have developed over winter. These issues are not only a tenant wellbeing concern – a good enough reason to get resolved anyway - but can also flag underlying problems with ventilation or insulation that are worth addressing.

Don't ignore the boiler

Your boiler has had a tough few months. Spring is actually the ideal time to have it serviced, although many landlords opt to do so in the autumn. But as it stands, demand for heating engineers has dropped, now that the cold weather has eased, meaning appointments are easier to get and potentially even a little cheaper. A boiler service keeps the unit running efficiently, extends its lifespan, and is, of course, a legal requirement for gas appliances. If your boiler is ageing, it's always worth considering a replacement. Modern condensing boilers are significantly more energy efficient, and only become more important in the years ahead.

The EPC Opportunity You Cannot Afford to Miss

As touched on already, something that all landlords need to be thinking ahead about is the government plan to move towards a requirement for all privately rented properties to hold a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030.

That gives landlords roughly four years – but this is not the kind of deadline you want to leave to the last minute, if you know your property currently falls short.

Properties currently sitting at a D or E rating will need meaningful upgrades to comply, and the works involved take time: better insulation, more efficient glazing, upgrading the heating system, and potentially thinking about renewable energy installations, etc.

And it is not just time – they also take planning, and might need to be budgeted for to ensure they are done properly. The landlords who act now and plan a schedule ahead of time can spread the cost sensibly and avoid the scramble (and inflated contractor prices) that will inevitably come as the deadline approaches.

So what are the most impactful improvements you can make this spring?

Loft insulation remains one of the best-value upgrades available. If your property doesn't have adequate loft insulation, or if what's there was installed many years ago and has degraded, topping it up is relatively inexpensive and can make a meaningful difference to EPC scores and heating bills alike.

Cavity wall insulation is worth investigating if your property was built after the 1920s and has unfilled cavities. Again, the cost-to-benefit ratio is strong, and grants may be available depending on your tenants' circumstances.

Double or triple glazing is another worthwhile consideration if your properties are still sporting single-glazed windows, unless doing so would affect any historical or heritage aspect of the property.

Modern glazing improves comfort, reduces noise, minimises heat loss, and is a genuine selling point for prospective tenants who benefit from reduced bills in the long run.

Smart thermostats and heating controls are a lower-cost improvement that can meaningfully improve efficiency and are increasingly expected by tenants.

If you're feeling more ambitious, heat pumps, solar panels, and EV charging points are increasingly attractive for the right properties – and the good news (for a change) is that there are in fact government incentives and other schemes worth exploring.

Kerb Appeal and Tenant Satisfaction

Finally, don't underestimate the value of simply making your property look its best as summer approaches. Tidying up gardens and outdoor spaces, refreshing tired paintwork, and addressing any minor cosmetic issues costs relatively little but makes a real difference – both to tenant satisfaction and to your ability to attract quality applicants if a property becomes vacant, and without wanting to bring up the Renters’ Rights Act again, we have to note that tenants are now able to give notice whenever they wish, as all tenancies have become periodic.

Happy tenants stay longer, take better care of a property, and recommend it to others if they do need to move on.

A well-maintained, energy-efficient home is easier to let, commands a stronger rent, and holds its value better over the long term.

Spring is often symbolic of a fresh start… so why not make the most of it?

Thinking about your property's EPC rating or planning some spring maintenance? Get in touch with our team; we're always happy to offer advice and connect you with trusted local contractors.