The Summer Holidays Are Here! What to Check Now (and Avoid those Callouts in October…)
The sun has got his hat on!
Well… every other day or two, anyway. But in any case, school is out, the roads are quieter, the barbecue covers are off (last year’s crusty bits now burned off and wire-brushed into oblivion), and maybe you’ve even got a few relaxing days in the sun planned in yourself…
But before you switch off entirely, if you are a landlord, the summer can be the perfect time to get ahead on property maintenance.
Here at Your Home Managed, we use a brilliant platform called ‘Help Me Fix’ that allows the tenants we manage to access professional advice to fix maintenance issues in a way that ideally keeps our landlords’ costs down, if it comes to fixing problems.
Nevertheless, we would always say that prevention is better than cure – and now that we’ve hit those warmer summer months (or weeks… or, well, days), a few simple checks now can save you a world of stress and expense when the clocks go back and those ‘my radiators aren’t working’ emails start rolling in.
So, here’s what we recommend every landlord gives a once-over before autumn sets in.
1. Check for Condensation and Ventilation Issues
It might sound like a winter problem, but condensation doesn’t take a holiday – especially in homes where people are cooking more, showering more, or keeping windows shut to block out street noise – even when it’s hot!
Condensation often shows up in bathroom corners, on ceilings, or behind furniture. It can be a sign that extractor fans aren’t working properly in bathrooms, or that tenants need a gentle reminder to ventilate the property regularly.
If you have black mould patches or musty smells showing up during a summer inspection, that’s your sign to act. Check any vents (we’ve found old birds’ nests and all sorts, believe me), check extractor fans for dust or grime, and get these cleaned or replaced if needed.
Fixing it now avoids escalation – and arguments – when we get to the damper, cooler seasons.
2. Give the Garden Some Love
Out of sight, out of mind? It can feel like it, but it’s a mistake – and it can be a costly one, so it just bears a little thinking about.
Your tenants may well have a condition in the agreement they signed with you that they will maintain the garden – but don’t leave it to chance. If you do have a garden clause in your tenancy agreement (and if you are one of our landlords, you will have), it’s worth checking that tenants are keeping on top of things.
But let’s be honest: if the garden needs professional attention (lawn mowing, pruning, clearing), it’s better to handle it in summer than wait for autumn’s mud and rain – even if just to remind the tenants what they agreed and what their obligations are. Maintenance of gardens are a classic source of tension between landlords and tenants – but it’s not just an issue of being unsightly. An overgrown garden can easily become a maintenance issue, with fences or other boundary dividers at risk, the capacity to cause damp or even subsidence – and although you will be able to claim for damages against a tenant’s deposit at the end of the tenancy if the worst happens, the reality is that if the worst happens, it will cost you a lot more to fix than five weeks’ rent is going to pay out.
It can be worth building garden maintenance into your management package, so it doesn’t become a blame game later. And remember – if the property has to remain empty for a period to fix problems, that’s longer void periods yielding no rental income while that takes place.
3. Test the Heating While It’s Off
Yes, really.
Summer is a great time to test the boiler and radiators – because if something’s not working, you’ve got time to sort it before tenants need it.
Arrange to pop down yourself, send your own plumber, ask your managing agent to check or even ask if the tenants themselves can just switch on the heating briefly – even just for 15 minutes – to make sure radiators come on, pressure is normal, and that no error codes flash up on the boiler panel. Better a quick fix now than a callout – and a callout fee – on a miserable or frosty morning in November.
If you haven’t booked your annual gas safety check yet, perhaps now is the time – even if you are bringing the date forward. Gas engineers get booked up quickly from September onwards, so again, why leave these things to chance?
4. Clear the Gutters and Drains
Summer’s the quiet time for roof and drainage work – but once leaves start falling, blocked gutters become one of the top causes of leaks, damp patches, and water damage.
Get a contractor to clear gutters now while the weather’s dry. You’ll thank yourself later when the storms hit, and water flows freely away from your walls and foundations.
It’s a small enough job, not costly, and therefore one of the smartest investments you can make when it comes to protecting your property for the Autumn and Winter storms that surely come.
5. Use ‘Help Me Fix’ for Quick Advice and Tenant Troubleshooting
As we mentioned earlier, we use ‘Help Me Fix’ as a means to help our landlords cut down on unnecessary callouts. It is a video triage service that connects tenants to qualified tradespeople who can diagnose issues remotely.
We recommend doing these simple checks now to stay ahead – but if a tenant does later report a dripping tap or mysterious noises emanating from the boiler, it means that in the first instance we don’t rush to send someone out.
Through this platform, the tenant has a route to investigate the issue remotely first. Often it can be something they can resolve themselves (like restoring pressure or clearing a filter). It allows smaller issues to be sorted there and then.
It keeps costs down, reduces contractor visits (and therefore, carbon footprint too), and empowers tenants to take small actions safely and without stress. It is one of the core services we offer to our landlord clients, and it pays dividends.
That said, if you do spot something now that looks like it might need attention soon – a flaking seal, a lock that sticks, a tap that drips, or a noisy fan that clanks away in the bathroom – don’t ignore it, because it will become your problem, not your tenant’s.
A Little Effort Now, Fewer Emergencies Later
Autumn is always the start of the busy season in property management, but the landlords who think ahead and take small, sensible actions in the summer are the ones who keep not just complaints down, but costs too.
If your tenants are away over the holidays, that gives you the perfect chance to inspect the property. If they’re staying put, a friendly mid-year check-in is a good excuse to remind them about airflow, maintenance, and garden care – and to spot those early signs of wear and tear.
The sun won’t be out for long – so make hay while its shining!
FAQs: Summer Maintenance for Landlords
Why is condensation a problem in summer?
Condensation isn’t just a winter issue. In summer, internal moisture from showers, cooking, and laundry can still build up, especially when windows stay shut or extractor fans aren’t working properly. Warm, humid conditions can actually accelerate mould growth, so it’s important to keep ventilation flowing year-round.
How can I avoid callout charges as a landlord?
Prevention is key. Simple summer checks – things like testing heating systems, clearing gutters, and inspecting extractor fans – can catch small issues before they become costly problems. Services like Help Me Fix also reduce unnecessary callouts by letting tenants chat problems through over video-link with qualified tradespeople to resolve minor issues remotely.
Do tenants have to maintain the garden?
If your tenancy agreement includes a garden maintenance clause (and if you're a Your Home Managed landlord, it will), tenants are expected to keep things tidy. But it’s worth checking in during summer; overgrown gardens can cause property damage and become costly to fix. If needed, professional garden maintenance can be arranged to avoid disputes later.
When should I book my annual gas safety check?
Ideally, in summer or early autumn. Gas engineers get booked up quickly once the heating season starts, so bringing your check forward can help avoid delays and reduce risk of non-compliance if something needs repair.
What is Help Me Fix and how does it work?
Help Me Fix is a video triage platform that connects tenants with qualified tradespeople to troubleshoot issues remotely. If it’s something simple – like repressurising a boiler or adjusting a radiator valve – it can often be resolved on the call. It’s faster for tenants, cheaper for landlords, and better for the environment too!
And Finally… A Summer Maintenance Checklist for Landlords
For ease of reference, here is a quick and easy checklist to follow to help you stay ahead:
- Check for condensation & mould
- Inspect extractor fans & ventilation
- Ensure garden maintenance is on track
- Test the boiler & heating system
- Clear gutters and drains
- Use Help Me Fix for tenant troubleshooting
