An HMO Maintenance Checklist That Gets Used

Shared bathrooms and kitchens

These fail first and cause the most expensive damage. The recurring items are silicone that has gone black, extractor fans that have stopped working or were never ducted properly, shower seals leaking into the floor below and waste traps blocked solid.

• Silicone and shower seals checked every six months
• Extractor fans tested and cleaned, ducting confirmed to outside
• Waste traps cleared before they back up
• Taps and mixers checked for drips and worn cartridges
• Flooring edges and thresholds checked for water ingress

Fire doors and escape routes

Fire doors in an HMO are a legal matter as well as a maintenance one. The everyday failures are simple: a closer removed because residents found it annoying, a door painted so many times it no longer latches, damaged intumescent strips and items stored in the escape route.

We carry out the repair work. Inspection and certification sit with the appropriate specialist, and we will say so rather than blur the line.

Communal wear

Hallways, stairs and landings need hard-wearing finishes and regular touch-up rather than an occasional full redecoration. Handrail-height scuffing, damaged frames and failed light fittings are the usual list, and they are cheap in isolation and dispiriting in aggregate.

Seasonal items

Before winter: gutters, external sealant, loft insulation and pipe lagging. After winter: paintwork, damp patches and any signs of condensation that appeared while windows were shut.