Your home is one of the biggest investments you can make in your lifetime. It is therefore important that as a homeowner, you carry out routine maintenance, repairing ageing or defective elements and checking the condition of vulnerable or high exposure components regularly. The guidance here is not bespoke to your property and is provided to supplement the advice within the Survo report. Please note that historic buildings may require specialist maintenance, and that works to Listed Buildings or those in Conservation Areas may be restricted by law.
We recommend that you check the external condition of your property at least once a year and additionally, following any adverse weather event. Where these checks highlight potential defects, you may need to engage the help of a suitability qualified surveyor or other professional to establish what repairs (if any) are required.
Loose masonry or attachments can be dislodged during bad weather presenting a risk. You should therefore check for cracking to masonry, render and cement or elements which are possibly loose or missing. Chimney pots if damaged or loose, present a risk to the building and people. Stormy weather may dislodge these highly exposed elements.
Attachments such as (but not exhaustively) aerials and satellite dishes can often be fixed to high level parts of the building where they suffer a higher level of exposure. Fixing can corrode or simply be dislodged by high winds and can fall and cause damage or injury.
Pitched roofs are usually covered with tiles or slates. You can conduct a visual check for any tiles or slates which are missing, broken or have slipped out of alignment.
Flat roofs can be formed in a variety of materials which have varying levels of service life. You can check for signs of failure such as cracking or blistering but for safety reasons, should not walk on a flat roof. We recommend that flat roofs are kept clear of debris to permit proper drainage and if covered with chippings, these are distributed evenly. You may need to top up this coverage from time to time if it becomes patchy to protect the roof from the sun.
Guttering should be cleared annually as it can become blocked by debris such as leaves. The effectiveness of rainwater gutters and downpipes is best observed during rainfall where you should look for leaking between guttering sections or at connections with downpipes. It is important that these fitting are securely fitted to the property and any loose or missing brackets should be replaced. If not already present, you may wish to consider the installation of balloon gratings to downpipe outlets.
Visually check walls for distortion such as budging or cracking. The cement filling between the bricks (known as pointing) serves both a structural and weather proofing purpose and where cracked, loose or missing, should be replaced. If walls have been painted, they will require regular redecoration the frequency of which will depend on the quality of the paint, how well it was applied and the exposure of the building.
Plants growing on or near the building can cause damage to pointing and render and should be cut away to prevent this, taking care not to dislodge surfaces.
To reduce the risk of internal dampness, you should maintain the level of soil or paving below the level of the damp proof course by at least 150mm where possible or consider ‘dry wells’ or permeable materials at wall bases. It is also important that any ventilation bricks are not obstructed as these help protect the building from damp and decay.
Some walls may be finished with cladding. This might be tiles or some form of boarding such as uPVC or timber. Cladding systems protect the structure and where missing, loose or damaged should be repaired or replaced.
With wooden framed windows, you should check for signs of rot to the frames and window panes. The condition of the decorations should also be checked and where deteriorating, will require re-decoration as these help to protect the wood from decay. Similar advice can also be applied to metal framed windows as some will be vulnerable to corrosion.
Plastic windows do not suffer the same risks but should be checked for cracks or missing trim pieces.
Hinge and latch mechanisms are typically metal and should be checked for corrosion and function.
Where doubled glazed, look for misting between the glazing as this indicates failure of the seals and the double-glazing unit. Failed, crack or broken glass should be replaced by a qualified specialist.
Where the property has sash windows, any frayed sash cords should be renewed.
Follow the same advice as for windows. Timber doors can swell during wet weather and can require adjustment from time to time.
Keep any guttering or drainage channels clear of debris. Wall and rainwater details should be maintained as per the above advice.
Timber as well as some other materials such as metal or asbestos can require regular redecoration to protect them from decay, corrosion or general deterioration. Where the report highlights any joinery may contain asbestos you should seek specialist advice prior to completing any work.
Other forms of external joinery such as uPVC fascia and soffit boards do not necessarily require regular re-decoration but you should check these are secure as these high level details can be dislodged by adverse weather.
Balconies can also form flat roofs above habitable areas below. In such instances the roof surface should be maintained as per our advice on flat roofs above.
Evidence of corrosion or movement to a balcony should not be ignored and should be referred to a suitably qualified person to be investigated and repaired where necessary.
Edge protection; whether metal railings, timber fencing or glass panel must be secure and in good repair. Redecoration should be completed regularly to protect these elements.
When decorating, replacing floor coverings, storing items in the loft or even cleaning, you can take the opportunity to check internal parts of your property.
Look out for signs of water penetration such as dampness or staining. You should also check for signs of vermin such as rodent droppings. Any other damage to the roof or its structure such as tears to the underlining, decay or movement should also be checked. Where there are services in the loft, check pipework is properly supported and insulated.
The first sign of a problem with the roof might well be dampness or a leak to the ceilings. A ceiling which is water damaged is at risk of collapse, particularly if it becomes visibly uneven. Excessive cracking to ceilings, particularly to older ceilings, can indicate the plaster is loose and there is a risk this could collapse.
Check for new or worsening signs of movement such as (plaster) cracking or unevenness. New damp areas can be a result of external problems such as a leak to the roof or defective rainwater goods. In other areas, it might indicate a problem with internal plumbing or sealant around sanitary fittings.
New or developing unevenness to floors could indicate movement to the building or decay to the supporting structure.
Any flue being used with solid fuel (whether an open fire, log burner or similar) must have its flue inspected and swept annually by a suitably qualified specialist for safety reasons. With any such fireplaces, it is important that other sources of ventilation into a room are not obstructed as these are critical to the safe operation of any fire.
Built-in fittings such as kitchen or utility units or bedroom cupboards can wear with time. Check for worn sealants and loose or defective latches and hinges.
Worn fittings are more likely to leak, particularly around the waste/drainpipe connections or along sealant joints. Check for loose connections/plumbing and worn or missing sealants.
Building services can be dangerous, particularly if damaged or defective. You should always seek specialist advice if you identify a concern. All services should be properly maintained; tenanted properties generally require frequent (possibly annual) safety testing.
Meters and any emergency shut off/stopcocks should be kept readily accessible. Any defects should be reported to your utility provider.
Should be checked and tested at least every ten years in the case of owner occupation and every five years in the case of tenancy. Any alteration or repair should be completed by a suitability qualified person.
These services and any connected appliances such as boilers and fires should be checked, tested, and serviced annually by a suitability qualified person.
Internal plumbing, whether for hot/cold water or drainage can fatigue over time and fail. You should visually check accessible pipework from time to time for staining or nearby dampness as this may indicate a fault.
Inspection chambers should be opened and checked annually for damage or blockages. You may need to engage the assistance of a drainage contractor to assist with this depending on your ability to lift covers. Surface water drainage gullies should also be cleaned out regularly. Take suitable precautions to protect yourself against disease when in contact with drainage.
Inspection chambers should be opened and checked annually for damage or blockages. You may need to engage the assistance of a drainage contractor to assist with this depending on your ability to lift covers. Surface water drainage gullies should also be cleaned out regularly. Take suitable precautions to protect yourself against disease when in contact with drainage.
Your legal advisor should help you to understand the extent of the land and outbuildings that will be within your ownership. In some cases, there may be some shared liability (such as boundary walls and fencing).
Generally, these should be maintained in a similar way to the main building, and as such, the earlier advice on the main building applies.
It is important to regularly prune vegetation such as trees, shrubs, and hedges, and where these are permitted to grow excessively, there can be consequential damage to walls, paths, buildings, and drainage. Consider also any overhanging or unsafe branches as these may need to be cut back for safety.
Following any period of adverse weather, check for storm damage to boundary walls/fences and trees.
Paving areas, decking, and walkways should be kept in a level and stable condition and clear of obstructions and trip hazards. Algae growth which can occur during colder and wetter periods can make surfaces slippery and should be cleared.
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