A spring checklist for rental owners
As the calendar flips over to the first day of spring, it’s a great opportunity for rental owners to consider what routine maintenance needs to occur before the warm months commence.
From gutter cleans to air-conditioning maintenance and bushfire mitigation, here’s a quick spring checklist for rental owners in a bid to protect your property over the period ahead.
The seasons to come
For most Australian states and territories, the warmer months bring with them an increased risk of natural disasters.
Across the country, bushfire risk ramps up, while storm activity also tends to increase and the northern parts of the country face an increased threat of heavy rains and cyclones.
That makes spring the time to prepare rental properties for the weather that may lie ahead.
Gutter clean
If your rental property is a freestanding home, spring offers the ideal opportunity for a gutter clean.
Regular gutter cleans remove leaf litter and debris that may have accumulated over the winter period, improving general waterflow around the property, reducing the risk of water build-up in your roof channels and gutters, and mitigating the risk of damage to your gutters and property.
In bushfire prone areas, a regular gutter clean also minimises the risk of fires being started due to ember attack.
Air-conditioning
In a few short weeks, air-conditioners and cooling units across the country will start firing up as the warmer weather kicks in.
That makes now the time for an air conditioning service, and the filters to be cleaned.
Pool safety
If your rental property has a pool, the start of spring is a great time for a pool check, which includes assessing the pool’s general condition and also inspecting any pool fencing to ensure it remains up to code.
As part of this inspection, pool signage, including any required CPR and first aid signage should also be checked and replaced if necessary.
Power wash
Over the winter months, mould and dirt can build up around the exterior of a property, including areas such as pathways, paving and shade sails.
As a result, it could be a good time for a quick powerwash of your rental’s outside areas to reduce any slip hazards and give the home a general spruce up.
Garden trim
Spring sees gardens enjoy a whole new lease on life, so why not get a jump on things and trim it back a little in advance?
Regular garden maintenance, including tree and shrub trimming, reduces the risk of overhanging branches falling onto your property during summer storms.
It also minimises the fuel load for bushfire season and helps keep those gutters clear of leaf litter and debris.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms require regular maintenance and inspections, and there’s no time like the present to tick this off your maintenance to-do list.
If you’re not sure when the last service was undertaken, check in with your property manager as it’s always a good idea to ascertain alarms are compliant and fully working before the bushfire season ahead.
Insurance
It’s not exactly maintenance, but good insurance is a necessity.
Now’s a great time to cross check your policy to ensure it covers all possible flood, fire, and natural disaster scenarios, along with providing protection against deliberate damage.
How we can help
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.
We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.
Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.
