Autumn Property Maintenance Checklist for Hull and East Riding Homes

The jobs worth doing before winter, from clearing gutters and checking roofs to lagging pipes and servicing the boiler, plus a version for landlords.

A blocked gutter in September is a quick job. Leave it until January and it can mean damp walls, a stained ceiling and a much bigger bill. Autumn is when a few hours of checking now can save you a lot of hassle once the wind and rain arrive.

We carry out property maintenance and repairs across Hull and the East Riding all year round. This is the checklist we'd work through on our own homes. Some jobs are easy to do yourself. Others are better left to someone with the right ladders and kit, so give us a call if you'd rather not tackle them. And if you're already thinking about bigger plans for next year, our guide to how much a new bathroom costs in Hull will help you start budgeting.

The short answer

Before winter, clear your gutters and downpipes, check the roof for loose or missing tiles, look for cracks in walls and pointing and seal any draughts around windows and doors. Inside, bleed your radiators, get your boiler serviced, lag any exposed pipes and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Most of these jobs are quick, and doing them in September or October means you're not chasing a tradesperson during the first storm of the year.

What maintenance should I do outside my house in autumn?

Start outside while the days are still fairly long and dry. These are the checks that matter most:

• Gutters and downpipes. Scoop out leaves and moss, then run water through to make sure it drains freely. Look for joints that drip or brackets that have come loose.
• Roof. From the ground, check for slipped or missing tiles, cracked ridge tiles and moss build-up. Binoculars help. Please don't climb up there yourself.
• Flashing and chimney. The metal strips where the roof meets the chimney or a wall often lift over time and let water in.
• Walls and pointing. Crumbling mortar between bricks lets rain soak into the wall. Small cracks are easy to repoint now. Left alone, they get worse every time water freezes inside them.
• Windows and doors. Check the seals and frames for gaps. Re-seal around frames and fit draught strips where you can feel cold air.
• Drains and gullies. Clear leaves from outside drains so heavy rain has somewhere to go.
• Fences and gates. Tighten loose panels and check posts are solid before the autumn gales arrive.
• Patios and paths. Clean off moss and algae because they turn slippery in wet weather. Fix any loose slabs too.

Hull has seen its share of heavy rain over the years, so it pays to make sure water is going where it should.

What should I check inside my home before winter?

Once the outside is sorted, work through the inside:

• Boiler service. Book it before the cold weather when engineers get busy. It must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Radiators. Bleed any that are cold at the top and check the pressure on your boiler afterwards.
• Pipes. Lag any pipes in the loft, garage or outside walls. Frozen pipes can burst and cause serious water damage.
• Stopcock. Find it and check it turns. If a pipe bursts, you'll want to shut the water off fast.
• Damp and condensation. Look for black mould on window frames, ceilings and behind furniture. Good ventilation and a working extractor fan make a big difference.
• Loft. Check for daylight through the roof, damp patches on the timbers and gaps in the insulation.
• Alarms. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and change the batteries.

When should gutters be cleaned?

Most homes need gutter cleaning at least twice a year. Late autumn is the most important time, once most of the leaves have dropped. If you have trees close to the house, you may need a check in early autumn too and another one in spring.

Signs your gutters need attention include water spilling over the edge when it rains, plants growing out of them or damp patches on the wall underneath. Working at height is risky, so if your gutters are above the ground floor, it's safer to have someone with the right equipment do the job.

How do I prepare my house for winter?

The simplest way is to deal with anything that lets water or cold air in. That means clear gutters, a sound roof, good pointing and sealed windows. Then make sure your heating works properly and your pipes are protected from freezing. If you work through the two checklists above in September or October, your home will be in good shape before the worst of the weather.

Autumn checks for landlords

If you rent out property in Hull or the East Riding, autumn is a good time to get ahead of winter call-outs. Tenants are far more likely to report problems once the heating goes on and the rain starts.

• Arrange the annual gas safety check if it's due.
• Check gutters, roofs and pointing on every property, not just the one you live nearest to.
• Look for signs of damp and mould and deal with the cause, not just the patch on the wall.
• Make sure tenants know where the stopcock is.
• Book any repairs before winter so they're done while the weather still allows.

We look after rental homes and HMOs for landlords around Hull with planned and reactive maintenance. Having one team that knows your properties makes winter much less stressful.

Get your home ready for winter

If you've worked through this list and found a few jobs you'd rather not do yourself, we can help. Our team covers repairs, roofing, guttering, joinery, plastering and decorating, so one visit can often sort several jobs at once.

We've been looking after homes around Hull since 2014. We're fully insured and rated 5/5 on Google. Call 07816 581858 or request your free quote and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.