Clear gutters and downpipes at every property
The highest-value job of the landlord year. Blocked gutters cause most of the damp complaints that arrive in January.
Cornwall landlord resource
Landlord Maintenance Calendar for Cornwall Rentals
A season-by-season maintenance calendar for Cornwall landlords covering inspections, tenant reports, void works and the records that protect deposits and claims.
Useful for
LandlordsLetting agentsPortfolio ownersProperty managers
Checklist 1
Autumn (September-November)
Autumn work is water management. Everything done now prevents the winter damp reports that dominate Cornwall rental maintenance.
Service heating before tenants need it
Heating failures cluster in the first cold week. Getting ahead of them is cheaper and keeps tenants reporting other faults promptly.
Check external doors, windows and seals
Ease sticking doors, renew failed sealant and confirm window function before winter swelling makes small faults worse.
Walk the exterior with photos
Document condition before winter: roofline from ground, walls, boundaries and outdoor areas. The photo set is your baseline for storm claims.
Remind tenants how to report and ventilate
A short seasonal note about reporting faults early and managing condensation prevents both damage and disputes.
Checklist 2
Winter (December-February)
Winter is responsive season. The planning is done; now respond fast, diagnose damp properly and use any voids well.
Respond quickly to moisture reports
Diagnose condensation versus penetrating damp versus plumbing before treating. The wrong diagnosis wastes money twice.
Scan properties after named storms
A drive-past or keyholder check after each major storm catches external damage while it is small and claimable.
Watch empty properties closely
Winter voids need heating, water decisions and visit frequency that satisfy the insurance unoccupancy clause.
Use winter voids for big works
Between-tenancy weeks in winter are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and full redecoration that occupied properties cannot host.
Keep records of every response
Date-stamped photos and notes of each repair and response protect deposits and demonstrate compliance.
Checklist 3
Spring (March-May)
Spring is assessment and booking season: find what winter did and get summer works into diaries before the trades fill up.
Complete the annual full inspection
Room-by-room with the same checklist each year, with proper tenant notice. Spring timing catches winter damage while summer repair slots remain open.
Review external paint and timber
Score each elevation and book weather-side decorating for summer. Coastal rentals need the exterior cycle managed, not remembered.
Check outdoor areas before summer use
Decking, steps, handrails, fences and gates need a safety pass before tenants and their visitors use them intensively.
Book summer works now
Cornwall trade diaries fill by late spring. Exterior and disruptive works booked in April happen in July; booked in July they happen in October.
Refresh the property file
Update photo sets, appliance ages and known-issue lists per property while the inspection is fresh.
Checklist 4
Summer (June-August)
Summer is execution season: exterior works in dry weather, and preparation for the autumn tenancy churn.
Execute exterior decorating and timber repairs
Dry substrates and long days make summer the window for the outside work spring identified.
Handle void turnarounds efficiently
Summer tenancy changes deserve a standard void checklist: deep clean, decoration touch-ups, sealant, full photo set before re-let.
Check ventilation is working, not just fitted
Test extractor fans and confirm trickle vents are open. Working ventilation in summer prevents condensation complaints in winter.
Plan autumn preparation
List each property's gutter, heating and seal jobs now so the September round is a schedule, not a scramble.
Review the maintenance year
Compare spend against budget by property, spot the repeat offenders and decide what planned investment would reduce next year's reactive costs.
Useful next steps
Turn the checklist into a practical property plan.
Frequently asked questions
Landlord Maintenance Calendar for Cornwall Rentals FAQs
How often should a rental property be inspected?
At least annually, with many Cornwall landlords choosing six-monthly for older or coastal stock. Always give the notice the tenancy agreement requires.
What records should a landlord keep?
Dated photos of condition and completed work, inspection notes, tenant report threads and invoices. The file protects deposits, supports claims and evidences compliance.
Why do Cornwall rentals need more exterior maintenance?
Salt air, wind-driven rain and mild damp winters age coatings, timber and fixings faster than inland conditions, and much of the county's rental stock is older solid-wall construction.
When should void works be planned?
In the final month of the outgoing tenancy, so decorating, flooring and deep repairs happen in the void and the property re-lets without dead weeks.
Can Coast & Quay run this calendar for a landlord?
Yes. Landlord maintenance plans cover scheduled inspections, seasonal jobs, documented repairs and photo reporting across one property or a portfolio.