The UK Home Maintenance Schedule — What to Check and When
A practical, season-by-season checklist so you can stop guessing and start staying ahead of problems.
Most home maintenance advice boils down to "do it before it becomes expensive." Which is true, but not very helpful when you can't remember what needs doing or when.
This is a straightforward, UK-focused schedule. No fluff — just the jobs that actually matter, organised by season so you can work through them when the time comes.
Spring (March – May)
Winter is over. Now's the time to check what it left behind.
Outside
- Gutters and downpipes — clear debris, check for leaks or sagging
- Roof — look for missing or slipped tiles from ground level
- External walls — check for cracks, damaged render, or damp patches
- Fences and gates — repair storm damage, treat timber
- Paths and patio — pressure wash, check for trip hazards
Inside
- Boiler — book your annual service (before engineers get busy)
- Smoke and CO alarms — test and replace batteries
- Extractor fans — clean bathroom and kitchen fans
- Windows and doors — check seals and hinges, lubricate locks
- Loft — check for signs of damp, pests, or insulation damage
Spring is also the best time to check your warranties. Appliances bought last spring may be approaching their 12-month expiry. A quick check now could save you hundreds if something fails next month.
Summer (June – August)
Dry weather and long days — ideal for outdoor jobs you've been putting off.
Outside
- External paintwork — repaint or touch up window frames, fascias, and doors
- Decking — clean, sand, and re-oil or stain
- Garden drainage — clear drains and check for standing water
- Shed or outbuildings — check roof felt, treat timber
- Air bricks — make sure they're clear and not blocked by soil
Inside
- Washing machine — run a hot empty cycle with cleaner
- Tumble dryer — clean lint filter and check vent hose
- Fridge and freezer — defrost freezer, clean condenser coils
- Silicone seals — check around bath, shower, and kitchen sink
- Grout — re-grout or re-seal bathroom tiles if needed
Doing outdoor painting or repairs? Keep a record of what you used and when. If you need to touch up or make a warranty claim later, you'll thank yourself for noting the brand, colour code, and date.
Autumn (September – November)
Prepare your home before winter arrives. This is the season that prevents the most expensive surprises.
Outside
- Gutters — clear fallen leaves (again — this one really matters)
- Roof — second visual check before winter storms
- External taps — turn off and drain to prevent frozen pipes
- Garden furniture — store or cover for winter
- Driveway — repair cracks before frost widens them
Inside
- Heating — test radiators, bleed if needed, check thermostat
- Draught-proofing — check door and window seals, letterbox
- Chimney — book a sweep if you have an open fire or log burner
- Pipe insulation — check exposed pipes in loft, garage, or under the house
- Boiler pressure — top up if the gauge has dropped
This is subscription review season. Home insurance, boiler cover, and breakdown policies often renew in autumn. Check what you're paying and whether you still need it — auto-renewals are almost always more expensive than switching.
Winter (December – February)
Less to do outside, but plenty to keep an eye on indoors.
Outside
- Gutters — check for ice dams after heavy frost
- Paths — keep clear of ice and snow, check for salt damage
- Trees — check for overhanging branches near the house or power lines
Inside
- Condensation and mould — check window frames, corners, and behind furniture
- Heating — keep it running at low temp even when away to prevent frozen pipes
- Stop tap — check you know where it is and that it turns
- Smoke and CO alarms — test again (twice a year is the recommendation)
- Electrical — check for overloaded extension leads (common over Christmas)
Know where your stop tap is. If a pipe bursts, the difference between a mop-up and a insurance claim is the 30 seconds it takes to turn off the water. Test it now — they can seize up if they haven't been turned in years.
The jobs that don't have a season
Some things need doing regularly, regardless of the time of year:
- Test smoke and CO alarms — press the button monthly
- Check the boiler pressure gauge — should read between 1 and 1.5 bar
- Run taps and flush toilets in unused rooms — prevents traps drying out
- Check for water leaks — under sinks, around the toilet base, near the washing machine
- Review your home insurance — update if you've made improvements or bought expensive items
The real problem isn't knowing what to do
Most of this isn't complicated. The hard part is remembering to do it at the right time.
You read a checklist like this, nod along, maybe bookmark it — and then six months later the gutter is overflowing because you forgot to clear it in October.
That's exactly why we built Kepthouse. You add your maintenance tasks once, set the schedule, and the app reminds you before things are due. Not after. Not when the damage is done.
It also tracks your warranties (so you claim before they expire), your subscriptions (so you cancel before they auto-renew), and your tradesperson contacts (so you're not Googling "emergency plumber near me" at midnight).
Got a maintenance tip we missed? Let us know at r/kepthouse or support@kepthouse.app.