Rental Property Annual Maintenance: Keep Your Investment in Top Shape

Rental property maintenance checklist

Heat Pumps  

Right, let’s start with heat pumps – and this is where I see landlords make the biggest mistake. They wait until winter hits, and suddenly everyone’s calling HVAC contractors at the same time.

Here’s what you need to do: Book that professional service before the cold weather hits. I’m talking early autumn, not when the first frost arrives. You’ll get better availability and often better pricing, too.

Don’t forget to clean those outside unit filters annually. It’s one of those simple jobs that makes a massive difference to

Ventilation Systems

Now, if you’ve got HRV or DVS systems – and most modern rentals do – you can’t just set and forget them.

Check your manufacturer’s recommendations, but generally, you’re looking at filter changes yearly or every couple of years. Some systems are hungry for new filters; others are more forgiving.

The key is knowing what you’ve got and staying on top of it.

3️⃣ Chimney and Fireplace Safety

A common safety concern is chimneys and fireplaces that haven’t been properly maintained.

If your property has a fireplace, a professional chimney sweep and inspection isn’t optional. We’re talking about preventing house fires and dangerous fume issues. Test that damper too, you’d be surprised how many don’t work properly.

Check out this blog for more on fire safety

In addition to your fireplace and chimney, remember to get any gas appliances, such as gas fires or hot water cylinders, checked by a qualified professional at least every two years to ensure they are running safely and not letting off carbon monoxide.

Your tenants’ safety and your insurance policy may depend on getting this right.

For gas fires, click here

4️⃣ Gutter Cleaning

Gutters – the unsung heroes of your property, until they’re not working, then they become expensive villains.

So, depending on how many trees you have, this might be an annual event, six-monthly, or every two years.  Those downpipes flowing to stormwater need to be clear, too.

Blocked gutters lead to water damage, and water damage leads to insurance claims and unhappy conversations.

5️⃣ Tree Trimming

This one’s really property-dependent. Some of you might need to do this every six months if you’ve got big established trees; others might get away with every couple of years.

Remove branches that could come down on the roof during storms – and we get some decent storms here in the Manawatu. Keep vegetation away from the building for better air circulation.

Here’s a bonus tip: Good tree trimming really helps prevent those gutters from blocking up with leaves in the first place. It’s all connected.

6️⃣ Water Filter Replacement

Annual water filter replacement – put it in your calendar as a recurring reminder.

Clean water protects your plumbing system and keeps tenants happy. It’s one of those small jobs that prevent bigger problems down the track.

7️⃣ Exterior Washing

Last but definitely not least – exterior washing yearly or every second year.

This isn’t just about curb appeal, though a sparkly clean property does look fantastic. This protects your paintwork and makes it last longer. Paint jobs aren’t cheap, so protecting what you’ve got makes good financial sense.

Professional pressure washing removes all that build-up that can damage your exterior over time.

8️⃣ Recap: Investing In Your Rental

Look, I know maintenance feels like just another cost, but here’s the thing.

Planned maintenance is always cheaper than emergency repairs.

The landlords who get this right are the ones building wealth through property. The ones who don’t… well, they’re the ones calling us stressed out about unexpected repair bills.

Stay ahead of the game, and your properties will reward you for it.

Have a rental property in our area, and need help? Let’s chat. 📞

Making life easier for landlords is what we do.