Television presenter Phil Spencer has suggested that "prevention is better than cure" when it comes to home maintenance.
Speaking ahead of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings' (SPAB) National Maintenance Week, which runs from today (November 20th) until November 27th, the Location Location Location host offered his top ten tips for taking care of a property, which may be of particular interest to landlords.
He suggested the spring and autumn months are ideal times of year to remove leaves, plants and silt from gutters and check for blocked drainpipes - clogs are easiest to spot in the rain.
Landlords may also wish to keep rental properties looking tidy by painting cast iron regularly to prevent rust and removing vegetation from drainpipes.
Spencer also advised that when replacing sections of a property's exterior that are beyond repair, it is important to make sure that the materials used are the same as the originals - in new properties this may be lead, but older homes may be more likely to have cast iron instead.
Inside the rental property, landlords are required to arrange annual gas safety checks on any appliances and flues by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.
The Health & Safety Executive notes that landlords must keep records of these checks for at least two years and ensure tenants also have a copy.
