Home Maintenance Checklist | Saga Home Insurance

Keeping on top of home maintenance is important for every house’s upkeep. Regularly checking your exterior, plumbing, heating and appliances will help keep your home in good working order, reducing the risk of breakdowns, major repairs and home emergency claims down the line.

Think of it like a regular health check-up for your home.

We’ve put together this handy home maintenance checklist, organised by season so that you can keep on top of things over the course of the year. There are a few maintenance jobs you should carry out on a monthly basis too.

Your home may have additional maintenance needs based on the age or type of home you live in, but this should be a good starting point for regular maintenance. Keep this list to hand, revisit it throughout the year, and keep your home in prime working condition.

Spring home maintenance checklist

After a long, cold winter, spring is the time to check your home for any damage and ensure it’s ready for the year ahead.

Examine the roof for winter damage
Check the roof for any damage caused over winter, including missing, broken or loose tiles.
Clean the gutters
Clean out your gutters and drainage holes, removing any leaves and moss that have fallen in over the winter months. Blocked guttering can lead to damp and damage, so ensure it’s all clear so that everything works as it should.

Take a look in your loft
Check your loft to make sure there haven’t been any leaks over winter. While you’re up there, why not check your insulation and get rid of an old box or two? That’s three jobs in one. Tick, tick, tick.
Check your chimney stack
See if it needs repointing or if the pot is loose. You’ll know it needs repointing if there are areas of mortar missing or plants growing in any gaps.

Summer home maintenance checklist

It’s warming up, the days are getting longer and you’re spending more and more time outside. Now’s the time to get out and tend to your home’s exterior.

Repair and paint external woodwork
Head outside and get your garden summer-ready by repairing and painting any wooden fencing, window frames and doors.
Repoint brickwork
Get to work on any repointing jobs that you’ve identified. Summer is also the best time to carry out any painting that’s needed on your external walls.

Prune trees, bushes and climbing plants
Take the time to cut back any trees or shrubs. Look for anything that might be overhanging your home or starting to grow across windows or guttering.

Autumn home maintenance checklist

Home maintenance in autumn is all about getting winter-ready, preparing your home for a drop in temperature, shorter days and darker nights.

Get your chimney swept
Get ready for cosy evenings in front of an open fire by getting your chimney swept and your flue checked before winter.
Clear your gutters and drainage holes
Once the autumn leaves have dropped, clear leaves and debris and make sure pipes are securely fixed to your walls.
Insulate external pipes or taps
This will help to prevent them from freezing and bursting over winter.

Check security lights
As the nights get darker, make sure any security lights are working and any sheds and outbuildings are securely locked.
Get your boiler serviced
Book your boiler in for a service to make sure everything is working properly before the winter sets in. Check your radiators and have them seen to as well if needed.

Winter home maintenance checklist

Winter is well and truly setting in. This time of year poses the biggest risk to your home in terms of weather damage and damp, so keep on top of your home maintenance to resolve any issues as soon as they arise.

Check fences and trees for storm damage
Throughout the winter months, regularly check your fences and trees and carry out any necessary repairs quickly to prevent more serious problems from occurring.
Keep an eye on your roof
After strong winds or stormy weather, check your roof to make sure no tiles have broken, come loose or fallen off.

Check your pipes for leaks
After particularly cold weather, it’s a good idea to check your pipes to make sure they haven’t leaked or burst.
Prevent damp
Without much ventilation, your home can become prone to damp. Open windows occasionally and use extractor fans in your bathroom and kitchen to prevent damp from setting in.

Monthly home maintenance checklist

As well as these season-specific home maintenance jobs, there are certain tasks that should be carried out every month to keep your home healthy:

Check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month (if not weekly) to make sure they're working.

Keep an eye on your boiler pressure

Check your boiler pressure every few weeks to make sure it hasn’t risen too high or dropped too low.

Unclog your drains

Inspect the drains in your bathroom and kitchen for debris and unclog if necessary. Keeping on top of drain maintenance will prevent them from getting blocked later down the line.

Check out our guide on how to unblock a drain if you need a helping hand.

Wipe away condensation

Whenever you notice condensation on your windows, wipe it away to prevent it from rotting wooden window frames or causing damp.

Look out for signs of damp

Keep an eye out for any signs of damp on your walls and ceilings. Damp can ruin your wallpaper, damage your furniture and cause health problems, so if you notice anything, nip it in the bud.

Keep grouting and silicone in good nick

If the grout and silicone around your bath, shower or sink starts to deteriorate, it can lead to leaks and damp. Keep it maintained throughout the year - it’ll keep your bathroom looking fresh too.

House maintenance checklist for older homes

In addition to the recommendations above, older homes need some extra TLC from time to time.

Weatherproofing can be more challenging in older homes, so pay special attention to keeping windows and doors well maintained and the roof in good order. Keep a look out for new or worsening cracks inside and out.

Maintaining or restoring period features, such as fireplaces and original floorboards, adds charm and value to your home. And, if you haven’t done so already, think about upgrading your insulation to help with your energy bills.

Home maintenance for new build homes

With a new build home, start as you mean to go on with our seasonal checks above.

Get on top of small things early, like a dripping tap, sticking door or shrinkage cracks, so they don’t turn into bigger problems later. Follow the developer’s home maintenance guide and check your warranties before arranging any repair work yourself.

Get extra protection from Saga Home Insurance

With regular annual home maintenance, your home should stay in good working order all year long. For extra protection against unexpected and urgent issues, consider adding home emergency cover to your home insurance policy for extra peace of mind.

Who are Saga's home insurance policies underwritten by?

Saga Home Insurance policies, exclusively for people over 50, are unique products designed specifically for our customers. They are underwritten by a number of carefully selected insurers that provide our high standards of quality and service.

Saga Home Emergency Insurance is provided by Inter Partner Assistance S.A, part of the AXA group.