© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
Cash-strapped lessees are putting off essential maintenance works on their properties and risk creating a maintenance time bomb. Almost a 1/3 of property managers have been asked by lessees to delay essential repairs in the past 12 months as they struggle to make ends meet.
This means a backlog of jobs that could be turning from simple tasks, fixed quickly for small amounts, into major repairs costing tens of thousands of pounds. Worryingly, at a time when every penny counts, many of those spending cash on their homes are shelling out on the wrong jobs that just paper over the cracks, instead of looking at underlying work that keeps the property standing.
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Landlords are keeping costs down opting for cosmetic jobs to make the property look attractive. A quick lick of paint and some wallpaper may give an immediate lift but without checking what lies beneath that could be an expensive mistake.
Tony Keating, of ProTech Property Solutions, told News on the Block: "We are seeing an increasing trend of people tending to smaller jobs themselves and putting off bigger jobs. Looking after cosmetic things and finishing touches, rather than structural problems, is fruitless and could end up costing an awful lot of money. Water damage is a major problem. Leaving water running down the face of a property from a leaking roof or guttering can be catastrophic. It could cause moisture problems – and unattended that can generate dry and wet rot which will cost a fortune to put right. With water problems it is absolutely essential the affected area is dried out and treated properly to prevent it spreading and creating havoc.”
A burst pipe or a flooded drain leaking into a roof compartment will result in an average £1,450 worth of damage, but serious issues such as subsidence, damp and foundation problems can be caused just by water left gathering around a property over a period of time.
“People may not notice a missing roof tile as they don’t often look above ground level on their home. It’s a good idea to give your property the once-over or ask an expert for maintenance advice,” adds Tony.
As well as ignoring important tasks, those looking to do things on the cheap are tackling jobs themselves – often with disastrous results. Santander reckons that £331million was wasted on DIY disasters in 2011 alone. While hanging wallpaper upside-down or spilling paint on the carpet may be costly and irritating, there are some real dangers lurking.
When it comes to electrics or major construction work, you really must call in the experts. Regulations now mean it is illegal to carry out electrical work unless you are a government-approved electrician. The key is to nip things in the bud before they become serious. Your apartment is the biggest investment you will make and it’s vital you maintain it.
What you can’t do is simply hope that problems go away by themselves. Maintenance never sorts itself out without intervention. Always ensure the contractor you appoint to do work on your apartment is qualified and insured to carry out the maintenance work you have contracted them to do. Most property managers should be able to recommend or help in this matter.
Mr Peter Gray, Managing Director of ProTech Property Solutions