Property maintenance for landlords, HMOs and student lets

What a maintenance firm does

A maintenance firm handles the small, regular jobs that keep a rented home safe and let. Some work on call, and some visit on a set plan.

• Fix faults that tenants report, such as locks, doors, taps and seals.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and record the result.
• Carry out routine inspections and send a dated report.
• Clear and tidy the house and garden between tenancies.
• Meet gas engineers and electricians on site.

Licensing in Oxford

Oxford City Council requires a licence for every HMO in the city. Its current additional licensing scheme runs from 25 June 2026 to 25 June 2031.

Since 1 September 2022, the council’s selective licensing scheme has also covered most other private rented homes in Oxford.

The standard HMO licence conditions ask the licence holder to inspect at least every 6 months. They also set a 14-day reply to repair complaints, and a 24-hour response to emergencies.

Checks that need a registered trade

A handyman can arrange these checks, but cannot do them. They apply to private landlords across England.

• Gas: a safety check on each gas appliance and flue every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Electrics: an inspection and test at least every 5 years, by a qualified and competent person.
• Smoke alarms: one on each storey with living space.
• Carbon monoxide alarms: one in any room used as living space that has a fixed combustion appliance. A gas cooker does not count.

Shops, offices and blocks of flats

Some firms also look after shops, offices and the shared parts of blocks of flats. Ask to see public liability insurance, and ask how the firm logs each job.

For any job at height, ask how the firm will do it safely. HSE says a ladder suits only short, low-risk work.

Questions

Sources