Empty Northwards homes

Preparing an empty home for new tenants

When we prepare a property for new tenants we make sure it's in a fit state to move into, so that people are more likely to be happy with their new home.

Here's a list of some of things we do. We always repair things rather than replace them if possible, to keep costs down. And we don't replace working items for cosmetic reasons.

Outside the home

Roofs & gutters
Repair damaged tiles and slates, replace missing soffits and facias or repair holes. Replace gutter sections with holes or leaks.

Waste pipes & overflows
Replace missing or damaged sections. Repair leaks.

Paths
Check for pools of water at front and back doors, repair trip hazards of more than 25mm (one inch) and gully problems

Gardens
Cut back where necessary.

Front & back doors
Replace if missing, badly damaged or rotten. Adjust so they open and close properly and lock securely.

Window frames
Replace if missing or badly damaged or rotten. Make sure they open and close properly. Replace window locks if missing.

Locks
Change if keys are missing.

Security
Fit mortice lock, chain and spyhole if missing.

Inside the home

Internal doors
Fill small holes and dents. Make sure they open and close properly and check catches, handles and stops.

Door and window frames, skirting boards
Replace if missing or if badly damaged.

Floorboards and chipboard floors
Renew as necessary. Repair small gaps over 5mm (quarter of an inch) on landings or in the centre of rooms.

Kitchen
Replace and colour-match missing units, doors and drawers. Check that units work all have shelves, level bottoms and aligned doors. Make sure drawers open and close. Repair edgings on doors, drawers and worktops. Replace badly damaged worktop laminate. Fill holes with matching sealant. Replace badly damaged sink tops and check there's a plug and chain.

Glass
Reglaze broken and cracked window panes. Remove failed double glazing. We don't re-lead broken leaded windows.

Bathroom
Replace missing plugs and chains. Secure loose toilets, cisterns and basins. Replace baths if damaged edges are sharp. Replace broken bath handles. Replace badly stained items that can't be cleaned.

Wall tiles and sealants
Seal worktops, bathroom furniture and tiled corners. Replace broken or missing tiles.

Plaster on walls & ceilings
Replace missing or moving plaster. Fill small holes or dents with decorating filler.

Floor tiles
Patch loose, cracked and missing tiles with as close a match as possible. Remove floor tiles except in kitchens and bathrooms.

Electrics
Replace visibly broken fittings. Partially test the system. A full test can only be done when the supply is on. So the new tenant arranges the electricity connection, and we agree a time to do the full test.

Gas
Partially test the system. A full test can only be done when the supply is on. So the new tenant arranges the gas connection, and we agree a time to do the full test.

Decoration
We don't normally decorate, but we do remove badly hanging paper from walls and ceilings. We paint over or strip wallpaper if there's racist or offensive graffiti.

Clear out
Remove previous tenants' things and floor coverings - unless there's an arrangement not to.

Clean up
Clean to a reasonable standard. Remove large amounts of rubbish from gardens.

Boxed-in pipe work
Repair any damage, or replace if cheaper - but we don't box in recently fitted pipes.

Polystyrene tiles
Remove and repair damaged ceiling plaster.

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