Preparing your block for Winter: An Autumn maintenance & compliance checklist.
August might feel early to think about winter, but it's exactly the right time. A handful of checks now — while contractors have availability and the weather still allows access — prevents the vast majority of "emergency" call-outs that flood in come November.
1. Communal heating and hot water systems
If your building has a communal heating or hot water system, now is the moment to have it serviced, rather than discovering a fault once residents actually need it. A short period of planned downtime in August is far preferable to an unplanned outage in December.
2. Roof, guttering and drainage
Clear gutters and check drainage before autumn leaf-fall adds to the load. A blocked gutter is a minor job in August and a potential source of water ingress, damp, and costly repairs by winter.
3. Fire safety and communal fire doors
Confirm fire doors self-close and seal properly, communal fire safety signage is intact, and any fire risk assessment actions from earlier in the year have actually been completed — not just noted for a future date.
4. Lighting and access for darker evenings
As evenings draw in, communal lighting becomes a genuine safety issue, not just a comfort one. Check external lighting, stairwells, and car parks are fully working before the clocks change.
5. Budgeting and major works planning
If any significant works are on the horizon — roof repairs, redecoration, lift overhauls — starting the Section 20 consultation process in autumn gives far more realistic timelines than trying to instruct contractors mid-winter, when demand and prices both tend to rise.
6. Working with your managing agent
A managing agent should be running this kind of seasonal check proactively, not waiting for leaseholders to report problems one at a time. If that isn't happening on your building, it's a fair question to raise directly.
Frequently asked questions
Who's responsible for communal repairs in a block of flats?
Responsibility for communal areas typically sits with the freeholder or RTM company, usually delivered day-to-day through a managing agent, and funded through the service charge — the specific split of responsibilities is set out in individual leases.
What is a Section 20 major works notice?
It's a formal consultation freeholders and managing agents must run with leaseholders before committing to works or long-term contracts above a certain cost threshold per leaseholder, giving leaseholders visibility and the right to comment before costs are agreed.
How can leaseholders raise a maintenance concern?
Most buildings have a maintenance reporting system, such as a resident portal or platform, so issues are logged and tracked rather than lost in an email. Check with your managing agent for the correct route for your building.
Want a managing agent who runs seasonal checks proactively, rather than reactively?
Get in touch at hello@fortemproperty.co.uk.