How to use the home maintenance checklist
- Choose your hemisphere so the seasons fall in the right months.
- Tick what your home has. Jobs for things you don’t have are left out.
- Switch off any task you don’t need, for example one your landlord or building manager handles.
- Print the calendar, or add it to your phone’s calendar to get a reminder each month.
How the calendar is put together
- Monthly checks, such as testing smoke alarms, appear at the top and apply to every month.
- Seasonal jobs are tied to a season, not a date. Where timing matters, they go in a set part of the season: the boiler or furnace service in late summer before you need the heating, and gutter clearing in late autumn after the leaves have fallen.
- Other seasonal jobs go in the quietest month of their season, so no month is overloaded.
- Jobs marked Safety protect against fire, gas, electrical and water risks. Jobs marked Pro are usually for a qualified professional.
Small jobs that keep a home bright and sound
- Clean windows and window tracks in spring to let in more light and keep them opening smoothly.
- Re-seal round baths and showers as soon as sealant cracks; small leaks behind tiles cause big repairs.
- Keep a note of when appliances were last serviced and when filters were changed, with the paperwork.
- Walk round the outside of the house after a big storm and look for anything loose or missing.
Assumptions and limitations
- This is general guidance for a typical home. Always follow the maker’s instructions for appliances, alarms and heating systems.
- It doesn’t replace legally required inspections, such as gas safety checks for rented homes where they apply.
- Seasons are taken as three-month blocks. Local weather varies, so move jobs earlier or later to suit where you live.
- Don’t work at height, on gas or on mains electricity unless you’re competent and it’s safe. Hire a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test smoke alarms?
Fire services commonly advise pressing the test button on every smoke alarm once a month. Follow the instructions that came with your alarms and your local fire service’s advice, which can include how often to replace the whole alarm.
Which jobs should a professional do?
Jobs marked Pro, such as servicing a gas boiler or furnace, sweeping a chimney and checking an air-conditioning system’s refrigerant, need a qualified, and in many places registered, professional. Work on gas, mains electricity and roofs can be dangerous; if you’re unsure, hire someone.
Does the calendar work in Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. Choose the southern hemisphere and seasonal jobs move six months, so gutter clearing still comes after autumn leaves fall and the heating check still comes before winter. The planner guesses your hemisphere from your device’s time zone; change it if it’s wrong.
Can I get reminders?
Choose Add to my calendar to download a calendar file. Open it with your phone or computer’s calendar app to add a reminder on the first day of each month that has jobs. The file is made in your browser and nothing is sent to BrisHome.
I rent. Which jobs are mine?
It depends on your tenancy agreement and local law. Landlords are often responsible for the structure, heating, gas safety and smoke alarms being fitted; tenants are often expected to test alarms and report problems. Untick “A house” and the outside jobs if they aren’t yours, and report anything you find to your landlord.
Last updated .