Must-do money saving home maintenance: these are the jobs to tackle for 2025

Brits are being warned to make essential checks around their home else risk accidents and voiding insurance.

Home insurance comparison experts from Quotezone.co.uk are providing homeowners with a check list of new year home improvements.

This comes after it is revealed a quarter of people don’t know that a lack of maintenance, or ‘tender loving care’ for their property could actually void their home insurance.

Many vital elements of a property need serviced at least once a year so January is a good time to kick off the new year by ensuring the home is healthy and ready for 2025.

Helen Rolph, home insurance comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk said,  “January is a great time of year to get your house in order, the decorations are cleared away and people want a fresh start, it’s ideal timing to tick off our checklist of key items in the home that need some extra TLC.

“Over the winter it can be tricky to keep an eye on what’s happening to your property, with the cold and dark evenings but we would urge people, when they get daylight hours at the weekend, to give the property a proper inspection.

“Ideally check roof tiles, gutters and pipes and start booking up appointments to service key items like the boiler and the chimney to make sure the house is safe.

“A lack of maintenance to the property could risk invalidating the home insurance should they need to make a claim, leaving homeowners vulnerable.”

The team at Quotezone.co.uk has pulled together their TLC checklist: 

1. Check and service the boiler

Boilers require regular maintenance by a professional to make sure they are safe and efficient. December is the most common month for boiler breakdowns so homeowners need to make sure it’s serviced.  Some home insurance policies include boiler repair / replacement but chances are you have to add it as an extra – if it’s been years since your boiler was serviced and it breaks down, your insurance may not cover you as it wasn’t looked after properly.

2. Check and sweep the chimney

A chimney needs swept at least once a year to keep it safe and reduce the risk of fire, chances are over winter there were lots of cosy fires lit, adding to the soot build up – lack of care and maintenance to a property can render the home insurance invalid.

3. Check and clear the gutters

Blocked drains and pipes can lead to excess water, causing leaks, damp and flood damage.  Your gutters need checked regularly and cleared at least once a year to ensure rainwater is carried away from the building and down into the drains – any damage sustained to the property as a result of blocked gutters and drains could see your policy invalidated due to lack of maintenance.

4. Check and seal the roof

The stormy winter season could leave you with broken or missing roof tiles and slates, check for any issues and have them sealed as soon as possible to prevent leaks and water damage.

5. Check and insulate pipes

Many people love a break to the heat in January, make sure if you’re away on holiday that the unoccupied details are accurate on your home insurance – if a frozen pipe bursts while you’re away for two weeks and your policy only covers you for seven unoccupied days, then you may not be protected.  It might also be sensible to check key water pipes have insulation before jetting off.