Landlord maintenance costs skyrocket as landlords turn to DIY to fix damage

Landlord maintenance costs have soared as disputes over who’s responsible for repairs continue to rise.

According to Towergate Insurance, landlord maintenance costs have increased by more than 26% since 2022 to more than £1,300 per year.

More than half of landlords (59%) have had a dispute with tenants over who is responsible for property repairs.

Which region spends the most on rental maintenance

The survey by Towergate Insurance reveals which region spends the most on maintenance, with Edinburgh taking the top spot, with landlords spending nearly £3,000 a year on maintenance, followed by Newcastle at £1,632 and Glasgow at £1,622.

According to the survey, theft damage is the most expensive type of repair, with landlords spending an average of £1,128 annually on post-break-in fixes.

It’s also one of the most time-consuming issues to resolve, taking between two to four days to repair.

Roof damage comes next, costing landlords around £906 per repair, though typically only needed once every three years.

Electrical repairs average £665 and require attention at least once a year. Heating issues rank third in cost at £655.

Landlords turning to DIY to fix repairs

Landlords are usually responsible for repairs, which is why many have turned to DIY to try and fix any damage themselves.

The survey reveals more than half of landlords (53%) have attempted to repair something in their rental property on their own. Of those that have made DIY repairs, 60% said it was due to pressure to get the repairs done quickly, while 56% said it was because of money constraints.

According to the survey, landlords feel most confident in their DIY skills when it comes to cosmetic issues such as painting, with 69% saying they’re comfortable doing this. Second to that, 54% of landlords said they feel confident tackling mould issues themselves.

However, landlord confidence drops when it comes to fixing roof leaks (36.8%), boiler issues (37.8%) and heating and electrical problems (40.6%).

Landlord insurance can protect you

One of the best ways for maintenance repairs is to have landlord insurance.

Katie Delamain-Blunt, head of marketing at Towergate Direct Insurance, says despite only 3.8% of landlords not having landlord insurance this means 107,160 people face hefty costs if something was to go wrong in their property.

She said: “There is no legal requirement to obtain landlord insurance, however it is a great way to avoid putting yourself at financial risk in the future, giving you piece of mind.

“Landlord insurance can protect you as the property owner from financial losses connected to the rental, such as theft, fire, or weather damage and can be extended to include coverage for things like loss of rent.

“Our survey shows a huge rise in costs to landlords and increased seeming responsibility for landlords to fix damages no matter how they’re caused, so it’s more important now than ever for landlords to ensure they’re protected.”

For any help and advice with landlord insurance, then contact The Home Insurer.

The Home Insurer provide a top-class service to ensure you get the right landlord insurance policy and could help save you money.

The most efficient way to get a personal quote with the best price and cover possible is to call the team on 01832 770965 so we can focus on your enquiry when you are ready and sitting down with your portfolio details to hand.

Alternatively, you can use the form below to request one of our team to give you a call back.

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