Why Regular Property Surveys Are Essential for Landlords

Why Regular Property Health Checks Matter for Landlords

(And How a Property Health & Compliance Review Can Help)

As a landlord, your rental is more than a building – it’s a long-term investment and someone’s home. Keeping it healthy, safe and comfortable isn’t just about “passing inspections”; it’s about avoiding disputes, protecting your income, and staying ahead of changing expectations around damp, mould and hazards.

That’s exactly where a Property Health & Compliance Review comes in.

Rather than a generic survey, my service is a focused, landlord-friendly check designed to pick up the issues most likely to cause complaints, enforcement or disrepair claims – and to give you a clear, practical action plan.

I’m John Castell, a Housing Health & Compliance Consultant working across Devon & Cornwall, with a background in housing association asset management and qualifications in HHSRS, IOSH, asbestos management, energy assessment and electrical work. This blog explains:

• What a Property Health & Compliance Review actually is

• How it differs from traditional surveys

• The benefits to you as a landlord

• When it makes sense to book one

What Is a Property Health & Compliance Review?

A Property Health & Compliance Review is a single, structured visit and report aimed specifically at landlords and letting agents.

Instead of a long, technical document you’ll never read, you get a clear, prioritised picture of how your property is performing in four key areas:

1. Damp & mould – where is it, what’s causing it, and what should you do next?

2. Housing health & safety – which issues are most likely to concern councils or tenants, based on HHSRS principles (without the full, formal scoring exercise).

3. Comfort & efficiency – what your existing EPC and on-site observations tell us about how the home feels to live in, and what simple improvements are available.

4. Visual electrical safety – what a qualified electrician can see at a glance, and when a full EICR should be on your to-do list.

Where relevant, I can also link findings to your solar PV system – for example, where poor performance or mis-selling has left tenants paying more for electricity than they should, or where sensible upgrades could help comfort and bills without risking a legacy Feed-in Tariff.

How This Differs from Traditional Surveys

Traditional surveys (HomeBuyer, Building, Condition, etc.) are usually aimed at buyers and mortgage lenders. They’re important, but they’re not designed around ongoing landlord responsibilities, tenant expectations or Awaab-style duties.

My reviews are:

• Landlord-focused – looking specifically at the issues that drive complaints, disrepair and enforcement.

• Action-oriented – you get a list of practical fixes and priorities, not just descriptions of defects.

• Compliance-minded – informed by HHSRS, health & safety and energy rules, without pretending to be a council inspection or formal EPC/EICR.

• Independent – I don’t sell remedial work; my job is to give you clear, unbiased advice.

The Benefits of Regular Property Health & Compliance Reviews

1. Early Detection of Problems That Cost You Later

A small patch of mould, a loose handrail or an ageing consumer unit can all look “minor” – until:

• A tenant’s health is affected

• A council officer visits

• Or a solicitor starts a disrepair claim

Regular Property Health & Compliance Reviews help you spot and prioritise these issues early, so you can:

• Fix them on your terms and timescales

• Avoid emergency call-outs and rushed, expensive repairs

• Show you’ve acted responsibly if anyone ever asks

2. Protecting the Value and Let-ability of Your Property

Well-looked-after properties:

• Let faster

• Attract better tenants

• And hold their value over time

By systematically checking for damp, overheating, cold spots, hazards and obvious electrical issues, you’re not just “ticking boxes” – you’re protecting the long-term value of your asset.

The comfort and efficiency advice, based on your existing EPC and my on-site observations, can highlight:

• Simple ventilation improvements

• Affordable insulation upgrades

• Heating and control tweaks

• Where solar PV and other measures do – or don’t – make sense

All of which help keep your property attractive in an increasingly energy-conscious market.

3. Staying on the Right Side of Regulations and Expectations

Landlord regulation is moving steadily in one direction: higher standards, clearer duties, and less tolerance for damp, mould and unsafe homes.

My reviews are informed by:

• HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System)

• Awaab-style expectations around damp and mould response

• Basic health & safety good practice

• Energy performance and, where relevant, solar PV performance/FiT considerations

A Property Health & Compliance Review won’t replace statutory checks (gas safety, EICR, EPC, licences, etc.), but it helps you join the dots:

• Are your certificates supported by what the home is actually like to live in?

• Would a council officer see clear signs of proactive management?

• Are there “accidents waiting to happen” that you’ve simply stopped noticing?

4. Happier Tenants, Fewer Headaches

Most tenants don’t expect perfection – they expect to be listened to and taken seriously.

When you commission an independent review:

• Tenants can see you are taking concerns about damp, mould, cold or safety seriously.

• You get a neutral, professional view rather than a “he said / she said” argument.

• You often reduce repeat complaints because issues are properly understood and addressed.

That translates into:

• Fewer voids

• Less friction with agents and tenants

• Better reviews and word-of-mouth

5. Clear Documentation and Evidence

After each review, you receive a written report that:

• Summarises the key risks and priorities

• Includes photographs and plain-English explanations

• Sets out recommended next steps and timescales

If things ever escalate – for example, a tenant complaint, council involvement or an insurance query – you can point to this report as evidence that you acted responsibly and proactively.

For solar PV issues, an additional Solar PV Performance & FiT Protection Review can document:

• What you were originally sold

• What the system is actually generating

• Whether the sales case was realistic

• And how you might improve performance or add batteries without risking your Feed-in Tariff

How Often Should You Book a Review?

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule, but as a guide:

• Every 1–2 years for typical rentals in South & Mid Devon

• More often for:

  • Older properties

  • Homes with a history of damp/mould or condensation complaints

  • Properties with complex services (e.g. solar PV, electric heating, older electrics)

• Before re-letting a property that’s been empty, heavily occupied or poorly managed in the past

You don’t need a full, formal building survey every time. A targeted Property Health & Compliance Review gives you regular, affordable touch-points to keep standards up.

What to Expect When You Instruct Me

1. Before the Visit

You’ll be asked to share:

• Your existing EPC

• Any recent EICR or gas safety certificates

• Details of tenant concerns (if there are any)

• Solar PV paperwork, if you want that reviewed too

This helps me arrive prepared and focused on the right areas.

2. On Site

I carry out a visual, non-destructive inspection, looking at:

• Signs of damp, mould and condensation

• Obvious HHSRS-type hazards (falls, fire, security, sanitation, etc.)

• Heating, ventilation and comfort issues

• Accessible electrical points and consumer units (as a visual check only, not an EICR)

• Where relevant, the visible condition and configuration of any solar PV system

Tenants are welcome to raise concerns during the visit – often their lived experience highlights issues that don’t show up on paper.

3. After the Visit

You receive a clear, structured report, including:

• An executive summary: the main risks and recommended actions

• Sectioned findings on:

  • Damp & mould

  • Health & safety hazards

  • Comfort & energy

  • Visual electrical observations

  • (Optional) Solar PV performance & FiT considerations

• A prioritised action list with suggested timescales

If needed, we can follow up with a call to talk through the findings and how best to phase the work.

Conclusion: A Practical Way to Protect Your Properties and Your Reputation

Regular Property Health & Compliance Reviews are not about creating more paperwork – they’re about avoiding nasty surprises, protecting your investment, and providing decent, healthy homes.

By taking a proactive approach, you:

• Catch problems early, while they’re still cheap and simple to fix

• Maintain or improve the value and appeal of your properties

• Show councils, agents and tenants that you take housing health seriously

• Get a clearer view of how energy efficiency and solar PV fit into the bigger picture

If you’re a landlord or letting agent in Devon & Cornwall and you’d like an independent pair of eyes on your property, I’d be happy to help.

Ready to get a clearer picture of your property’s health? Get in touch to book a Property Health & Compliance Review and take the next step towards safer, healthier, easier-to-manage homes.