5 Landlord Tips to Cut Maintenance and Compliance Costs

Maintenance and compliance costs can be a real kicker for landlords, negatively impacting their bottom lines. Finding smart ways to reduce expenses can make your rental business more profitable while ensuring you stay competitively priced in the rental market. 

In this article, we’ll share our cost-effective strategies for reducing monthly outgoings so that you can enjoy greater financial flexibility and long-term financial stability.

What are Landlords’ Maintenance Costs?

Landlords are typically responsible for maintaining their properties so they remain in good condition for their tenants. There are a lot of maintenance costs - some expected and some unexpected - that landlords can incur. These often include things like: 

• Emergency repairs
• Routine maintenance
• Appliance upkeep 
• Maintaining heating systems, including fireplaces
• Exterior maintenance (such as roof and fence repairs)
• Structural repairs
• Plumbing and electrical repairs
• Decorating (repainting, replacing carpets, etc)
• Fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm installation

According to Checkatrade, “It’s hard to know exactly how much maintenance and repairs will cost you as a landlord, but a rough guide is an annual spend of 1% of the property’s total value for repairs each year. For example, if you have a property worth £250,000, then you should budget roughly £2,500 per year for the maintenance and repairs.” 

Compliance for Landlords: The Costs

From installing security cameras and energy-conserving window shutters to replacing the front door and investing in double glazing, landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure their rental properties are habitable, safe, and structurally sound.

Most importantly, the property must be compliant with regulations. What follows are some of your compliance requirements as a landlord and the associated costs: 

Gas Safety Certificate

Landlords must obtain a gas safety certificate to ensure that all gas appliances and flues are safe for tenant use. This typically costs £50 to £100.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Landlords must have a valid energy performance certificate and an energy rating of at least E. Obtaining an EPC costs between £35 and £100, depending on the size of the rental property.

Electrical Safety Testing

Regular electrical safety checks must be carried out by landlords on all electrical items. The cost of electrical safety testing is around £50 to £100.

Fire Safety Measures

Landlords are responsible for putting fire safety measures in place, such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets. The cost depends on the fire safety requirements for each property (as well as the number of properties).

Deposit Protection Scheme

Landlords are responsible for protecting tenants' deposits with a government-backed Deposit Protection Scheme. The cost depends on the type of scheme and provider you choose.

Property Management Fees

Some landlords use a letting agent to manage their property, for which they are typically charged a monthly fee. This cost is generally between 10-15% of the monthly rent amount.

Of course, there may be further compliance costs payable by the landlord. So, it’s important to do your research to ensure you are compliant with all your landlord responsibilities.

Related: Landlord Responsibilities and Legal Obligations: The Checklist

How to Keep Your Landlord Costs Down

Now that you can see just how many costs are incurred by being a landlord, you’ll want to know how to keep these costs down. After all, when you keep your costs low, you maximise your profitability, which ultimately means more money stays in your pocket.

Here are our top tips for keeping your maintenance and compliance costs as low as possible so that you can enjoy greater financial freedom.

1. Self-Manage Your Property Portfolio

Taking on the management of your rental property yourself can save you a lot. Typically, real estate agents charge 10% to 20% of a property’s monthly rental income for their management services. And when you own multiple properties, this can be a significant cut of your profits. So, where possible, it can be more cost-efficient to manage your property portfolio yourself.

Don’t let the prospect overwhelm you. Property management platforms make self-managing your portfolio easier than ever before. Instead of juggling multiple spreadsheets and manually chasing rent arrears, you can manage everything in one place. From rental income and expense tracking and tax reporting to property maintenance management and even rental listings. It’s simple, easy to use, and helps you run a profitable rental portfolio.

Create your free Landlord Studio account to see how property management software can help you stay compliant, reduce costs, and save time.

2. Carry Out Maintenance and Repairs Yourself

As a landlord, you have a legal obligation under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to make repairs to the following:

• The property’s exterior and structure (such as stairs, doors, windows, roof, and gutters)
• Sanitary fittings such as basins, toilets, baths, sinks, etc
• Gas appliances, pipes, and ventilation systems
• Chimneys
• Electrical wiring and sockets
• Any problems or damages created while carrying out repairs

Property maintenance costs really add up, especially if you own numerous buy-to-lets. Therefore, where you can, it’s far more cost-efficient to maintain your properties yourself.

Most people can take care of the little jobs, such as cleaning the windows, re-sealing the bath, or tending to the garden. Certainly, if you have the necessary skills, this is your chance to save a little money and get things sorted.

3. Carry Out Regular Property Inspections

It is important to carry out regular property inspections. This ensures the property is in good working order throughout the year. As well as keeping up to date with repair requirements, carrying out regular inspections every 6-12 months highlights issues early so that you can deal with them promptly. This can reduce your costs by nipping problems in the bud before they turn into expensive problems to fix.

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Remember, it’s important that whenever you carry out a property inspection, you give your tenants 24 hours written notice, unless it is an emergency. All property inspections should be carried out at a reasonable time, and you should do your best to organise inspections around your tenants to minimise disruption as much as possible.

4. Build Strong Relationships with Tenants

One of the biggest costs when it comes to property maintenance is leaving an issue too long. This is one major reason why it’s so important to build strong relationships with your tenants. 

When your tenants feel comfortable approaching you with a maintenance issue (and they know the most efficient way to do so), you prevent problems from getting worse.

Here are a few ways to build strong relationships with your tenants and encourage early issue reporting:

Be Responsive and Friendly

When a tenant contacts you with a property issue, don’t take it personally. Problems can crop up all the time. Your job is to deal with them swiftly. So, respond with professionalism and warmth. And do so as soon as you can to reassure your tenants that you’re on it.

Resolve Issues Quickly

When a maintenance issue is raised by your tenant, you should resolve it quickly. This shows your tenant(s) that you’re responsible and reliable, encouraging them to report future problems quickly.

With great tenants, your property will remain in good condition for longer, and you won’t have to worry quite as much.

5. Effective Budgeting and Financial Planning

Unfortunately, even when you’re proactive, the unexpected can happen. Whether it’s a storm that damages the roof, a leaking washing machine, or a broken boiler, life tends to throw curveballs once in a while.

Expect the unexpected. And prepare for it by setting aside an emergency fund. This is a fund that you pay into each month to cover costly last-minute repairs. While it won’t fix all your financial worries, it will mean you have the money to cover those unexpected costs when they inevitably arise.

Final Words: Landlord Maintenance and Compliance

Staying compliant and on top of maintenance doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. With the right tools, you can streamline your processes, cut unnecessary expenses, and protect your property investment. 

And this is where Landlord Studio comes in.

Designed specifically for landlords, Landlord Studio helps you stay organised and compliant with UK regulations. Use automated reminders to ensure you never miss important deadlines like Gas Safety Certificate renewals, EPC updates, and routine property inspections. Store all essential documents—certificates, tenancy agreements, receipts, and inspection reports—securely in the cloud, accessible anytime, anywhere.

Our platform will also be fully Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliant before the 2026 deadline, helping you keep accurate digital records and easily submit the required quarterly updates.

Manage smarter. Stay compliant. Spend less. Create your free Landlord Studio account today.

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