General Property Maintenance

Maintenance is the work necessary to keep your home in a good state of repair to maximise its value and your comfort. Maintaining your home also helps increase its life, ensures it continues to perform and reduces your impact on the environment. If your home was built or received building consent after 1992 you are responsible for making sure it continues to meet Building Code requirements. Maintenance includes everything from regular cleaning to repairs and replacements. It can be a job as small as changing a tap washer, or as large as repainting the whole house.

Benefits of good maintenance

  • Save you money by allowing you to fix problems before they get bigger.
  • Make it more comfortable to live in.
  • Protect your home against weathertightness problems.
  • Ensure it is safe and secure to live in.
  • Help keep you and your family healthy.
  • Help it to hold its value. 

Scheduling maintenance

  • Carry out regular preventive maintenance, such as cleaning your roof and walls. This will prevent some problems from occurring.
  • Carry out repairs as they are needed. This prevents small problems from turning into big ones. For example, a leaky roof could destroy your ceiling if left unfixed.
  • Plan ahead for major maintenance tasks such as repainting your home or re-roofing, so you have the money and time available when the work is needed.
  • Be prepared for emergencies. For example, know where and how your water, gas and power supplies turn off, so you don’t have to go searching when an emergency arises. See the back of the Yellow Pages or the Civil Defence site for information on preparing for a civil defence emergency.