Does Los Angeles have seasons? Sure it does! And each season has unique attributes that require proactive property management to ensure the building and grounds can withstand the elements.
Seasonal shifts can be extreme in the Southland. One day it’s chilly, the next we’re dealing with red-flag days, high winds, and scorching heat. For a rental property manager, it’s a constant battle to ensure living spaces and common areas are in tip-top shape, safe, and comfortable for tenants.
We’ve put together a seasonal checklist for property managers, tailored to LA’s unique climate and hazard considerations. Use it as a starting point to optimize your maintenance plan and ensure no detail is overlooked.
Seasonal Checklist for Los Angeles Property Managers
Landlords and property managers have a legal and ethical responsibility to their tenants to provide a safe, clean, and comfortable place to live. Proactive maintenance reduces the cost and complexity of repairs and extends the life and beauty of your building, grounds, and common areas. In doing so, your team becomes aware of any looming issues quickly
Ongoing maintenance tasks include:
- Ensuring plumbing and electrical systems are in good repair and up to code
- Roofs are sound and leak-free
- Pests are eradicated
- Maintain common areas (stairways, lobbies, hallways, gardens, parking garages) to safety and cleanliness standards
While these are ongoing tasks, seeing to them should make seasonal maintenance less of a burden.
Regular inspections will indicate anything that needs addressing or at least flag it for further investigation or repair at a later date. Failing to do so could lead to more severe problems when extreme weather or seasonal conditions intensify.
As new seasons approach, use these tips to reduce costs and ensure safety and comfort year-round.
Spring maintenance checklist
- Check your landscaping. Repair any winter damage, clean up, or trim back dead or dry foliage.
- Plant drought-resistant foliage such as ground cover now to prevent erosion and mudslides after winter rainstorms.
- Test irrigation systems to ensure they are in working order and repair if needed.
- Inspect indoor and outdoor areas for evidence of pest activity. Check roofs, gutters, basements, and crawl spaces to identify potential pest entry points and remediate if necessary.
- Inspect windows and doors for damage and to ensure adequate seals. Well-sealed doors and windows help to improve air conditioning performance and reduce energy costs.
- Inspect the plumbing for leaks and test water pressure.
- Check the roof for damage or loose tiles and initiate repairs if needed.
- Place netting in chimneys (as applicable) to keep pests out.
Summer maintenance checklist
- Inspect all air conditioning units and central HVAC systems. Replace filters, have ducts cleaned (as applicable), and test the system to ensure optimum indoor air quality.
- Check for leaks and repair or seal promptly: roof, plumbing, pools, spas, and other areas where water collects.
- Inspect indoor and outdoor areas for evidence of pests that may be attempting to take up residence in the building.
- Inspect windows and screens in all units to ensure they are in good repair and allow adequate airflow.
- Check and test all fire safety equipment and replace any extinguisher units that have expired.
- Test fire alarms in the building and around the property.
- Inspect smoke and CO alarms in all units and common areas to ensure they are functional. Replace batteries.
- Inspect the roof immediately after red-flag days or Santa Ana’s and replace tiles or shingles promptly to avoid leaks and breaches.
Fall maintenance checklist
- Biannual HVAC system maintenance. Schedule a professional tune-up and cleaning to ensure all heating and cooling systems are working efficiently after the summer season.
- Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent water buildup in case of rain.
- Inspect the roof to identify any damage, missing or broken tiles/shingles, and repair as needed before the rainy season begins.
- Clean up the landscape. Remove dead trees, branches, and foliage from the entire property and surrounding areas. Hire an arborist to trim dry palm fronds, as they can be a significant fire hazard.
- Inspect fire safety equipment: building alarms, smoke alarms, CO detectors, extinguishers, etc.
- Inspect plumbing for leaks, cracks, or any issues that could become worse over time.
Winter maintenance checklist
- Plumbing inspection. While it’s unlikely you’ll have frozen pipes, the weather is unpredictable. Plumbing inspections should be conducted seasonally, as issues tend to escalate quickly and cause extensive damage if not addressed.
- Roof inspection. Winter rains and other extreme weather can cause significant damage to roofing, causing leaks into tenant units and damaging walls and infrastructure. Whether you have tiles or shingles, seasonal inspections are essential to ensure you can get ahead of storm damage.
- Exterior inspection. Check foundations, exterior walls, windows, and cladding for damage or cracks.
- Inspect fire equipment and review safety plans. Replace expired extinguishers, replace batteries in tenant smoke and CO alarms.
- Update emergency evacuation procedures to reflect current needs. Ensure tenants know where to go in case of emergency and provide them with checklists to help them prepare.
- Clean chimneys (if you have them) to ensure they are free of debris.
- Turn off the sprinkler system. Inspect for damage and note maintenance needs before spring turn-on.
- Trim trees of dry or dead foliage to prevent injuries and other hazards.
Addressing Extreme Weather and Torrential Rain in So. Cal
It never rains in California … until it does! And unfortunately, most of the city does not have adequate drainage systems to handle it when it does come down.
You’ll notice we mentioned roof inspections in every season—and the need can’t be understated. Ensuring your roofs are water-tight and well-maintained is essential, as is checking windows, doors, and foundations to ensure they are sealed.
You may want to consider installing additional drainage systems or catch basins to manage heavy rainfall. French drains are a viable solution in Southern California. Essentially, it’s a trench filled with gravel with a pipe or channel that redirects surface water away from the building, helping you avoid flooding or foundation damage caused by pooling water.
Use these seasonal checklists to optimize your maintenance schedule and keep your property safe and sound. Trust the property management experts at Belwood Properties to support you with advice you can rely on. Have questions? Get in touch today!
