General condition outside

Keeping the outside of your property in good condition is an important part of keeping a healthy home and can help prevent damage, injury or problems in the future. An overgrown front garden can lead to pests, make it appear as if no one is living in the home, or increase the risks of someone tripping or falling. There are many ways to keep your garden tidy, from doing it yourself to employing a gardener.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening for more information about looking after your garden.

Over time dirt and debris can build up in your gutter and on your roof causing blockages or creating an environment for weeds to grow. If left unattended, blocked gutters and weeds on the roof can lead to damage to your property or leaks inside your house. Regular gutter cleaning and roof maintenance is an important part of maintaining your home. Often a window cleaner will clean out gutters for you, but specialist gutter and roof cleaners are available for specific jobs.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Roof to find out more about maintaining your gutters and roof.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home, act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

Water staining near your gutters or windows can be a sign of blocked gutters or problems with your roof or windows. If left unattended, water can enter your property and cause leaks or damage to your house. Regular gutter cleaning, roof and window maintenance is an important part of maintaining your home. Often a window cleaner will clean out gutters for you, but specialist gutter and roof cleaners are available for specific jobs.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Roof to find out more about looking after your roof.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Windows and Doors to find out more about looking after your windows and doors.

Look out for Trips and Falls!

Uneven or damaged floors can lead to slips, trips and falls. This can lead to minor bumps and bruises, but more serious injuries if the fall is bigger, or if the person who falls is older. If you are concerned that you or someone who lives at your home is at risk of falling, you should act immediately to reduce the risk.

Uneven drives and pathways can worsen over time, increasing the likelihood that someone may trip and fall, or costing more to repair or replace in the future. There are different ways to deal with uneven paths and drives, depending on the cause (for example tree roots growing under your pathway) and how uneven the surface is. Acting earlier is always better than leaving any damage to worsen.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Access to find out more about how to reduce the risks of trips and falls around your home.

It is important to keep your windows clean and well maintained. Dirt can build up on your windows and block natural light coming into your home and make it harder to see any damage that may need repairing. Ground floor windows can be easier to clean, but windows higher up can be hard to reach. Look for a reputable window cleaner in your area. Asking neighbours or friends for a local recommendation can be a great place to start.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening to find out more about cleaning your windows.

Look out!

Seeing a lot flies inside the house can be a sign of a problem. If you are concerned about the safety of someone inside the house, act immediately. If in doubt, call 999 and tell them that you are concerned for the safety of someone inside a home.

Flies inside the house can be common when the weather is nice and the windows are open. However, an unusual amount of flies can be a sign of something more serious, like a broken appliance, spoilt food or that someone inside is unwell. If you are concerned that something else is causing there to be more flies than there should be, you will need to try to find out the cause so that you can deal with it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Pests to find out more about dealing with pests in your home.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

Broken, slipped or missing roof tiles can lead to water getting into your home causing other damage or leading to damp and mould growth. Water coming into your home can also lead to rotten timbers, plaster to flake off the walls, and bricks to crumble. If this is not addressed it can lead to major structural problems. If you notice broken, slipped or missing roof tiles, act sooner than later to reduce the changes more serious problems occurring. Replacing a few tiles is always easier than replacing a whole roof!

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on looking after your Roof to find out more about repairing your roof and the damage that water ingress can cause.

Leaning or cracked chimney pots may indicate a problem with your chimney or roof. It may be difficult to get a good look at your chimney and it may be more helpful - and safer - to engage a professional to examine your chimney if you suspect any problems.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on looking after your Roof for more information about maintaining and repairing your chimney.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home, act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

Brickwork and render can crack for a number of reasons, and could be a sign of more serious problems. However, a common cause of cracked render is weathering. Moisture trapped between the render and the wall can affect the integrity of the render and lead to cracks and bumps. It can also be a sign of water getting into your home. Whatever the cause, visible cracks should not be ignored as they could lead to more serious damage or costly repair in the long-term.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Trusted Tradespeople to find a professional to help you identify the cause.

If you rent your home, check out the Good Home Lincs webpages on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening to find out more about repair work in rented accommodation.

Keeping the outside of your property well maintained does not just protect your property from damage, it can also make your home safer and more secure. Properties that look run down can be more vulnerable to theft and vandalism, or make it appear as if someone vulnerable lives inside.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening and Safety and Security to find out more about how to keep your home well maintained and safe.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home, act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

Damaged or rotted soffits or fascias can lead to water getting into your home causing other damage or leading to damp and mould growth. Water coming into your home can also lead to rotten timbers, plaster to flake off the walls, and bricks to crumble. If this is not addressed it can lead to major structural problems. If you notice damaged or rotted soffits or fascias, act sooner than later to reduce the changes more serious problems occurring.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on looking after your Roof to find out more about repairing your roof and the damage that water ingress can cause.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home, act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards for more information about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

It is important to maintain your gutters and drainpipes. The main purpose of guttering is to collect the rainwater falling on your roof and direct it into a downpipe and then to a drain. Debris such as leaves can block gutters, and damage and cracks in your guttering can mean that water runs down the walls of your home and can pool at the base, leading to water ingress to your home; this can damage the fabric of the building, and cause damp and mould patches inside the property.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on looking after your Roof to find out more about gutter maintenance and the damage that water ingress can cause.

Look out for pests!

Rats and mice can breed very quickly and a small, easily dealt with problem could quickly become a major problem with damage to property and greater costs of treatment. If you see a rat or mouse outside your property on one occasion, there is generally no need to worry.

However, if you continue to see clear evidence of their presence such as excavated holes in soil, small droppings or disturbed foodstuffs, then treatment will need to be carried out. If the problem is inside the home, look to see how the rats or mice could be getting in, such as holes around waste pipes, around ill-fitting doors and windows or through broken drains. If repairs are needed, then arrange for these to be carried out.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Pests to find out more about how to deal with rats and mice in and around your home.

Look out for Trips and Falls!

Uneven steps and loose handrails can lead to slips, trips and falls. This can lead to minor bumps and bruises, but more serious injuries if the fall is bigger, or if the person who falls is older. If you are concerned that you or someone who lives at your home is at risk of falling, you should act immediately to reduce the risk.

Uneven steps and loose handrails can worsen over time, increasing the likelihood that someone may trip and fall, or costing more to repair or replace in the future. There are different ways to deal with uneven steps and loose handrails depending on how much damage there is or how uneven the surface is. Acting earlier is always better than leaving any damage to worsen.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Access to find out more about how to reduce the risks of trips and falls around your home.

Good lighting around the home can greatly reduce the risks of accidents happening. It can also help improve your mood. Good lighting is just as important outside your home – so don’t forget to make sure your front and back doors and garage are well lit, and that you can light any darker areas of the garden or pathways.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Safety and Security to find out more about lighting your home.

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