If you’re a landlord, there will inevitably be times when you’re sitting on an empty unit. You might be in between tenants, preparing for a renovation, pushing the pause button on your rental career – whatever the reason, you need to make sure your property is protected.

Homes that aren’t lived in quickly start to deteriorate. Fail to catch a problem early and you can guarantee it’ll escalate into a very expensive fix. A slow leak, a broken window, animal invaders – you need to be visiting your vacant property regularly to catch unforeseen issues and stop the damage before it gets any worse. 

Property maintenance tips for landlords

Have a maintenance checklist

Arm yourself with a checklist before visiting your vacant property so you don’t waste time. You may also want to list items in order of priority so you know what you can skip if you’re in a rush. 

This should be a flexible and evolving document that you can tweak if needed e.g if you’ve just had a heavy rain, you’ll want to check the drainage around the property, if there’s a freeze in the forecast, you’ll want to drain the pipes and check the furnace.

The basic list should include:

• Are your windows and doors secure?
• Check the thermostat – Is the temperature of the unit ok?
• Look for mold or water damage
• Check for signs of animals – droppings, nests etc
• Walk around the exterior of the property to look for foundational issues, blocked drain pipes, or hazards at entry points

Check your insurance

Don’t just assume that the iron-clad insurance policy you had in place for tenants will still operate once they move out. Consider the cautionary tale of one Hamilton landlord who went to his insurer after discovering water damage from a leak in his vacant rental. The company refused to pay up, saying the coverage expired once the property was vacant for more than five days. 

If your tenant moves out, get in touch with your insurance company. Know exactly where you stand with your coverage to avoid running into unpleasant surprises like the one above.

Pay your taxes

Speaking of unpleasant surprises – did you know that vacant properties in Toronto could be subject to a Vacant Home Tax?

Introduced in response to the city’s housing crisis, the Vacant Home Tax applies to all Toronto properties declared or deemed to be vacant, including those not occupied by tenants for six months of the previous year. The annual tax is set at 1% of the property’s value and landlords who don’t declare their rental vacant could face a hefty fine.

Use a property management company

Look after your property without lifting a finger by hiring a professional property management firm. At Highgate, we’ve been helping Toronto homeowners manage and maintain their units for three decades – providing round-the-clock maintenance services so nothing gets missed.

It’s not easy keeping an eye on your rental, especially for landlords who don’t live nearby or juggle work and family commitments. Making the time to go see your unit every week is tough on busy schedules. Save yourself the stress and trust the experts. A reputable manager won’t just catch problems early, they’ll also have the experience and the connections to resolve it quickly. If we find a burst pipe or an animal infestation, we know exactly who to call!

If possible, rent

Sometimes vacancies are unavoidable, but it’s always better to rent out your property if you can. Not only does this ensure a steady stream of passive income, it also helps maintain the home. 

If you’re holding off on renting because you’re new to being a landlord and uncertain about the market, we can help. Our knowledgeable team has helped hundreds of GTA property owners start their landlord careers, with expert tenant vetting and management, full-service management and responsive maintenance services. Get in touch today to see how we can help you get started!