Leaving Home Empty Checklist UK: 12 Things to Check Before You Go
Going away for a few days is one thing. Leaving your London home empty for several weeks or months is quite another.
Before you lock the door and head to the airport, it is worth taking a little time to make sure the property is properly prepared for your absence.
A few simple checks can reduce the risk of leaks, maintenance problems, unpleasant surprises and avoidable disruption while you are away.
Leaving your Home Empty: a Checklist for your UK home.
1. Check for visible leaks
Start with the obvious places:
under sinks
around toilets
around showers and baths
washing-machine connections
dishwasher connections
boiler area
exposed pipework
Even a small drip can become a much bigger problem if nobody notices it for several weeks.
If anything looks unusual, it is better to deal with it before you leave rather than hope it will be fine.
2. Know where your stopcock is
If a plumbing issue happens while you are away, whoever attends the property needs to know how to shut off the water quickly.
Make sure the stopcock is accessible and that a trusted person knows where it is.
It is also useful to keep a simple property record with key information such as the stopcock location, boiler details, fuse board and important contractor contacts.
3. Check your heating settings
During colder months, turning the heating off completely may not always be the best option.
Depending on the property, you may want to leave the heating on a low setting or use frost-protection settings.
Check the manufacturer's instructions for your system and make sure the thermostat is working properly before you leave.
4. Run taps and flush toilets before departure
Give the plumbing a final check.
Run hot and cold taps, flush toilets and make sure sinks and baths are draining normally.
If something is already slow, leaking or making unusual noises, leaving it unattended for weeks is rarely a good idea.
5. Check windows and doors
Walk through the property room by room.
Make sure windows are properly closed and doors are secure.
Pay particular attention to rooms you use less often, loft spaces, utility rooms and secondary entrances.
6. Deal with post and deliveries
A growing pile of post behind the door is inconvenient and can also make it obvious that nobody is at home.
Consider:
pausing regular deliveries
redirecting important post
asking someone to monitor incoming mail
avoiding unattended parcel deliveries
If you are going to be away for a long period, having someone check post regularly can be surprisingly useful.
7. Empty anything that could cause smells or damage
Before leaving, check:
bins
food in the fridge
fruit bowls
dishwasher
washing machine
coffee machines
pet-food containers
Small things become much less pleasant after several weeks in an empty property.
8. Check for signs of damp or moisture
Look around windows, ceilings, bathrooms and external walls for any signs of damp, staining or mould.
If you already know that part of the property is prone to condensation or water ingress, it is worth dealing with that before a long absence.
When a home is empty, nobody is there to notice if a small patch suddenly gets worse.
9. Make sure outdoor areas are prepared
If you have a garden, terrace, balcony or external entrance, check that everything is secure and prepared for the weather.
Depending on the season, this might include:
securing outdoor furniture
checking drains and gutters
arranging gardening
removing loose objects
checking external taps
For longer absences, ongoing garden maintenance can also help prevent the property from looking obviously unattended.
10. Review your home-insurance conditions
This is one people often forget.
Some insurance policies include specific conditions if a property is left unoccupied for a certain length of time.
These may include requirements around:
heating
water systems
regular inspections
security
notification of prolonged absence
Check your individual policy before you leave so that you understand any conditions that apply.
11. Leave clear instructions for whoever is checking the property
If someone will be visiting while you are away, do not make them guess.
Give them clear information about:
access
alarm instructions
stopcock location
fuse board
boiler controls
preferred contractors
how to contact you
what they are authorised to arrange
A simple property information sheet can make a big difference if something goes wrong.
12. Arrange regular checks if you are away for a long time
For longer absences, one of the most useful things you can do is arrange for somebody to visit the property regularly.
A scheduled home-care visit can include simple visual and practical checks such as:
looking for visible leaks
checking for signs of damp or water ingress
running taps
flushing toilets
checking post
looking for obvious damage
confirming that heating and basic systems appear operational
sending photographs and a written update
The value is not in creating work. It is in making sure that somebody is actually paying attention.
Before You Lock the Door
Leaving your home for an extended period should not mean spending the whole time wondering what is happening back in London.
A little preparation before departure, combined with regular checks while you are away, can help reduce avoidable problems and give you much greater peace of mind.
Casa London provides private home care for homeowners across North London, including scheduled inspections, photographic reporting, post monitoring and maintenance coordination.
Your home, cared for while you’re away.
If you would like someone local to keep an eye on your North London home while you are away, request a consultation with Casa London.
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