January as maintenance month: an annual checklist for your holiday home

The festive season is over. For most holiday homes, a quieter period now begins. That is not lost time. For many owners, January is the best moment of the year to inspect the property thoroughly.

If you repair, replace and freshen things up now, you start the spring with a property that is ready for a busy season. If you put it off, you risk a leak or a faulty appliance turning up in the middle of summer. In this article you will find a practical room-by-room checklist, plus tips to plan the work and record it.

Why January suits so well

In January 2026, bookings are usually lower than in the rest of the year. In Flanders, the Christmas holidays run until 4 January 2026. After that come a few weeks without school holidays, until the spring half-term (krokusvakantie) in February.

Those weeks leave room to schedule tradespeople. Many contractors also have more time after the festive season than in spring, when everyone wants to renovate at once.

A second advantage: you have just completed a full year. You know what guests complained about, which appliances let you down and what looks worn. Use that knowledge now, while it is still fresh.

Heating, chimney and safety

Start with what affects your guests' safety. That always takes priority over looks.

• Boiler. Have the boiler serviced every year by a certified technician. Keep the service certificate.
• Chimney. If you have an open fire or a wood burner, have the chimney swept. Ask for a certificate, as your insurer may ask for it.
• Smoke detectors. Test every smoke detector and replace the batteries. Check the expiry date on the device itself.
• Carbon monoxide detectors. Test them and check their lifespan, especially in rooms with a gas appliance or stove.
• Fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Check that they are in place and have not expired.

Also check that your fire safety certificate is still in order. In Flanders you need an A or B certificate, applied for through the municipality. Does the situation in the property still match what the certificate says?

Outside: roof, gutters, terrace and garden

Winter weather leaves its mark on the outside of a property. Check everything before spring begins.

Gutters and drains. Have them cleared. Leaves and dirt cause blockages and then damp problems in the walls.

Roof. Have a roofer look for loose tiles or damaged slates, especially after stormy weather.

Terrace. Wooden terraces need attention every year. Check whether any boards are rotten or loose. Plan the sanding and oiling for spring, as soon as it is dry enough.

Garden. Prune shrubs and hedges, remove dead plants and check the garden lighting. Also inspect the garden furniture: loose wood, torn cushions or rusty hinges.

Bedrooms: mattresses, protectors and textiles

Guests judge a property largely on how well they slept. The bedrooms therefore deserve extra attention.

• Rotate and turn the mattresses so that they wear evenly.
• Check the mattress protectors for stains and wear, and replace them if necessary.
• Replace flat or misshapen pillows.
• Inspect duvets, blankets and throws for stains and bobbling.
• Test all reading lamps and check that the sockets by the bed work.

You rarely notice a sagging mattress yourself. Guests do. So look through last year's reviews to see whether anyone complained about sleeping badly.

Kitchen and appliances

The kitchen is the most used room, especially in group houses. Check every appliance.

• Descale the coffee machine and the kettle.
• Clean the filters of the cooker hood and the dishwasher.
• Check the oven seal and that all hobs work.
• Defrost the freezer if necessary.
• Empty the fridge completely and clean it.

Check the inventory too. Count plates, glasses and cutlery. Replace cracked plates, blunt knives and pans with a damaged base. Check that there is enough for the maximum number of guests.

Bathroom, grouting and paintwork

Guests notice small defects faster than you think. A dark grout line in the shower or a damaged wall in the hallway gives a neglected impression.

Grouting and silicone. Clean the grout thoroughly. If it is discoloured or damaged, have it renewed. Replace mouldy silicone around the shower and bath.

Taps and drains. Descale shower heads and taps. Check that drains run freely.

Paintwork. Walk through the property with a critical eye. Touch up scratches, dents and marks on walls and door frames. Keep a pot of every paint you have used ready for small repairs.

Furniture and furnishings

Finally, the furniture. A loose chair leg or a sticking drawer seems minor. To a guest, it feels like a property that is not looked after.

Tighten all chairs and tables. Check drawers, cupboard doors and hinges. Inspect the sofas for stains and wear. Have covers or fabrics cleaned where needed. Replace worn cushions and throws.

Plan the work around your bookings

Maintenance and bookings need to be able to coexist. So block a few days in your calendar in good time for the major work. Choose periods of low demand, and avoid the weeks around the February 2026 spring half-term.

Small jobs can be done between two bookings. Agree with your tradespeople that they come by at a fixed moment, for example between check-out and cleaning.

Record everything with photos

Document every check and every repair. Take before and after photos, and note the date and who carried out the work. Keep certificates and invoices in one folder per property.

That documentation helps you later in three ways. You can see when a component is due again. In the event of damage, you can show what condition the property was in. And you have an overview for your accountant.

Help with maintenance

Maintaining a holiday home takes planning and reliable people. For maintenance, YourDomi works with regular tradespeople and its own cleaning team, which follows a fixed checklist and a photo check. You receive a monthly overview for each property. If you are curious what that means for your property, request a personal proposal.