Care Home Maintenance Checklist (UK): Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Annual Checks Mapped to CQC Regulation 15 (2026)
A practical checklist for UK care homes, organised by how often each check is done, with what CQC and the HSE say about premises, water safety, windows and equipment, and the evidence to keep.
A care home maintenance checklist lists the checks that keep premises and equipment safe, grouped by frequency: daily walk-rounds, weekly tests, monthly water and equipment checks, quarterly reviews and annual servicing. CQC’s Regulation 15 requires all premises and equipment to be clean, secure, suitable, properly used, properly maintained and appropriately located, and its guidance expects regular health and safety risk assessments, maintenance arrangements and budgets. The HSE adds specific water temperature, scalding and window restraint guidance for care homes. This page gives a UK checklist you can copy, with the record to keep against each check.
This guide is for registered managers, maintenance staff and owners of care homes in England. Most online checklists are written for the US (temperatures in Fahrenheit, CMS and OSHA), so this one is built on CQC’s Regulation 15 guidance and HSE guidance for UK care homes. Where a frequency comes from CQC or the HSE we say so. Where it is our suggestion or common practice, we say that too: always set frequencies through your own risk assessments and competent contractors.
Key takeaways
- Regulation 15 covers premises and equipment: clean, secure, suitable, properly used, properly maintained and appropriately located.
- CQC guidance expects regular health and safety risk assessments of premises, grounds and equipment, acted on without delay, and a maintenance budget.
- HSE guidance: hot water stored at 60 degrees C or above, distributed at 50 degrees C or above, with thermostatic mixing valves so bath and shower water cannot exceed 44 degrees C where people are vulnerable to scalding.
- HSE guidance: sentinel water outlets checked monthly; windows people could fall from restrained to 100 mm or less with tamper-proof fittings.
- An unrecorded check is, for inspection purposes, a check that did not happen. Keep a dated record against every line.
In this guide
- What CQC Regulation 15 expects
- Daily checks
- Weekly checks
- Monthly checks
- Quarterly and six-monthly checks
- Annual and periodic servicing
- Water safety: the HSE numbers inspectors expect you to know
- Windows and falls from height
- The records inspectors ask for
- Why maintenance failures become CQC findings
- Frequently asked questions
What CQC Regulation 15 expects
Regulation 15 says all premises and equipment used by the provider must be clean, secure, suitable for the purpose, properly used, properly maintained and appropriately located. CQC’s guidance adds that providers should have:
- Regular health and safety risk assessments of the premises (including grounds) and equipment, with findings acted on without delay.
- Arrangements for the purchase, service, maintenance, renewal and replacement of premises and equipment, meeting legislation, manufacturers’ instructions and the provider’s own policies.
- Operational policies, procedures and maintenance budgets to keep buildings, mechanical and electrical systems sound, operationally safe and showing only minor deterioration.
- Equipment used, stored and maintained to manufacturers’ instructions, with staff trained to use it.
- Security that protects people, including window restrictors and door locks used lawfully and without restricting the liberty of other people.
Providers stay legally responsible when they hand maintenance to contractors, so a contractor’s certificate is evidence, not a substitute for your own checks. Regulation 15 also sits alongside infection prevention and control and Regulation 17 governance, because inspectors look for audits that catch maintenance failures. See our Regulation 15 guide.
Daily checks
Most care homes do these as a walk-round by the maintenance person or the senior on duty, recorded on one sheet. Our suggestion, adjusted to your building:
| Check | What to look for | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Fire doors, exits and escape routes | Fire doors close fully and are not wedged open; exits and corridors clear and unlocked for escape | Daily walk-round sheet |
| Call system | Nurse call points working; any fault reported the same day | Fault log |
| Handrails, floors and lighting | Handrails secure, no trip hazards or wet floors, lighting working in corridors, stairs and bathrooms | Walk-round sheet |
| Hot water at outlets | Water at bath and shower outlets in the safe range, no scald risk reported (see the water section) | Temperature record where your risk assessment requires it |
| Equipment in use | Hoists, profiling beds and wheelchairs checked before use, faulty items taken out of use and labelled | Equipment fault log |
| Security | Entrances secure, window restrictors in place and not tampered with | Walk-round sheet |
| Fridges and storage | Kitchen and medicines fridge temperatures recorded where your procedures require | Temperature logs |
Weekly checks
| Check | Detail | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Fire alarm test | A manual call point test, rotating the call point each week, is common practice. Confirm the frequency in your fire risk assessment | Fire log book |
| Infrequently used outlets | HSE legionella guidance says flush infrequently used outlets, including taps and showerheads, at least weekly | Flushing record |
| Emergency lighting and signs | Visual check that exit signs and emergency lights are lit and undamaged | Fire log book |
| Kitchen and laundry equipment | Visual check of cooking, cooling and laundry equipment for faults and safe use | Kitchen and laundry checklist |
| Grounds and external areas | Paths, steps, ramps, bins and lighting safe and clear | Walk-round sheet |
| Beds, mattresses and pressure equipment | Visible damage, correct settings, cleanliness | Equipment checklist |
Monthly checks
| Check | Detail | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Sentinel water outlets | HSE guidance: identify sentinel outlets (furthest and closest to each tank or cylinder) and check distribution temperatures monthly | Water temperature log |
| Hot water cylinder temperatures | HSE guidance: check hot water storage cylinder temperatures monthly; cold water tanks at least every six months | Water temperature log |
| Thermostatic mixing valves and showers | HSE guidance: monitor outlet temperatures and thermostatic mixing valves so bath and shower water stays at or below 44 degrees C where people are vulnerable | TMV and outlet temperature record |
| Emergency lighting | A short functional test is common practice. Confirm the frequency in your fire risk assessment | Fire log book |
| Window restrictors | Restrictors secure, tamper-proof and limiting opening to 100 mm or less where people could fall (HSE guidance) | Premises audit |
| Hoists and slings | Visual condition check, slings inspected for wear and labelled correctly | Equipment record |
| Premises audit | A walk-round audit of rooms, bathrooms, communal areas and storage, with an action log | Audit and action log |
Quarterly and six-monthly checks
| Check | Detail | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Showerheads and hoses | HSE guidance: clean and de-scale showerheads and hoses at least quarterly | Cleaning record |
| Cold water storage tanks | HSE guidance: check temperatures at least every six months and keep tanks clean and covered | Water log |
| Lifting equipment examination | Hoists, slings and other equipment used to lift people are typically examined by a competent person every six months under LOLER. Check with your inspection provider | Thorough examination reports |
| Premises risk assessment review | CQC guidance expects regular health and safety risk assessments. A quarterly check that actions are closed is our suggestion | Risk assessment and action log |
| Contractor performance | Check contractors are visiting as scheduled and certificates are in the file | Contractor tracker |
Annual and periodic servicing
Intervals below are common practice or set by regulations or your risk assessments. Ask the competent person or contractor to confirm the right interval for your building, and record the date, who did it and any remedial work.
| Item | Typical interval | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Fire risk assessment | Reviewed regularly and whenever something changes; many services review at least annually | Fire risk assessment and review record |
| Fire alarm, extinguishers and emergency lighting servicing | Annual service by a competent person is common practice | Service certificates |
| Gas appliances and boilers | Annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer is common practice | Gas safety record |
| Fixed electrical installation | Periodic inspection at intervals set by a competent electrician, often five years or less | Electrical installation condition report |
| Portable electrical appliances | Frequency set by risk assessment | Appliance test register |
| Legionella risk assessment | Reviewed regularly and when the system changes; HSE says a COSHH risk assessment of hot and cold water systems is needed | Legionella risk assessment and review |
| Passenger lifts and stairlifts | Thorough examination under LOLER, typically every six months for lifts carrying people | Examination reports |
| Ventilation and extraction | Annual service is common practice | Service record |
| Call system, door access and CCTV | Annual service or as set by manufacturer | Service record |
Water safety: the HSE numbers inspectors expect you to know
HSE guidance for health and social care premises makes water the most specific part of a care home checklist (it also notes that CQC is the regulator for patient safety in registered English providers):
| Control | HSE guidance | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water storage | 60 degrees C or above (calorifiers) | Legionella do not survive above 60 degrees C |
| Hot water distribution | 50 degrees C or above | Keeps water out of the 20 to 45 degrees C growth range |
| Cold water | Stored and distributed below 20 degrees C | Bacteria dormant below 20 degrees C |
| Baths and showers where people are vulnerable | Thermostatic mixing valves so water does not exceed 44 degrees C | Scald risk, particularly for older people, those with reduced mobility or capacity |
| Hot pipes and radiators | Surface not exceeding 43 degrees C at maximum output where a vulnerable person could be burned; insulation or covers | Burn risk |
| Sentinel outlets | Checked monthly, with records | Early warning of system problems |
| Dead legs and infrequently used outlets | Remove dead legs; flush infrequently used outlets at least weekly | Stagnant water allows growth |
Sources: HSE: managing legionella in hot and cold water systems and HSE: scalding and burning. Water safety should be based on a risk assessment, with a competent person carrying out routine checks, and controls should not introduce other risks, for example scalding from raising temperatures.
Windows and falls from height
HSE guidance for health and social care premises says that where vulnerable people can reach windows large enough to fall through, at a height that could cause harm, the windows should be restrained. Its guidance in HSG220 (Health and safety in care homes) says restrictors should limit the opening to 100 mm or less, be robustly secured with tamper-proof fittings, and that windows with initial opening restrictors are not suitable where people are at risk, because they can be easily overridden. CQC’s Regulation 15 guidance separately says window restrictors and door locks must protect people when lawful and necessary without restricting the liberty of others. Check HSE on avoiding falls from windows for the current wording, and include restrictors in every monthly walk-round. If you restrict a person’s movements as part of their care, see the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS.
The records inspectors ask for
- A fire log book with weekly, monthly and annual entries, the fire risk assessment and drills.
- Water temperature, flushing and legionella risk assessment records.
- Service and examination certificates for lifts, hoists, slings, gas, electrics, fire equipment and ventilation.
- A maintenance fault log showing the date reported, who fixed it and the date closed.
- A premises audit with an action log that shows actions closed, not just found.
- A maintenance budget or plan showing renewals are planned (CQC guidance mentions maintenance budgets).
Pair the checklist with a monthly governance meeting so overdue items reach a person who can act. See how to run a governance meeting and the audit schedule template.
Why maintenance failures become CQC findings
When premises and equipment are poorly maintained, inspectors tend to record it under Regulation 15, and when the provider has no system that catches it, under Regulation 17. Typical findings are out-of-date servicing, missing water temperature records, damaged fixtures, broken equipment still in use and actions found in audits but never closed. These are the same failures that appear in what causes an Inadequate rating, which is why a dated, owned and closed action log matters as much as the check itself.
Keep maintenance checks and actions on schedule
CQCLogic schedules your audits, tracks actions to closure with owners and due dates, and keeps review dates for policies and training. It is not maintenance management (CMMS) software, so keep job-level maintenance in your own system and use CQCLogic to evidence that checks are done and actions closed. See a sample improvement plan, view pricing or get started free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a care home maintenance checklist include?
Daily walk-round checks of fire doors, exits, handrails, floors, call system and equipment; weekly fire alarm tests and flushing of infrequently used outlets; monthly water temperature, sentinel outlet, window restrictor and premises audit checks; quarterly and six-monthly reviews and lifting equipment examinations; and annual servicing of fire, gas, electrical and ventilation systems, with a dated record for each.
What does CQC say about maintenance in care homes?
Regulation 15 says all premises and equipment must be clean, secure, suitable, properly used, properly maintained and appropriately located. CQC guidance expects regular health and safety risk assessments acted on without delay, arrangements and budgets for maintenance, and equipment used and maintained to manufacturers’ instructions.
How often should hot water temperatures be checked in a care home?
HSE guidance says sentinel outlets and hot water cylinder temperatures should be checked monthly, and cold water tanks at least every six months, with records. Your legionella risk assessment sets the detail.
What temperature should hot water be in a care home?
HSE guidance says hot water should be stored at 60 degrees C or above and distributed at 50 degrees C or above, with thermostatic mixing valves so bath and shower water does not exceed 44 degrees C where people are vulnerable to scalding.
Do care home windows need restrictors?
Where vulnerable people could fall from windows at a harmful height, HSE guidance says windows should be restrained to 100 mm or less with tamper-proof fittings. Regulation 15 guidance says restrictors must protect people without restricting the liberty of others.
How often should hoists and slings be examined?
Equipment used to lift people is typically examined by a competent person every six months under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). Confirm the interval with your inspection provider.
Who is responsible for maintenance in a care home?
The registered provider is legally responsible under Regulation 15, even when maintenance is contracted out. A registered manager normally oversees day-to-day checks and escalates problems.
Is there a free care home maintenance checklist template?
Yes. Copy the tables on this page into a spreadsheet and add columns for date, completed by, fault found and action closed. See our free audit pack for audit templates and an action log.
How long should maintenance records be kept?
CQC does not set one period for all maintenance records. Keep them long enough to show an inspector the history, and follow the retention periods in the relevant guidance for fire, water, gas and electrical records and your own policy.