PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Seasonal Home Maintenance: Preparing Your Property for Gauteng's Rainy Season

A property that isn't ready for summer storms can go from fine to flooded fast. Here's what to check before the rains set in.

Gauteng's summer rainy season is predictable in timing but not in intensity — and a property that isn't prepared can go from fine to flooded surprisingly fast. Here's what to check before the rains set in.

Roof and gutters — the first line of defence

• Clear gutters and downpipes of leaves and debris before the first heavy rains.
• Check for loose, cracked, or missing roof tiles or sheeting while it's still dry to work on.
• Look for early water staining on ceilings — a small sign now prevents a bigger problem mid-storm.

Drainage around the property

• Check that stormwater drains and channels around the property aren't blocked by leaves, sand, or debris.
• Look at ground slope near the foundation — water should drain away from the house, not pool against walls.
• Clear any debris from drains before the season, not after the first flood.

Electrical precautions before storm season

• Check outdoor plug points and light fittings for any signs of water ingress from the previous season.
• Confirm your DB board's earth leakage protection is functioning — this matters more when water and electricity risk mixing.
• See our load shedding and electrical safety guide for related surge protection advice, since storm season often brings both rain and outages together.

Structural and exterior checks

• Inspect exterior walls and window seals for cracks that let water in during driving rain.
• Check that any welded gates, palisade fencing, or steel structures don't have rust starting at joints — a small issue now, a bigger repair later.
• Walk the property after the first significant rain of the season and note anywhere water pooled unexpectedly.

Why proactive beats reactive, every time

This is the same principle covered in our landlord maintenance checklist — a small pre-season check is reliably cheaper and less disruptive than an emergency repair mid-storm, when contractors are busiest and access is hardest.