Planned Maintenance & Budgeting

Planned maintenance is often considered a necessary evil and not something of great value. Taking good care of our buildings is essential, especially when it is possible that as many as 80% of the buildings that stand today will still be around in 2050.

We work hand in hand with property management companies helping them prepare a maintenance plan, looking for opportunities to consider and implement measures that would improve the sustainability of a property. Energy efficiency enhancements are of particular note given the introduction of minimum energy performance standards on 1 April 2018 under the Energy Act 2011 and the prospect that buildings with an F or G Energy Performance Certificate could be unlettable. Implementing appropriate improvements as part of a planned maintenance programme could help to spread the cost of the works and mitigate any potential risks.

From our client’s perspective, a robust planned maintenance programme can help a landlord to make a case to its tenants to carry out works to manage their property and to spread the cost of essential repairs to avoid a nasty shocks and unexpected service charges.

Carrying out maintenance works can also position an asset or assets in readiness for a potential sale, letting or a sale and lease back. A commercially minded building surveyor can establish what works are necessary to counter the curiosity of a diligent prospective purchaser’s surveyor.

If a place is considered to have “kerb appeal”, it is likely to command higher rents and sale prices. That, in turn, provides a business case to maintain buildings underpinning the sustainability of a property. That is one of the reasons why astute property owners take care of their buildings.