28 Sep What Does a Property Maintenance Company Do?
Quick Answer: A property maintenance company keeps residential and commercial properties safe, functional and in good condition by providing planned maintenance and reactive repairs. Services can include plumbing, heating, electrical work, roofing, drainage, carpentry and general property repairs. Property maintenance companies can also coordinate qualified tradespeople and provide emergency call-outs when urgent problems occur.
A property maintenance company looks after the ongoing condition, safety and functionality of residential and commercial properties. Its work can include routine inspections and planned maintenance as well as plumbing, heating, electrical work, roofing, drainage, decorating and general property repairs. For landlords and property managers, using one maintenance provider can also make coordinating different trades and responding to faults considerably simpler.
Property maintenance is therefore much broader than fixing something after it breaks. A good maintenance strategy combines preventative work with an effective response when unexpected problems occur.
What Is a Property Maintenance Company?
A property maintenance company coordinates the trades and maintenance services needed to keep a building functional, safe and well maintained. Depending on the provider, this can range from minor handyman jobs and scheduled inspections to specialist plumbing, electrical, heating, drainage and roofing work.
The exact responsibilities depend on the property and the maintenance arrangement.
A private homeowner may simply need occasional repairs and servicing. A landlord with several rental properties may need regular maintenance, safety-related work and fast support when tenants report faults. A property manager responsible for a commercial portfolio may require a broader planned maintenance programme involving several trades.
This is one of the main benefits of working with a multi-trade maintenance provider: instead of finding a different contractor every time a problem occurs, the property owner or manager has a central point of contact for a range of building services.
What Services Does a Property Maintenance Company Provide?
Property maintenance services typically cover the systems, fittings and external elements required to keep a building operational and in good condition. The precise scope varies between companies, but common services include plumbing, heating, electrical maintenance, roofing, drainage, carpentry, decorating and general repairs.
At PEBS, for example, property maintenance in London includes plumbing and heating, electrical and lighting work, general handyman repairs, carpentry, roofing and gutter work. PEBS also provides wider refurbishment services where a property requires more substantial improvement rather than routine maintenance.
Plumbing and heating
Plumbing problems can range from dripping taps and faulty fittings to leaking pipes and heating problems.
A maintenance provider can arrange the appropriate tradesperson to investigate the cause of a fault before carrying out the necessary repair. Where work involves gas appliances, the person undertaking relevant gas work must be appropriately Gas Safe registered.
For rental properties, this distinction is particularly important because landlords have specific responsibilities relating to gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants.
Electrical maintenance
Electrical maintenance may include fault finding, repairs, lighting work, socket and switch installation, rewiring and electrical inspections.
Some electrical work also requires appropriate testing and certification. For rented homes in England, electrical installations must be inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, subject to the applicable regulations and requirements.
The purpose of maintenance is therefore not simply to restore power after a fault. Inspection and testing can identify electrical defects that require investigation or remedial work.
Roofing and drainage
A damaged roof, blocked gutter or drainage problem can affect other parts of a building if it is left unresolved.
Roof maintenance may involve inspections, leaking roof repairs, gutter work and replacement where required. Drainage maintenance can involve investigating blockages and restoring effective water flow.
Addressing the source of water ingress is particularly important. Repainting an internal water stain, for example, will not solve the problem if a roof, pipe or drainage defect continues to allow moisture into the building.
Handyman, carpentry and general repairs
Not every maintenance job requires a major project.
Doors, windows, handles, cupboards, ironmongery and other frequently used components can deteriorate through everyday use. Handyman and carpentry services allow these smaller jobs to be addressed before a growing list of minor defects begins to affect the appearance or usability of a property.
For landlords and property managers managing multiple buildings, grouping minor repairs can also simplify scheduling and access arrangements.
What Is the Difference Between Planned and Reactive Property Maintenance?
Planned property maintenance is scheduled in advance, while reactive maintenance takes place in response to a fault or unexpected problem. Most properties require a combination of both approaches because some deterioration can be anticipated while leaks, breakdowns and other faults can occur without warning.
Planned maintenance may include scheduled servicing, inspections, gutter cleaning, decorating or work identified from previous assessments.
Its purpose is partly preventative. Regularly checking parts of a building creates opportunities to identify wear, deterioration or defects before they develop into more disruptive problems.
Reactive maintenance begins once something has already gone wrong. Examples could include a leaking pipe, failed heating system, damaged roof or electrical fault.
The two approaches complement one another. Planned maintenance can reduce avoidable deterioration, but access to reliable reactive property repairs remains important when unexpected problems arise.
Why Do Landlords and Property Managers Use Maintenance Companies?
Landlords, estate agents and property managers often use maintenance companies because managing property repairs involves more than carrying out the physical work. Faults need to be assessed, suitable tradespeople arranged, access coordinated and work completed with as little disruption as reasonably possible.
This becomes increasingly important when managing multiple properties.
Consider a rental property where a tenant reports water coming through a ceiling. Someone needs to determine where the water originates, arrange the appropriate trade and assess whether any subsequent repair or redecoration is necessary.
Having access to several trades through one property maintenance provider can make that process easier to coordinate.
The same principle applies to commercial properties. An office, restaurant or other commercial building may rely on functioning plumbing, electrics, heating and other building systems for normal operations. A maintenance problem can therefore affect not just the building but the people or organisation using it.
PEBS states that it works with estate agents and property managers and has provided maintenance, decoration and refurbishment services for managed properties in London.
Does Property Maintenance Include Emergency Call-Outs?
Some property maintenance companies provide emergency call-outs for urgent faults, although availability and the types of emergencies covered vary between providers. PEBS states that its London property maintenance service includes 24/7 emergency call-outs for problems including plumbing and electrical faults, leaks and urgent repairs.
An emergency response is most appropriate where delaying action could create an immediate safety concern, cause further property damage or seriously affect the use of the building.
Examples may include significant water leaks, certain electrical faults and other urgent building failures.
Not every repair requires an emergency attendance. A loose cupboard hinge and a major leak clearly have different levels of urgency. Effective maintenance therefore involves assessing the fault and prioritising the response appropriately.
Who Carries Out Property Maintenance Work?
Property maintenance is carried out by different tradespeople according to the work required. A multi-service maintenance company may coordinate plumbers, heating engineers, electricians, roofers, carpenters, decorators and general maintenance operatives rather than expecting one person to undertake every type of job.
This distinction matters because certain work requires appropriate competence, qualifications or registration.
Gas work covered by the relevant regulations should be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Electrical inspection and testing covered by rented-sector electrical safety requirements must be undertaken by a qualified person.
Before appointing a property maintenance company, it is therefore worth establishing who will perform specialist work and what qualifications, registrations and insurance arrangements apply.
PEBS displays Gas Safe Register and NICEIC accreditation logos on its website alongside other industry memberships. These details should still be confirmed as current before publication and before relying on them for regulated work.
How Does Property Maintenance Help With Landlord Responsibilities?
A property maintenance company can help landlords organise inspections, repairs and specialist work, but appointing a contractor does not automatically remove the landlord’s legal responsibilities. Landlords should understand which requirements apply to their property and ensure relevant work is completed by appropriately qualified people.
Gas safety provides a good example. The Health and Safety Executive states that landlords have duties concerning gas appliances, fittings and flues they provide for tenants, including maintenance and annual gas safety checks by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Electrical safety requirements also apply to rented homes in England. Current government guidance states that landlords must ensure electrical installations are inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years and obtain a report recording the results.
For landlords and property management companies, an organised maintenance process can therefore help with scheduling necessary work, responding to defects and retaining appropriate documentation. It should complement rather than replace an understanding of the property’s specific legal requirements.
How Much Do Property Maintenance Services Cost?
The cost of property maintenance depends on the work required, the condition and size of the property, the trades involved, materials, accessibility and whether the job requires an urgent response. Consequently, there is no meaningful single price that applies to every maintenance job or property.
A straightforward handyman repair will naturally involve a different scope from repairing a roof or investigating a complicated electrical problem.
Maintenance may also be arranged as individual jobs or as part of an ongoing programme.
PEBS states that it provides an initial assessment followed by an itemised proposal and can also establish scheduled maintenance plans. Property owners comparing quotations should therefore look beyond the headline figure and establish exactly what labour, materials and other work are included.
What Should You Look for in a Property Maintenance Company?
A suitable maintenance provider should have the skills and resources required for the type of property and work you need. Property owners should consider service coverage, relevant qualifications, insurance, communication, response arrangements and the company’s process for assessing and quoting for work.
It is also worth asking several practical questions:
- Does the company maintain both residential and commercial properties where relevant?
- Which trades can it coordinate?
- Who carries out regulated or specialist work?
- Does it provide planned as well as reactive maintenance?
- Are emergency call-outs available?
- How are quotations and additional works approved?
- How will access be coordinated for a tenanted property?
- What geographical area does the company cover?
- Can it provide appropriate records or certification where required?
For portfolio landlords and property managers, consistency is also important. A maintenance company may become a long-term point of contact, so clear reporting and communication can be just as important as completing an individual repair.
Property Maintenance Services in London With PEBS
PEBS provides property maintenance in London for residential and commercial properties, bringing together multiple building services through one provider. Its maintenance offering includes plumbing and heating, electrical work, handyman and carpentry services, roofing and drainage, alongside wider refurbishment services when more substantial work is required.
PEBS states that it has more than 15 years’ experience refurbishing and maintaining London properties and works with homeowners, landlords, property managers and commercial clients.
For planned work, its published maintenance process begins with an assessment and quotation before scheduling and coordinating the necessary trades. Ongoing maintenance plans are also available. For urgent problems, PEBS advertises 24/7 emergency call-outs.
If you are responsible for a home, rental property or commercial building and want to discuss ongoing maintenance or a specific repair, contact PEBS to arrange an assessment and quotation.
Disclaimer: This article provides general property maintenance information only. Requirements vary according to the property, type of work and applicable legislation. Landlords and property managers remain responsible for understanding their legal obligations and should use appropriately qualified or registered professionals where required.