Prevention is Better Than Cure

If left unmonitored, these pressures can lead to health and safety nightmares that require emergency inspections and remedial work, bringing with it other challenges for property managers, as explained by Rob Miller, Managing Director of Ecokleen:

“As an expert provider of external building maintenance and inspections, and a Rendall and Rittner gold standard accredited health and safety contractor, we are seeing an increased demand for emergency inspections, which can be costly and time consuming for clients. In a recent example, we were called out in response to a fallen facade tile that dropped from 14 floors before smashing into a café below. Fortunately, no one was hurt. However, we were subsequently instructed to complete a full emergency inspection, which required our specialist qualified facade inspectors and significant remedial work. This took approximately four weeks and costed the client over £40K, but with the dangers of falling debris, it’s sobering to remember that the outcome could have been much worse.”

A proactive approach is the way forward

As with many things, it’s better to avoid an issue altogether by finding a problem before it becomes one. This is where the importance of regular maintenance comes in. To remain compliant with Building Safety Acts, leases, warranties and insurance policies, all buildings require regular external checks.

If inspections and maintenance are scheduled regularly, incidents like the one mentioned above can be avoided. But given the health and safety implications this work can have, it’s crucial that property managers choose an experienced team to deliver this service. Such inspections should include a thorough examination of building exteriors, checking for things like cracks in the facade, loose panels, limescale deterioration and leak detection. This should be followed up with a detailed report from your provider, which can be used as evidence for ongoing health and safety audits and to ensure compliance.

As Rob Miller, Managing Director of Ecokleen, advises:

“It’s best to take a proactive approach to building inspections, and a time and cost-effective way of doing this is to build these checks into your regular window cleaning and maintenance schedule. This not only ensures your building is safe but also keeps it looking clean and presentable for your residents – a real win-win. A great supplier will likely offer package discounts if you opt for this which you can factor into your annual budget, in the long run saving you time, money and the headache that comes with a health and safety emergency and unexpected bill.”

By following this advice, property managers can ensure they remain compliant with building regulations, legislation and insurance conditions; while also crucially having peace of mind knowing their building, staff and residents are safe. As an expert in proactive building maintenance and inspection, Ecokleen have developed a helpful inspection checklist to guide property managers in what to look for in a good inspection.