SA Affordable Housing September / October 2018 // Issue: 72 | Page 21

ASSOCIATIONS
Covering your property
maintenance
Property owners should consider the use of a works contract to
formalise maintenance of their property, says Uwe Putlitz of JBCC.
J
oint Building Contracts Committee’s (JBCC) ‘Minor Works
Contract’ is a useful tool for homeowners wanting to
cover (often neglected) maintenance of their property.
JBCC CEO, Uwe Putlitz, says the contractual arrangements
to maintain buildings and plant equipment are quite different
from those pertaining to new buildings and / or alterations;
but they can be covered by the JBCC Minor Works Contract.
“Depending on the purpose and size of the building, the
owner may choose to establish an ‘in-house’ team to
undertake some or all maintenance work. Maintenance of
some items may have to be performed in terms of product
guarantees with prescribed maintenance restricted to
authorised service providers.
“Quotations for other work may be from specialist
maintenance contractors whose work will usually be called
for a fixed period – say, one to three years – and subject to a
monthly retainer. Usually the proviso is that the appointed
contractor must be on standby in case of an emergency. There
are substantial benefits in appointing such contractors using a
JBCC Minor Works Agreement,” Putlitz suggests.
He says buildings – unlike modern cars – invariably do not
have a ‘maintenance contract’ but the upkeep of facilities is
important to prevent loss of production or worse
consequences.
“When a lift is not working, toilets are blocked, or the
lights in the office malfunction, an unhappy tenant or user
may refuse to pay rent or renew a lease, and prospective
tenants may choose another building. It is therefore
essential for the property manager or owner to constantly
monitor the condition of the building, its various services
and surroundings. A management plan and budget to
regularly maintain or service the facility should be put in
place, preferably using a formal agreement such as the JBCC
Minor Works Contract. Specified remedial action to maintain
the property may then be carried out after hours and / or
over weekends or during the ‘off-season’ to minimise
inconvenience to the users and therefore not affect
productivity.”
Putlitz believes ignoring maintenance of a property may
also be hazardous. “Where the continued operation or the use
of an element of the works become
dangerous – or life threatening
– this threat must immediately be
addressed. Other symptoms of
underlying problems, for example,
bubbles in wall plaster work or
exposed concrete, water and / or
rust staining, fungal growth and tile
lifting also require urgent attention
to prevent escalating maintenance
expenses.
“In fact, the identification of
defects during a maintenance
inspection is the ideal opportunity
to evaluate the status of the entire
building to review its value as a
property investment. It may be the
right time to decide to sell the
building before it loses its attraction
to others; or take steps to comply
with changing consumer demands;
comply with energy use; and
comply with health and safety
Property owners should consider the use of a JBCC Minor Works Contract to formalise
often neglected maintenance programmes.
regulations,” he adds.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018
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