A Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) survey is a proactive approach to building upkeep and long-term asset management, typically covering a 5 to 10-year period. By identifying potential issues early, a PPM survey helps reduce unexpected repair costs, streamline budgeting, and ensure efficient property maintenance—ultimately extending the lifespan of the building while maintaining its value and compliance.
Who Needs a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) Survey?
PPM surveys are essential for a wide range of property owners and managers, including schools, local authorities, care home providers, housing associations, commercial landlords, and property management companies. These surveys apply to all types of buildings, from office spaces, schools, and care homes to residential properties, warehouses, and large industrial facilities.
Regardless of the building type or construction, regular maintenance is crucial to prevent costly repairs and ensure compliance with safety regulations. A PPM survey provides a structured maintenance plan tailored to the building’s specific needs, helping owners and occupiers effectively manage their assets and avoid unexpected expenses.
What is the surveyor assessing on a Planned Preventative Maintenance survey?
This type of survey can be specifically tailored to suit a client needs, for example focusing on external elevations over internal finishes which may be maintained by a different third party or focusing on items of repair within the next 5 years only. Another example could be narrowing down the survey to focus on external elevations and internal communal areas only e.g. for a block of flats.
A PPM survey will assess each element of a property, typically starting externally, working top down i.e. roof covering, fascias and soffits, gutters and downpipes, external walls, windows, and doors etc. The report may also assess internally, focusing on roof spaces, ceilings, walls, floor coverings etc and services such as electrical systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems and plumbing. Furthermore, statutory items will be included such as fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, fire escape doors and any other critical equipment or systems specific to the site.
What are the costs and risks of a PPM survey?
For each element highlighted in the PPM survey a risk score or rating will be provided, confirming to the client the condition of that item and the amount of time prior to works needing to be completed. Furthermore, each item recorded will have a cost associated with it for the repair works. This allows the client to easily forecast their financial maintenance liabilities over the next 5 or 10 years.
For any estate/property managers or landlords, PPM reports are formatted to allow low or high-risk items to be filtered out, allowing the client to easily cohort and deliberate on the findings and target the worst affected elements of their property portfolio with ease.
Here at Survey Network, for strategic and well organised clients, our self-employed surveyors can also assist one step further and write up a specification to encompass the high-risk items on the PPM survey across multiple different sites. This specification ties all the works into a single package which will then be tendered to obtain the best market rates. They can then contract administrate the works all under a fixed price cost. This has a massive benefit to a client as vast amounts of urgent repair works can be completed in a short period, to a sound specification, whilst also obtaining a competitive price.
So, what are the benefits of a PPM Survey?
Understanding the maintenance requirements for your property is not just about preserving its aesthetic appeal – it's a strategic move that brings numerous advantages to the table.
First and foremost, a comprehensive maintenance plan empowers effective prioristisation. This means addressing potential hazards and issues affecting the structural integrity and daily functionality of your building takes precedence. By focusing on these key areas, you not only enhance safety but also prevent more extensive and costly repairs down the road. RICS surveyors are cognisant of budget constraints and can offer insights on spreading costs over several years through strategic scheduling.
Implementing a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) strategy isn't just about immediate benefits – it's a smart long-term investment. PPM helps elongate the lifespan of your property, curbing the need for unforeseen and expensive repairs. Proactively fixing issues prevents long-term damage; for instance, timely decoration of external joinery items prevents decay and rotting, leading to an extended lifespan. Similarly, regular inspection and protection of mildly corroded steelwork can stave off major structural problems.
Beyond the physical structure, surveyors bring a holistic approach to property maintenance. Their expertise extends to health and safety, fire regulations, and building regulations. Their guidance includes measures to align your property with current standards, enhancing usability, safety, and overall value over the years.
In essence, a proactive approach to property maintenance not only safeguards your investment but also optimises its long-term value. By understanding and strategically addressing maintenance needs, you're not just maintaining a property – you're ensuring it stands the test of time, both functionally and financially.
Who are we?
In the grand scheme of building maintenance, success is a team effort, requiring seamless coordination among building management teams, skilled surveyors, and reliable construction contractors. If you're on the lookout for a top-tier surveyor to streamline and strategise your maintenance plan, look no further the our self-employed surveyors. Book Your Survey Here.
