Introduction
A building maintenance plan helps commercial property owners, strata managers, and Councils of Owners plan for the long-term maintenance of a building. It provides a structured framework for forecasting maintenance requirements, supporting budgeting, and informing asset management decisions throughout the building’s lifecycle.
However, a maintenance plan should not be viewed as a document that is prepared once and left unchanged. As buildings age, their condition evolves, maintenance priorities change, and different building elements experience varying levels of deterioration over time. Regular review helps ensure the plan continues to reflect the current condition of the building and remains relevant to future maintenance requirements.
Why Regular Review Matters
A building maintenance plan is based on the condition of a property at a particular point in time. As buildings are exposed to weather, daily use, ageing materials, and ongoing maintenance activities, the condition of building elements can change significantly.
Without regular review, a maintenance plan may no longer reflect the building’s current condition, making it more difficult to prioritise maintenance activities and forecast future expenditure effectively.
Regular updates help ensure maintenance planning remains aligned with the building’s actual condition rather than relying on outdated information.
How Often Should a Building Maintenance Plan Be Reviewed?
The appropriate review frequency depends on the type of property, its age, the complexity of its building systems, and any significant changes that have occurred since the plan was prepared.
While every property is different, a building maintenance plan should generally be reviewed:
Following Major Maintenance or Upgrade Works
Significant maintenance projects can change the condition of building elements and affect future maintenance priorities. Updating the plan after major works helps ensure future planning reflects the current state of the asset.
When Building Condition Changes
If new defects, deterioration, or moisture-related concerns are identified, reviewing the maintenance plan helps determine whether future maintenance priorities should be adjusted.
During Budget and Asset Planning
Commercial property owners and strata stakeholders often review maintenance budgets as part of their financial planning. Reviewing the maintenance plan at the same time helps ensure projected expenditure reflects current building requirements.
As Part of Ongoing Asset Management
Regular review supports proactive asset management by ensuring maintenance priorities continue to align with the building’s condition and long-term performance objectives.
What Should Be Reviewed?
Updating a building maintenance plan involves more than revising dates or budgets. It should consider whether the information still reflects the property’s current condition.
Areas commonly considered during a review include:
- The condition of major building elements
- Previously identified defects or deterioration
- Maintenance activities completed since the previous review
- Building elements requiring future attention
- Changes that may influence long-term maintenance priorities
- Estimated maintenance timing and lifecycle planning
The objective is to ensure the maintenance plan remains a practical guide for managing the building over time.
Why Building Condition Should Guide Maintenance Planning
Maintenance priorities should be based on the condition of the building rather than assumptions or fixed timelines.
For example, some building elements may continue to perform well beyond their expected service life, while others may deteriorate more quickly due to environmental exposure, usage, or other factors. Reviewing actual building condition helps stakeholders better understand where maintenance attention may be required.
Independent building inspections and condition assessments can provide valuable information when updating a maintenance plan by documenting observed conditions and identifying changes that have occurred since the previous review.
How Independent Assessments Support Plan Reviews
An independent assessment provides an objective snapshot of the building’s condition at the time of inspection.
This may include:
- Assessment of observed building defects
- Identification of deterioration affecting building elements
- Documentation of moisture-related concerns
- Evaluation of building condition trends
- Evidence-based reporting to support maintenance planning
This information provides stakeholders with a clearer understanding of current building conditions, supporting more informed decisions regarding maintenance priorities, budgeting, and long-term asset management.
How 360 Advisory Services Supports Building Maintenance Planning
360 Advisory Services provides independent building advisory services across Perth and Western Australia, supporting commercial and strata properties through evidence-based building assessments and long-term maintenance planning.
Our services include:
- Independent building condition assessments
- Preparation and review of building maintenance plans
- Depreciating asset registers
- Building defect investigations
- Structured reporting to support long-term asset management
Our focus is on providing objective information that helps stakeholders understand building condition and plan future maintenance with greater confidence.
Final Thoughts
A building maintenance plan should evolve alongside the building it supports. As building condition changes over time, regular review helps ensure maintenance priorities remain relevant, practical, and based on current information rather than historical assumptions.
By periodically reviewing the plan and supporting updates with independent building assessments where appropriate, commercial property owners, strata managers, and councils of owners can maintain a clearer understanding of building condition and make more informed long-term maintenance decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How often should a building maintenance plan be reviewed?
A building maintenance plan should be reviewed whenever significant changes in building condition occur, after major maintenance works, or as part of regular long-term asset planning.
Q2: Why is it important to update a building maintenance plan?
Regular updates help ensure the plan reflects the building’s current condition, completed maintenance activities, and future maintenance priorities.
Q3: Can a building maintenance plan change over time?
Yes. As buildings age and maintenance is completed, priorities, timelines, and future maintenance requirements may need to be updated to reflect current conditions.
Q4: How do independent building inspections support maintenance planning?
Independent assessments provide evidence-based information about building condition, helping stakeholders review maintenance priorities and make informed long-term planning decisions.