Effective planned preventative maintenance (PPM) is the issue at the heart of every successfully managed block. But while block managers who have planned and budgeted ahead are in an infinitely better position than those who haven’t, PPM is only half the story.
Selecting and handling the contractors to carry out the works is the other, and in a heavily regulated health and safety-orientated world, it’s a little more complicated than it might first appear.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled the following pointers to help you allocate your works appropriately.
When it comes to selecting the right contractors to carry out your PPM, don’t forget to ask the obvious questions. What experience does your contractor have and can they provide references and testimonials? Do they have an online presence; what is “the internet” saying about them? When it comes to choosing the right company for the job, don’t overlook the power of word of mouth.
It would be unwise to work with anybody who has public liability insurance of less than £5 million. Remember, if they’re not properly insured, you could be left liable.
Does your contractor have the correct accreditation and certification? For larger programmes of works, check and see if your contractor is accredited by an appropriate trade body. Also check whether they are accredited by the Construction Health and Safety Forum (CHAS)? While membership doesn’t prove their ability, it does prove they’ve made a significant investment in the H&S training, which shows a degree of commitment on their part.
So far, so simple. But most block manager/contractor relationships tend to be long-standing ones as schedules of works can be plotted over a number of years. So how do you know that a certification you checked when you first employed a contractor is still current? As block manager, it’s your responsibility to track their qualifications. And while an old-fashioned Excel spreadsheet has its uses, tracking multiple certifications across multiple contractors across multiple industries can get complicated.
Which is where Fixflo Block comes in
Fixflo Block’s repairs and maintenance software tracks your contractors’ certifications, ensuring that you only use contractors with the appropriate accreditation. With a few simple clicks, Fixflo Block’s system is also able to contact your contractors for quotes directly, send out purchase orders, submit invoices and transmit reminders. All of which are logged and date-stamped, providing you with a complete audit trail. And the time you save managing your contractors? You can use it to add value to your business.
Start your free trial today by clicking here.
