Maintenance and Risk Management
Maintenance types and workflow
Distinguish routine (planned, scheduled), preventive (designed to avoid failure), corrective (repair after failure), and emergency (immediate, safety-critical) maintenance. A work-order system should capture the request, priority, assignment, cost, and completion. Deferred maintenance is a risk that compounds: small unfunded repairs become large capital events.
Risk control
Risk management is a cycle: identify hazards, assess likelihood and severity, control (avoid, reduce, transfer, retain), and monitor. Insurance transfers some risk; it does not eliminate the duty to maintain safe premises. Document inspections, incident reports, and vendor insurance certificates.
Safety and habitability
Habitability obligations include heat, water, sanitation, and structural safety. Life-safety systems - alarms, extinguishers, egress - require scheduled inspection. Vendor management includes scope, insurance verification, and completion sign-off.
Traps to watch for
- Calling a safety hazard "routine" and delaying response.
- Assuming insurance replaces maintenance obligations.
- Skipping vendor insurance verification.
- Failing to document inspections and incidents, weakening the defense later.
Rule of thumb
Prioritize by risk, not by convenience: anything affecting health, safety, or habitability goes first, regardless of queue order.
Worked example
A resident reports a broken exterior light in a dark stairwell. This is a safety and liability issue, not cosmetic. Treat it as urgent, secure or repair quickly, document the action and time, and inspect other fixtures in the area for the same failure.