Commercial buildings represent big business for property investors. While the tenant is charged with certain maintenance tasks, the owner is responsible for the building as a whole. Owners rely on you to maintain their buildings and you rely on tenants to report any issues around maintenance, roofing, and repair needs.
Many roof repairs fly under the radar until they become an emergency. So, the best way to head off roofing problems is to conduct regular roof inspections. Taking a proactive approach will benefit you and your clients.
The Importance of Inspecting Commercial Building Roofs
There are high stakes involved with managing a commercial or strata building, and beyond the financial side of things and the legal obligations, the building is the asset. It’s up to you to maintain profitability, field tenant complaints, and comply with your legal obligations. Maintaining the asset is key to securing loyal tenants who re-up their occupancy without issue.
It’s important that you take proactive steps to protect the asset, which includes addressing common maintenance issues. In addition to safety hazards, you must be aware of structural damage, flood damage, water ingress, insulation failure, electrical problems, plumbing troubles, and roofing issues.
By taking a proactive approach you can prevent the small issues from spiralling into costly disasters. Roof inspections are a key aspect of preventative maintenance because a professional roofer can identify and repair small roofing issues now to ensure you avoid major failures in the future.
Taking a Proactive Approach to Protecting Your Client’s Investment
As a property manager, your client expects you to protect their asset and ideally, increase its value by making key decisions on their behalf. While regular inspections cost money now, by taking a preventative approach, you are preserving property value, extending roof life, and maintaining insurance premiums. Failure to upkeep the structure can have serious consequences with existing tenants and can damage the relationship between you and your client and you and the tenants.
By taking the preventative maintenance course of action rather than forking out for emergency repairs every time they crop up, you potentially reduce your costs by up to 18% and increase your return on investment by as much as 400%. Preventative maintenance extends asset life, minimises downtime and disruption, and reduces the likelihood of costly repairs.
Legal Compliance and Obligations
Property owners and managers have varying obligations to their tenants and to ensure legal compliance. Building safety and maintenance are regulated by a combination of the Workplace Health and Safety ACT (WSHA), the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and metal roofing – AS 1562:2018.
As the property manager, it’s your job to protect the owner against liability. The owner has a legal duty to maintain the building’s safe condition to prevent damage or injuries to tenants and third-party visitors. Failure to do so can result in insurance claim denials, increased premiums, and policy exclusions. Beyond that, non-compliance can result in fines and penalties, reputational damage, and legal action. In addition to lawsuits from tenants, you could face legal action from insurers, regulatory bodies, and third parties like visitors, guests, or contractors.
Risk Management and Insurance Benefits
By carrying out regular inspections, you could not only improve your insurance claim success rates, but you could potentially reduce your insurance premiums as well. It gives you something to take to the insurance company to prove you take preventative action to avoid the need for claims.
Building inspections can form part of an all-encompassing risk management plan. Risk management plans revolve around identifying potential hazards to mitigate the risks they present. They can uncover issues that may have otherwise been overlooked, allowing you to put proactive measures in place. Inspections can ensure a building’s structural integrity, review fire safety, and plumbing and electrical systems, pick up environmental issues, or identify safety hazards.
Tenant Satisfaction
A well-maintained building keeps the roof in tip-top shape to prevent leaks and when you prevent leaks you reduce the risk of indoor damage and ultimately, limit disruption to business operations or tenants’ lives.
The happier your tenants are, the more likely they are to continue their tenancy agreement and sign a new one when the time comes. The more you retain those leases, the more satisfied your client will be with the work you do. Sometimes spending a little money now can save a lot further down the line and that’s what regular roof inspections deliver.
Professional Roof Inspections: What Does It Include?
So, what does a typical roof inspection look like? Call in Sydney roofing specialists and they will look for signs of wear and tear, check the gutters, drainage, and flashing, and look for potential hazards. The commercial roofer will recommend maintenance if it’s required and deal with a gutter leaking, fix roof leaks, or address downpipe issues which prevent major issues later.
How often should you have a roof inspection? You should call in a roofer at least once a year to look over your roof. However, it’s a good idea to call a professional in after a major storm.
Final Thoughts
The best way to keep your client happy is to protect their asset and the most efficient way to get that job done is with routine inspections. It’s the strategic move of smart property managers who want to build loyal tenant relationships and ensure long-term client satisfaction.
If you need a roof inspection and you’re looking for a professional to get the job done, contact Ivy Roofing Specialists in Sydney to schedule a consultation or request an inspection quote. We can even set up scheduled inspections and maintenance to ensure your client’s roof stays in tip-top shape.
