Property Compliance Audits: What You Need to Know and Why They Matter
We talk a lot about compliance and auditing in maintenance when it comes to buildings, developments and investments, but it is not just about fixing issues and equipment when they break. Maintenance also needs to meet legal, safety, contractual and organisational requirements.
For landlords, housing providers and property managers, this can mean keeping track of numerous inspections, certificates, servicing requirements and remedial actions across individual properties or an entire portfolio. A structured compliance audit can help identify where risks or gaps exist and where action may be required.
To understand why this is important, it is helpful to first understand what compliance and auditing means within maintenance.
What is compliance and auditing in property maintenance?
Compliance in maintenance is about making sure buildings, machinery and physical assets are checked, serviced and kept safe according to relevant legal requirements, safety regulations and internal schedules.
Audits are a structured review process allowing companies to record and assess the physical condition of their properties and whether the organisation is meeting its legal obligations.
Ultimately, together, compliance and auditing can help move an organisation away from reactive maintenance and emergency repairs and towards a structured, preventative routine, helping organisations manage risks, protect tenants and keep their properties in good condition.
What areas can a compliance audit consider?
At Touchstone, our compliance monitoring covers various areas. These include inspections and reviews relating to key statutory and safety requirements, including gas, electrical and fire safety, asbestos management and water hygiene.
We also carry out health and safety inspections, compliance audits, assessments of property condition, and contractor and completed works audits.
Depending on the requirements of the organisation and the agreed scope of the audit, this can help answer important questions such as:
- Are required inspections, servicing and certification up to date?
- Are outstanding actions being appropriately managed and closed out?
- Are there visible property condition or maintenance issues requiring attention?
- Are completed works being delivered to the required standard?
- Are there areas that require further specialist inspection or assessment?
- Where should future maintenance and investment be prioritised?
Why are compliance audits important?
Compliance and auditing are important as they help organisations identify and manage risks before they become bigger problems.
Regular inspections and checks can identify issues that could put tenants, customers, staff or contractors at risk. For example, identifying an issue with a fire system, electrical installation or gas equipment early allows the organisation to deal with the issue before it becomes a bigger problem or causes harm.
Regular servicing and inspections also help to keep assets safe, functional and in good condition, while helping them to operate effectively for longer.
Taking a preventative approach can also help highlight smaller issues before they become expensive repairs or major failures.
Organisations have a responsibility to make sure their properties and assets are maintained to the required standards, helping them meet their legal and regulatory requirements while also protecting the people who use them.
At Touchstone, this is achieved through regular compliance monitoring, health and safety inspections, property condition assessments and audits of contractors and completed works.
This provides us with a clearer understanding of the condition of the assets and allows organisations to make informed decisions about where maintenance, investment and improvements are needed.
For organisations managing multiple properties, this information can also help establish priorities across a portfolio and support more structured maintenance and investment planning.
What happens when compliance is overlooked?
Failing to maintain compliance can have serious consequences for an organisation and the people who use its properties.
Non-compliance can result in fines, legal action and increased regulatory scrutiny, as well as creating additional costs when issues are not identified or dealt with at the right time.
It can also lead to disruption to services, damage to an organisation’s reputation and a loss of trust from tenants, customers and other stakeholders.
In more serious cases, failing to meet legal and safety requirements can result in assets or properties being taken out of use until the required work is completed.
This is why compliance should be seen as an important part of maintenance rather than an additional cost. Addressing issues early can help organisations avoid larger problems and unnecessary disruption in the future.
Why does competence matter?
Compliance and auditing require appropriate knowledge, training and experience.
The level of competence required will depend on the type of audit, inspection or assessment being undertaken. Certain specialist inspections must be carried out by suitably qualified and competent persons.
The type of asset and property being maintained will also affect the checks and standards that need to be followed.
For example, gas, electrical, fire safety and asbestos management all have specific requirements and may require specialist knowledge or qualifications.
The needs of a residential property may also be different from those of a commercial building, particularly where the property is used by vulnerable tenants or has specific requirements.
At Touchstone, understanding these requirements helps ensure that the appropriate checks, inspections and maintenance are carried out for each property and the people who use them.
How can Touchstone help?
Touchstone provides practical compliance and property auditing services to help landlords, housing providers and property managers understand the condition of their properties and identify areas requiring attention.
Our approach considers more than certification alone. Drawing on our experience in property maintenance, health and safety, refurbishment and compliance, we can consider the physical condition of the property, maintenance requirements, completed works and relevant compliance arrangements.
Following an audit, findings can be used to identify areas requiring action, establish priorities and support informed decisions about maintenance, remedial works and future investment. Where specialist assessment is required, this can also be identified as part of the process.
By taking a preventative approach to maintenance, organisations can help protect tenants, customers, staff and contractors while also keeping their properties in good condition.
Ultimately, good compliance and auditing help organisations understand the condition of their properties, manage risks effectively and make the right decisions about future maintenance and investment.
Need a clearer picture of your property’s compliance?
Whether you manage a single building or a wider property portfolio, Touchstone can work with you to develop an audit appropriate to your properties and requirements.
If you would like an independent review of your properties or want to discuss a compliance audit programme across your portfolio, contact Touchstone to discuss how we can help.