Reactive maintenance involves providing repair work when property assets and facilities are damaged and returning them back to their original and full working condition. In a social housing setting, this could include the emergency repair of a central heating system, water leaks or a damaged window.

Planned property maintenance, sometimes referred to as Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), is scheduled and documented maintenance. An asset does not have to be faulty for it to be included in a planned maintenance strategy, but often involves assets that have become worn-out or outdated and could cause future, non-immediate problems. Planned maintenance works to prevent future asset failure and is considered a more efficient way of managing property assets in the long term by reducing maintenance costs. It also helps to increase safety management and prevent residents from experiencing future asset problems that may require emergency repairs. Planned maintenance works can include roofing repairs, kitchens appliance maintenance, drainpipe replacement or landscaping improvements.

Cyclical maintenance is regular, routine property maintenance. Maintenance work is generally carried out on an annual cycle or every few years. Just like planned maintenance, it is considered a far more cost-effective approach to maintaining social housing properties and helps to ensure that residents’ homes and shared areas remain comfortable, attractive and in full working condition. Cyclical maintenance activities can include internal and external painting and decorating, maintenance of fence boundaries and pathways as well as drainage checks.