Introduction
Building maintenance is essential, for different reasons: The first reason for the importance of maintaining a building is because it retains the value of the investment and to ensure longevity of the components of the building. For example, a property that has missing roof tiles, a boiler that requires replacing, or windows that need to be repainted cannot retain its value as much as one where regular maintenance has been undertaken (Balchin & Rhoden1998). The second reason for maintaining a building includes the desire to continue the buildings function, maintaining a building puts it in a condition in which it continues to fulfill its function. For example, where condensation has been persistent and extensive, and no rectifying measures have been adopted, the health of the occupants may be severely affected; eventually the area of the building affected becomes a health hazard, thus no longer providing a clean, safe environment to inhabit. A reason to maintain a building is to present a good appearance, by regular decoration of walls, doors, windows, and so on, which indicates that a building is probably well maintained, as well as being a more pleasant to live (Balchin & Rhoden1998).Maintaining a building is necessary to make sure that problems and tragedies will not strike the owner, tenants and clients of the building. Maintaining a building helps to ensure that the owner will have no problems and issues with the society. There are many issues that have to be put into consideration as building maintenance is managed. The paper will put its focus on the issues and future development of the maintenance management of private residential buildings.
What kinds of buildings that require attention
Throughout the 1990s the construction industry operation has remained labor-intensive despite the labor shortage and consequently high wages. The private building sector had shown little sign of any significant technological advancement. The housing sector was such a context and the incubator for the development of advanced technology and management techniques, to be applied, adopted and adapted by the construction industry at large. There has always existed the need for continued strife for greater efficiency and raising standards (Anson, Chiang, & Raftery 2003). Housing remained one of the most coveted and expensive commodities in Hong Kong while construction itself was a complex task of converging diverse skills and techniques to produce a tempting object. Probably stemming from the then downturn in the property market, it was observed that a number of developers in the private sector have shown a heightened interest in the adoption of more efficient construction methods. With the drastic reduction in land prices, construction costs have become more significant in the equations of developers’ profits (Anson, Chiang, & Raftery 2003). As changes in the housing and construction sector continue the kinds of buildings that needs attention remains the same. The kinds of buildings that require attention includes those dilapidated and hazardous buildings. These buildings can threaten the safety of the tenants. Other buildings that require attention is those buildings that doesn’t follow building codes and safety measures. The improved construction and housing technologies can give further assistance in determining the buildings that need attention.
Stakeholders in the case
The stakeholders in the case include the lawmakers, owners, tenants and clients of the private residential building. The lawmakers are stakeholders in the case because they are that ones that will create or change laws pertaining to building maintenance. The owners are stakeholders in the case because any change needed to be done towards maintaining their buildings will require their use of finances and other resources. The tenants are stakeholders in the case because they are the ones that will be affected by any changes to the building structure. Moreover the clients are stakeholders in the case because they can provide inputs on how the building can be managed.
Current legislation
There is a fundamental problem with building and housing codes and standards. The problem revolves around the question of who defines what is minimally acceptable. Throughout the world, official standards have been set by the dominant groups in society, essentially reflecting their own standards of health and comfort. All such standards make it illegal to construct or inhabit substandard housing without regard to either the views or the resources of large segments of society unable to afford them (Angel 2000). The current legislation in Hong Kong assist in ensuring that the buildings and housing systems are free from being branded as buildings that require attention. The legislation makes sure that there are fines and punishments for buildings and housing systems that they see as something that is hazardous. The non legislative initiatives give a secondary reason for owners to ensure that their building will be safe and free from safety threats. The non legislative initiative provides reminders on how the building management can make sure that it is properly maintained.
Building management and the issues
Facilities management may be in the hands of a large structured organization that accepts contracts for integrated or specialized facility management. Building asset management must make decisions on how maintenance, repair and renewal should be carried out. This task can be executed by in-house staff, or contracted out on a one-off or permanent basis. Facilities management requires technical and management skills. It also includes leadership functions for co-coordinating an organization’s internal and external relations (Sebestyén 1998). The building and facilities management accepts comments and ideas from different sectors; they are open to ideas that will help in reducing the instances of building maintenance and unsafe building situations. The building and facilities management carefully checks for safety issues towards the building and do initial steps to solve the problem.
Measures in overseas countries
A private housing industry indeed exists and is the dominant force in the housing supply system, but it operates within, and is dependent on, governmental action at every step of the housing-provision process. The laying out and paving of streets; the supply of water; sewage disposal; utility provision; building codes; zoning restrictions; health, fire, and safety codes; standards for materials; regulation of labor as to wages, hours, conditions of work, and safety standards; mortgage insurance; the financing and regulation of financial institutions; direct research and development; the setting of industrial and materials standards; the control of imports; the provision of those public services and facilities without which most persons would not be able to remain in occupancy of housing; the regulation of tenancy, including eviction controls, requirements, or prohibitions as to relations between landlord and tenant; mortgage foreclosure laws all of these things are public activities (Vliet 1990). The legislation in the US has minor differences with the legislation in Hong Kong. Both of the legislation aims to provide assistance to the private residential building owners and their clients. Both provide safety measures that must be followed. The main difference of the legislation pertains to how the legislation is made. In the US, legislations were made by lawmakers together with some feedback from the constituents while in Hong Kong the legislations were made based from the law makers own idea of what’s best for the region.
The public’s reaction to the issues
The public tried to be vigilant and cautious towards the issues. They wanted to make sure that the establishment they visit doesn’t have safety issues. The public initiated actions that pushed lawmakers and building owners to make sure that the buildings in the region will not poorly maintained and poorly managed. The reactions of the public sparked the need for lawmakers and other people concerned to change the past practices on building management and maintenance. The reactions of the public opened the eyes of the ones in position to ensure that public safety will be the first priority of organizations and their establishments.
Key problems related to the case
The key problems related to the case include safety issues and the proper creation and implementation of laws. Safety issues and proper creation and implementation of the laws played. These problems affected the way the public reacted and the action taken by the public. These problems affected future decisions within the region.
Suggestions for improvement
Maintaining a building is necessary to make sure that problems and tragedies will not strike the owner, tenants and clients of the building. This entails the creation of stronger legislations that will make sure that private residential buildings will maintain and manage their building s well. There should also be a definite requirement for individuals that want to own a private residential building. The government can put out requirements that will ensure that the owners of private residential buildings will be responsible ones and will not violate the rights of the tenants. Lastly periodic checkups of buildings should be done to ensure that the private residential building owners will be reminded to always maintain their buildings.
References
Angel, S 2000, Housing policy matters: A global analysis,
Oxford University Press, New York.
Anson, M, Chiang, YH & Raftery, M 2003, The construction
sector in the Asian Economies, Spon Press, New York.
Balchin, P & Rhoden, M (eds.) 1998, Housing: The essential
Foundations, Routledge, London.
Groák, S 1992, The idea of building: thought and action in
the design and production of buildings, E & FN Spon,
London.
Sebestyén, G 1998, Construction: craft to industry, E and
FN Spon, London.
Vliet, WV (ed.) 1990, International Handbook of housing
policies and practices, Greenwood Press, New York.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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