What does a good site visit look like?
Image: Kevin Haddow, Senior Development Inspector at a managed development in Edinburgh
Read how our property team keep communal areas safe, well maintained and compliant across managed developments in Scotland.
When you live in a managed development, the small things matter; clean stairs, safe communal areas, and repairs dealt with before they turn into bigger (and more expensive) jobs. That’s why we put a real focus on regular, in-person site visits.
Our property team visit every development we manage at least seven times a year. That number of in-person visits is unusual in the industry, but we’ve found it’s one of the best ways to spot issues early, keep an eye on contractor standards, and plan proactive maintenance.
We spoke to Kevin Haddow, Senior Development Inspector, about what a good site visit looks like, what his team check, how visit reports are shared with homeowners, and how this supports well-run managed developments across Scotland.
What does a typical site visit involve and how are your findings communicated to homeowners?
During the site visit, we check the communal stairs, external building fabric, gutters and downpipes, roof structure, garden maintenance, cleaning standards, and any other areas specific to the development. At Charles White, we utilise an Inspection App to create a report. This report is then uploaded to the client portal and is available to all clients.
How often are developments visited and what determines the visit schedule?
The number of site visits carried out at a development is outlined in the written statement of services and generally this is at least 7 per annum for most developments.
What types of communal areas are you responsible for monitoring?
We monitor communal stairs, grounds, building fabric, plantrooms (if applicable), bike stores, communal electricity meters, car parks etc.
How do regular site visits help prevent small maintenance issues from becoming major repairs?
Regular site visits help prevent small maintenance issues from becoming major repairs by enabling early detection of problems before they escalate, this significantly reduces repair costs and prevents safety hazards. At Charles White, we take a proactive, planned approach to maintenance rather than simply reacting when things break. For example, if damage to roof slates is not dealt with in a timely way, this may cause excessive leaks that can cause damage to the roof structure and internal areas resulting in high repair costs which may necessitate a claim on the building insurance which can increase the client’s annual premium.
What are the most common issues you spot during visits that residents might not notice?
Issues with developments can vary but the main issues we see are damage to the building fabric which includes internal and external paintwork, damage to downpipes and gutters which can lead to water ingress.
Can you share an example of an issue that was resolved early thanks to proactive site visits?
Last year, we identified issues with external communal timbers in one of our Edinburgh developments and identified the need for remediation. Following a tender process, contractors have carried out repair and repainting works to soffits, facias, and windows before excessive damage that would require replacement of all timbers. This has saved the homeowners considerable sums and extended the lifespan of these areas for a further 10-15 years.
Regular, in-person site visits make a real difference to how a development looks and feels day to day and they help us deal with issues early, before they become bigger repairs. If you’d like to find out more about how our site visits work, or what our visit schedule looks like for your development, please get in touch with the team.
About Charles White Limited
Based in Edinburgh and working across Scotland, Charles White Limited is one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected property management companies. We have been working in property across Scotland since 1840 and are a well-known, established name in residential property management. We offer an award-winning service built on experience, transparency and full compliance with Scottish regulations. From everyday tasks such as grounds maintenance to the full management of complex residential developments, we take a proactive, people-focused approach. We work hard to ensure our clients always feel informed through regular, clear communication and our commitment to transparent financial management.