Ethical Maintenance cic
FK8, Stirling
FK8, Stirling
Ethical Maintenance is a Property Factor working throughout Scotland, proud to work for communities caring for their shared amenities.
We are distinct from most Property Factors through our Community Interest Company and not-for-profit status.
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What do you love most about your job?
What I love best about the job is making people smile. The property factoring industry does not have a good reputation. Many factors give the impression that they don’t care, say they will do things and don’t, just put items on the bill without consulting the homeowners. With us everything changes. The homeowners are in charge. They decide what work is to be done, they choose the contractor from the quotes we present, they always approve expenditure before it goes on their bill. And when they realise this, they smile.
We meet with the homeowners twice a year to review how things are going and each year the homeowners get to reappoint us. That keeps us on our toes providing the service they want. As a Community Interest Company, we can’t work for a community that doesn’t want our services. It’s a great way to work knowing you’re doing what your customers want.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I started Ethical Maintenance in 2007. I used to work for one of the big property factors, but it was obvious that we weren’t providing what the homeowners wanted and we were expensive. We all knew that if we provided a good service, then homeowners were happy to pay for it. So I started Ethical Maintenance.
And so that we were different we set up as a not-for-profit and a Community Interest Company. As a not-for-profit, we only charge what the service costs, nothing extra, so the homeowners get good value. And as a Community Interest Company we are under an additional level of regulation that ensures we serve our communities.
Why should our clients choose you?
Unlike most property factors, all our work comes from homeowners choosing us. Firstly, they come to us because they get the service they want. They are in charge; they say what they want us to do for them and they say how much they will pay. There are no surprises on their bills, they’ve approved all the work beforehand. And they know, they’re never stuck with us. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll help them move to another factor. Remember, as a Community Interest Company, we can only work for those that want our services.
Secondly, homeowners come to us because they know they get good value. We always present quotes for the work and the homeowners choose which contractor does the work. For example, the most expensive item on most bills is usually the building's insurance. Most property factors take a 20-25% commission on the insurance they arrange. Ethical Maintenance doesn’t charge any commission, so we can generally save a considerable amount on the insurance.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
No, we're a property management company, so everything we do is at the homeowners' property.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
First and foremost, we follow all the government and local guidelines on working protocols – workers reporting they are fit to work and have had no symptoms in the fortnight before they visit a property, all workers use the NHS Scotland Protect Scotland app, facemasks, self-distancing, disinfecting all surfaces, travel to work etc.
Secondly, as most of our contractors are local and work on their own, then except in the most stringent restrictions, they have been able to carry on working – cleaning, gardening, property repairs etc. So we asked our homeowners if they were ok with the work continuing. Where the homeowners said “yes”, the work continued; where the homeowners said “no”, then we suspended the work. It’s important to us that our homeowners know they are in charge of what we do for them, so if they’re not comfortable with the cleaner or the gardener coming in, then they just tell us, and we sort it.
Property Management
We are property factors carrying out the full range of property maintenance work on behalf of our homeowners. This often includes property repairs, planning for major repairs, cleaning, gardening, building's insurance etc.
Importantly, and unlike other property factors, you the homeowners are in charge deciding what we will do for you and how much you will pay. We bring you quotes for the work and you decide who does the work. There are no surprises in our bills.
Arrange building's insurance
Most property factor charge 20-25% commission on the building's insurance, often earning more from this hidden commission than from their factoring fees. We don’t charge any commission, it’s all part of our factoring fee, so you get great value! We’ll bring you quotes and you choose the insurer.
Property factor switching service
As part of our Community Interest Company services, we help communities switch their property factor. We always recommend you talk to two or three property factors when switching, then choose which one will provide you with the best service. We’ll help you through the process of reading your property’s Title Deeds so you understand the process. And at the end, there is no commitment to come to Ethical Maintenance - you choose!
