Question 1

What property maintenance services does Lucy & Phil provide?

Accepted Answer

Lucy & Phil provides property maintenance for homes, landlords, letting agents, commercial properties and managed buildings. Depending on the property and requirements, our services can include repairs, general maintenance, plumbing, electrical works, carpentry, roofing, heating, drainage, bathrooms, handyman services, property repairs and other building maintenance requirements. Where a property requires several different trades, we can coordinate the work rather than requiring the customer to find and manage multiple contractors.

Question 2

Can I use Lucy & Phil for all of my property's maintenance instead of different contractors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our integrated approach allows customers to use one property services provider for a wide range of maintenance requirements. Instead of arranging a separate contractor for every issue, you can discuss your maintenance requirements with us and we can identify the appropriate trade or trades needed. This can be particularly useful for landlords, letting agents, property managers and businesses managing multiple properties.

Question 3

How do I request a maintenance job or repair?

Accepted Answer

You can contact Lucy & Phil by phone, WhatsApp or email and provide details of the issue. Where useful, send photographs or videos showing the problem. This can help us understand the issue before attending and determine whether a site visit, inspection or specialist trade is required.

Question 4

Can Lucy & Phil deal with urgent property maintenance problems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can discuss urgent maintenance requirements and determine the appropriate response based on the nature and severity of the problem and our availability. If the issue presents an immediate danger to people or significant risk to the property, customers should take appropriate emergency action first and contact the relevant emergency or specialist service where necessary. For urgent but non-emergency property issues, contact us as soon as possible so we can assess the situation.

Question 5

How do you diagnose a property maintenance problem?

Accepted Answer

We first establish what has happened, when it started, what symptoms you have noticed and whether anything has changed recently. Photographs, videos and information from the customer can sometimes help us identify the likely cause. Where the problem cannot be accurately diagnosed remotely, an inspection may be required before the appropriate repair can be recommended. We aim to identify the underlying cause, not simply treat the visible symptom.

Question 6

How are property maintenance and repair costs calculated?

Accepted Answer

The cost depends on the type of problem, labour required, materials, access, complexity, specialist equipment and whether additional investigation is necessary. Straightforward work may be quoted based on the information available. Where the cause of a problem cannot be established until inspection or opening up an area, we will explain this before additional work is undertaken.

Question 7

What happens if you discover additional work is needed?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes an initial repair reveals a wider problem. If this happens, we will explain what we have found, why additional work is recommended and what the implications are. Where additional chargeable work is required, we aim to obtain approval before proceeding wherever reasonably possible. This helps keep maintenance costs transparent and prevents customers from being presented with unexplained additional charges.

Question 8

Can Lucy & Phil coordinate plumbing, electrical, carpentry and other trades?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Where the project requires multiple trades, we can coordinate the relevant work around the overall maintenance requirement. This is particularly useful where one issue leads to another, such as a leak requiring plumbing work followed by making good, carpentry, decorating or other property repairs.

Question 9

Do you provide planned and preventative property maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Property maintenance does not always need to start with a breakdown. For landlords, property managers and businesses, planned maintenance can help identify issues before they become larger and more expensive problems. We can discuss a maintenance approach based on the property type, age, usage, condition and known maintenance requirements.

Question 10

Can landlords and letting agents use Lucy & Phil for tenant maintenance issues?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can work with landlords, letting agents and property managers to address maintenance issues reported at managed properties. Clear information about the issue, property and access arrangements helps us determine the appropriate response and coordinate attendance efficiently. For portfolios, we can also discuss a more structured approach to recurring maintenance and property repairs.

Question 11

Can you maintain several properties for one customer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can discuss maintenance requirements across multiple residential properties, rental portfolios, commercial premises and managed buildings. Instead of treating every repair as an isolated job, we can establish the requirements for each property and develop a more consistent maintenance process.

Question 12

How do you manage health and safety during maintenance work?

Accepted Answer

Health and safety is considered as part of planning and carrying out maintenance work. Depending on the activity, this may involve appropriate risk assessments, safe working procedures, PPE, equipment controls, access arrangements, protection of occupants and property, site housekeeping and hazard management. The level of control and documentation should be appropriate to the nature and risk of the work.

Question 13

Do you provide risk assessments and method statements for maintenance work?

Accepted Answer

Where appropriate to the work or required by the client, we can provide risk assessments and method statements covering relevant activities and hazards. For commercial properties and managed sites, we can also work within the client's contractor procedures, site rules and other reasonable health and safety requirements.

Question 14

What happens if a repair requires a specialist or regulated trade?

Accepted Answer

Not every maintenance problem should be treated as a standard handyman job. Where the work requires specialist competence, certification, inspection or another specific requirement, this should be identified before the work is undertaken. We can assess the requirement and determine the appropriate trade or specialist involvement rather than carrying out work outside the appropriate competence or scope.

Question 15

What happens after the maintenance work is completed?

Accepted Answer

Once the agreed work has been completed, the relevant area is checked and the property is left in an appropriate condition. Where further action is recommended, such as preventative maintenance or a separate repair, we can explain this to the customer so they can decide how they wish to proceed.

Property Maintenance

What we do

Scope

Custom Quote & Consultancy

Free Site Survey

48h Proposal Turnaround

Guaranteed Fixed Quote

Frequently Asked Questions