Assessing the efficiency of maintenance in practices for common areas in condominium properties in Nakawa Division.

Abstract

This study assessed the efficiency of condominium common area maintenance practices in Nakawa Division, Kampala. The research aimed to investigate existing maintenance practices, identify key challenges facing condominium corporations, and propose efficient strategies towards sustainable maintenance. A mixed-methods study was employed, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative questionnaires, and 103 respondents were used to gather data. Outcomes indicated maintenance practice was inclined to be systemic, with 72.9% of the residents reporting consistent stairway, garden, and parking lot attention. Manager-to-resident communication was frequent, with 92% of residents experiencing frequent reporting. A gap was observed between technical and reactive efficiency and resident satisfaction, the result of inadequate incorporation of feedback and a primarily reactive maintenance style. Financial limitations came out as the most pertinent issue, with delayed resident payments, high operating expenses, and inadequate longterm planning limiting efficiency. Resident carelessness and enforcement laxity of maintenance regulations also inhibited effectiveness. Managers and residents were still unanimous that maintenance was crucial in preserving property values. Recommendations were also made like the development of standardized, participatory maintenance policies, shifting towards preventive and long-term planning, and the strengthening of communication and feedback mechanisms. Other proposals involved using digital platforms for maintenance tracking, strengthening fee collection mechanisms, capacity building of staff, and the strengthening of resident participation through committees and information campaigns. The study concluded that although the maintenance structures were in place on the ground, structural and relational inefficiencies would be significant to address to maximize the sustainability and performance of condominium property management in urban settings such as Nakawa Division.