Five Myths About Maintenance (And Why They’re Wrong)

Maintenance isn’t always the most glamorous topic, but it’s one that affects every organisation. From housing providers to schools and healthcare facilities, the way you manage your assets can make the difference between smooth operations and disruptive, costly emergencies.

Yet, there are still plenty of myths about maintenance that get in the way of good decision-making. Let’s take a look at five of the most common ones we hear, and why they simply don’t stack up.

Myth 1: Planned maintenance is too expensive

It’s tempting to see planned preventative maintenance (PPM) as an optional extra. In reality, PPM protects against breakdowns, extends the lifespan of assets, and avoids the spiralling costs of emergency call-outs. When you factor in downtime, disruption, and urgent response fees, reactive-only maintenance nearly always costs more in the long run.

Our approach: we deliver end-to-end servicing programmes that fit around client budgets and operational demands, so maintenance strengthens rather than drains resources.

Myth 2: All contractors are the same - cheapest wins

Choosing on price alone might seem smart at tender stage, but the lowest cost rarely equals best value. Poor workmanship, missed compliance checks, or corner-cutting can create far bigger risks and costs down the line. The real measure of a contractor is not what they save you upfront, but what they protect you from over the life of your assets.

Our approach: we combine technical accreditations with long-term client partnerships, focusing on prevention, compliance, and safety above quick wins.

Myth 3: Reactive call-outs are faster and easier than contracts

Reactive call-outs feel immediate, but they’re unpredictable. You don’t know when they’ll come, how long disruption will last, or what the final bill will be. A structured maintenance contract, by contrast, gives you budget certainty, agreed service levels, and the reassurance that small issues will be spotted before they turn into emergencies.

Our approach: we balance 24/7 call-out cover with preventative scheduling, giving clients both immediate response and long-term assurance.

Myth 4: Damp and mould are only cosmetic issues

Peeling paint or discoloured walls might look like minor problems, but damp and mould are now recognised as critical compliance and health concerns. Under Awaab’s Law and updated guidance, landlords and providers are required to act quickly. Tackling these issues is not just about appearances, it’s about safeguarding health, legal compliance, and reputation.

Our approach: we integrate damp and mould remedials with ventilation and compliance checks, ensuring root causes are treated, not just the surface.

Myth 5: Sustainability is separate from maintenance

Sustainability isn’t only about new builds and green technologies. Maintenance plays a direct role in reducing carbon and waste: efficient servicing lowers energy bills, timely replacements reduce landfill, and extending asset life avoids unnecessary consumption. Good maintenance is sustainability in action.

Our approach: through our Advanced Energies division, we link servicing with renewable solutions, from ASHPs to solar PV, helping clients meet compliance, cost, and carbon goals together.

Final Thoughts

These myths persist because maintenance is often invisible when it’s working well. But when things go wrong, the consequences are hard to ignore.

At Advanced Maintenance UK Ltd, our role is to help clients across housing, healthcare, education, and commercial sectors cut through the myths and focus on what really matters: safe, compliant, and cost-effective buildings that work for the people inside them.