Homerton Housing Ltd is looking for a reliable, practical and experienced Multi-Skilled Caretaker / Maintenance Operative to help maintain our supported-accommodation properties across Birmingham.
The successful candidate will visit properties on a planned rota, complete minor repairs and preventative maintenance, identify defects and ensure that bedrooms, communal areas and external spaces are safe, presentable and ready for inspections.
This is a hands-on position for someone who can complete good-quality general maintenance across several properties, manage their daily workload and recognise when a repair must be referred to a qualified specialist contractor.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Visit supported-accommodation properties across Birmingham according to an agreed inspection and maintenance rota.
- Complete routine property-condition checks and identify repairs, hazards, damage, deterioration and presentation issues.
- Prepare properties, communal areas and vacant bedrooms for registered-provider, local-authority, fire-safety and other compliance inspections.
- Adjust and repair ordinary internal and external doors, handles, hinges, locks, latches and door closers within your level of competence.
- Identify fire-door defects and report or escalate work requiring a trained or specialist fire-door contractor.
- Complete minor plumbing repairs, including leaking taps, loose fittings, blocked sinks, toilet faults, waste-pipe issues, resealing and other straightforward leaks.
- Respond promptly to water leaks, safely isolate supplies where possible and arrange specialist assistance where required.
- Carry out minor electrical maintenance only where competent and authorised, such as replacing lamps, plugs or fuses and reporting damaged accessories.
- Make electrical faults safe where possible and refer fixed-wiring, consumer-unit, certification and other specialist electrical work to an approved electrician.
- Complete general painting and decorating, including touch-ups, filling small holes, preparing surfaces and repainting walls, woodwork and communal areas.
- Carry out minor carpentry, furniture assembly, fixture repairs, shelving, curtain rails, sealant work and other general handyman tasks.
- Visually check that smoke and heat alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors and escape routes remain unobstructed and undamaged, reporting defects immediately.
- Ensure entrances, communal areas, gardens and external areas remain reasonably clean, safe, secure and presentable.
- Prepare vacant rooms for new residents, including minor repairs, decoration, furniture checks and confirming that rooms are ready for occupation.
- Take clear before-and-after photographs and maintain accurate records of inspections, repairs, materials used and outstanding work.
- Update the maintenance tracker and report completed, outstanding and urgent actions to management.
- Manage property keys securely and complete vehicle, tool and material checks.
- Liaise professionally with residents, housing staff, managers and approved contractors while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
- Provide contractors with access, explain reported defects and check completed work before reporting back to management.
- Follow health-and-safety procedures, use appropriate personal protective equipment and assess risks before beginning work.
- Keep the company vehicle, tools and working areas clean, safe and secure.
- Participate in a paid emergency on-call rota and respond to urgent problems such as significant leaks, loss of essential services, access problems and immediate property hazards.
- Take safe temporary action during emergencies and contact the appropriate qualified contractor or emergency service when work falls outside your competence.
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Previous experience as a caretaker, handyman, maintenance operative, multi-trader or in a similar property-maintenance role.
- Practical experience completing minor plumbing, door, lock, carpentry, painting, decorating and general repair work.
- Ability to diagnose straightforward maintenance problems and complete safe, durable and presentable repairs.
- Understanding of personal competence limits and when work must be referred to a qualified electrician, gas engineer, plumber, fire-door specialist or other approved contractor.
- Good awareness of health and safety, safe tool use and personal protective equipment.
- Ability to plan and complete work across multiple properties without close daily supervision.
- Good attention to detail and the ability to prepare properties to a high inspection-ready standard.
- Ability to maintain clear written and photographic records using a smartphone, email and basic digital systems.
- Professional and respectful communication when working inside occupied supported-accommodation properties.
- Reliability and willingness to participate in an agreed emergency on-call rota.
- Full UK driving licence and confidence driving a company vehicle throughout Birmingham.
- Right to work in the United Kingdom.
DESIRABLE
- Experience maintaining supported housing, HMOs, hostels, residential accommodation or a multi-property portfolio.
- Relevant trade qualifications or practical maintenance training.
- Fire-door awareness, asbestos awareness, manual-handling, working-at-height or health-and-safety training.
- Experience preparing properties for compliance, local-authority or registered-provider inspections.
- A current DBS certificate or registration with the DBS Update Service.
The successful applicant will be subject to satisfactory references, identity, right-to-work and driving-licence checks and an appropriate DBS check.
Pay: From £15.00 per hour
Expected hours: 35.0 – 45.0 per week
Work Location: In person
