Factors Affecting Maintenance Cost of Public Buildings: The Case of Tanzania Buildings Agency and National Housing Corporation

Abstract

Despite efforts to raise the performance of public buildings, little emphasis is placed on maintenance works and related factors affecting maintenance costs of public buildings, which are often high. This study seeks to examine factors and areas affecting maintenance costs of public buildings in Tanzania. This was a cross-sectional study involving a total of 387 tenants and 29 employees (experts) from public buildings agencies. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using Stata version 16 – descriptive statistics feature reporting absolute numbers and frequencies. Findings: Findings from tenants and experts, the identification and ranking of factors affecting maintenance costs were similar whereby four out of the six most dominant factors were the same and these were; building age, poor quality control, building material used, and inadequate financial resources. However, findings from areas contributing to high maintenance cost showed wide variation between tenants and experts with only plumbing and engineering installation which was common: Findings of this study provide an insight on identification and ranking of factors affecting maintenance cost and providing a framework which will inform stakeholders on minimizing maintenance cost. Further research is needed to assess actual costs of various maintenance works conducted in public buildings including analysis of timeliness and completeness of maintenance works.