American Research Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Volume 4, Issue 1, 1- 11 Research Artcle | Open Access ISSN (Online)- 2577-5944 www.arjonline.org AN ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS IN GABORONE (CBD) Johnson Kampamba 1 , Simon Kachepa 2 , Milidzani Majingo 3 and Kathata Pearl Babitseng 4 1234 University of Botswana Faculty of E ngineering and Technology, Department of Architecture and Planning * Kampambaj@mopipi.ub.bw Introducton and background of the study High rise buildings represent huge capital outlay for such investments. These building have many building facilities and complex systems (Heating and ventilation system, power system, drainage system) that require extensive maintenance (Au-Yong, Ali, Chua, & Che-Ani, 2018). It is therefore important that the value and quality of these buildings be maintained throughout the buildings life span. This can only be achieved through efective and proactive property maintenance (Miles & Syagga, 1987; Zavadskas, Bejder, & Kaklauskas, 1998; Olanrewaju, 2009; Yahya & Ibrahim, 2012). Property maintenance is an efective activity that ensures that deterioration, wear and tear of buildings is reduced (Chua, Zubbir, Ali, & Au-Yong, 2018). According to Lateef, Khamidi, & Idrus (2011) property maintenance encompasses all technical and administrative activities aimed at restoring building elements to their original working condition. Nawi, Salleh, & Anuar (2014) explain maintenance as an aspect of property management which ensures that all components of a building are in perfect structural, functional and aesthetic condition. It is crucial for building maintenance activities to be undertaken in order to ensure that building elements are operating at an optimum level (Au-Yong, Ali, Chua, & Che- Ani, 2018). This therefore enable users or occupants of the building to perform to their maximum potential, without any hindrances due to defects in the building facilities. Most importantly, property maintenance enhances the value and quality of the building thus elongating the overall buildings 1 Abstract Purpose: To assess the practice of property maintenance in high rise properties in the Gaborone central business district (CBD). The objectives of this study were to; identify the maintenance practices adopted in high rise building in the CBD area, assess the challenges faced by maintenance personnel in carrying out maintenance works and fnd out the most preferred maintenance practices in high rise buildings. Methodology: Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. Primary data was collected through the use of questionnaires which were administered to fve facility managers of high rise buildings (Masa centre, iTowers, Zambezi Tower, Square Tower, and Prime Plaza) and 100 occupants of the buildings. Secondary data was collected from journal articles, published books, conference papers, periodicals and dissertations. Microsoft Excel was used to analyse and present the data. Findings: Based on literature reviewed, it was revealed that property maintenance is very important in high rise properties and that there are two types of maintenance which are; planned and unplanned maintenance or predictive and emergency maintenance. It was also found out that planned preventative maintenance is the most preferred maintenance activity. Maintenance personnel are often faced with institutional, fnancial, personnel and equipment and construction and user challenges. Research limitations/implications: The implication for this study is that if proper maintenance activities are not implemented by maintenance personnel, building occupants will not be satisfed with their occupancy in the building and its life span will ultimately reduce. Recommendations: Training maintenance personnel should be done in order to ensure that professionals are up-to-date with new technical methods of carrying out maintenance activities efectively. Property owners should be actively involved in construction of high rise buildings so that important information can be documented to eliminate the issue of facilities managers managing properties which they do not have full details about. Value of the Study: This study has provided a context in which maintenance procedures in high rise buildings can be efectively carried out to improve overall building rating and performance. Keywords: Maintenance management, maintenance, high rise properties, planned, corrective, emergency and predictive maintenance.