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CQC12 Jul 2026

CQC Well-led key question and property maintenance: how inspectors now assess your maintenance programme

CQC's revised inspection framework includes the quality of property maintenance planning as an indicator under the Well-led key question. Inspectors are looking for evidence of a structured, forward-looking maintenance programme not just reactive repairs.

Why this matters

This is a relatively recent shift: maintenance was previously assessed mainly under Safe. Its appearance under Well-led means that a gap in maintenance planning can now affect your overall rating, not just your environmental safety score.

What to do
  • 1Prepare a 12-month rolling planned maintenance schedule and ensure it is current and accessible during any inspection.
  • 2Document your process for prioritising repairs how do you decide what is urgent versus planned?
  • 3Brief your registered manager on how to discuss your maintenance approach with an inspector the conversation is as important as the paperwork.
Primary source
CQC Well-led Key Lines of Enquiry
View source
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