CONDO ARCHIVES

The Superintendent – Live-in or Live-out?

January 2025

The role of a superintendent is to supervise and maintain common areas of the building.  Their tasks encompass daily maintenance and minor repair work, and they are the go-to person when problems arise.  Depending on their skillset, this individual may be capable of working with mechanical systems, and minor plumbing or electrical work.  Some cleaning tasks may be part of the job description.  The are pros and cons to having a live-in superintendent.

A live-in superintendent is provided with accommodation.  They are more easily accessible after hours or when an emergency arises.  A live-out superintendent can be employed by the building or work for an outside company.  Either method allows any superintendent accommodation to be sold.  It can be converted for another use or retained for the future.

Peace of mind is a consideration.  Having someone who lives in the building makes them more available when a situation arises.  Problems can be fixed more quickly by a superintendent who knows the ins and outs of the building or how to repair specific equipment.  Any decision to bring in an outside contractor occurs more quickly.

Outside janitorial services can appear more expensive than having a superintendent on payroll with salary partially offset by free accommodation which reduces insurance coverage, payroll taxes and profit for the service provider.