Building maintenance surveys of historic buildings should be carried out by experienced professionals with specialist knowledge of traditional building construction and materials, and their expected lifespan. An ability to judge when to repair, rather than replace, is essential. Though maintenance works do not necessarily require listed building consent, specialist staff can advise whether approvals are required (e.g. if repairs involve changing materials or colours or otherwise altering the character of the building such as replacing windows).

Maintenance contractors also need to be highly skilled individuals, selected on the basis of previous high quality work, familiar with traditional construction, and sensitive to the value of historic fabric. They should carry out work according to the principle of 'minimum intervention', which is usually also more economicical. Maintenance works may also involve Health & Safety duties under the Construction Design & Management Regulations 2007 including, under most circumstances, the appointment of a Construction Design Management (CDM) Co-ordinator.