Far from the rather outdated image of the concierge as a woman sitting alone in her little room, the concierge has an important role in a property with multiple co-owners. What exactly is the role of a concierge? What do they have to do? OP takes a wide-ranging look at this role, which is often misunderstood but is nevertheless essential to ensure the well-being of every occupant.
What the concierge does
- Maintaining the co-owners’ property
The concierge is first of all the person responsible for maintaining the common areas. They ensure that the exterior of the building and internal areas such as the entrance hall or staircases are cleaned.
On the outside, they are the expert with the hedge trimmer and the lawn mower, as well as looking after the flower beds. If it snows, they clear the entrance and spread salt to keep the area safe. In addition to cleaning, they know how best to change the light bulbs in the stairwell or to repair the door handle of the bicycle room.
You don’t have to worry about the household waste collection day, because they take care of it.
In the end, the concierge does tend to work behind the scenes, so people are not aware of everything they have done unless something goes wrong and they are not there.
The concierge has a very important role in communicating about events relating to the co-owners’ property.
In some cases they act as a mediator in conflicts between neighbours. For example, they might have a word with your neighbour on the 3rd floor to tell her that she is not allowed to leave her pushchair in the entrance lobby. She will be more willing to be told about this by the concierge than by one of her neighbours.
The concierge also acts as an intermediary between the occupants and the property manager.
They communicate requests and complaints made during the year (except major decisions taken by the general meeting).
A concierge is accessible and listens to the occupants of a building.
When people are away, the concierge may collect their mail or perhaps even water their plants.
You will be so glad they took delivery of that parcel you have been waiting for.
The concierge will often be the kind person who helps an older person to bring their shopping upstairs, as well as being genuinely interested in asking how she is doing.
The recent pandemic has shown us that we all need to show solidarity for mutual support.
What are the qualities of a concierge ?
As we have already made clear, a concierge must be a versatile, approachable person. It is quite normal for them to have to work late in the evening, at the weekends or on public holidays. Their ability to get on with people will often be tested, because tempers can easily become frayed. The concierge must be able to take a flexible approach to every situation to alleviate any tensions between the residents. This also means showing a degree of diplomacy.
For all these reasons, it is important not to simply walk past the concierge and ignore them. A property whose co-owners make efforts to get on well is a place where people feel comfortable. OP cares about this very much.
Are you looking for a property manager for your building? Don’t hesitate to contact us.