Caretaker

Caretakers look after buildings like schools, community centres and apartment blocks, keeping them secure, clean and well-maintained.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a caretaker, you could:

  • carry out day-to-day maintenance checks and minor repairs
  • book outside contractors for major repair work
  • make sure heating, lighting and alarm systems are working properly
  • open up buildings in the morning and lock them at the end of the day
  • keep communal areas clean and gardens neat and tidy
  • order fuel, cleaning materials, new equipment and furniture as required
  • take bookings if rooms in the building are available for hire
  • prepare rooms for meetings or community use
  • supervise other cleaning staff

Working environment

You could work in the community, at a school, at a fitness centre or at a client's business.

Your working environment may be physically active.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a supervisor or move into facility services or cleaning management.

You could also work in related areas, for example commercial property maintenance or security, or as an accommodation warden with a housing association.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to use your initiative
  • customer service skills
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • a desire to help people
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

Most relevant

  • Design and Technology - Caretakers carry out day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs on buildings, which requires practical skills with tools and materials. Understanding how things are built and how to fix them – from door hinges to shelving – is central to the job.
  • Mathematics - Caretakers use maths when ordering supplies, measuring spaces for furniture or equipment, and managing budgets for materials and fuel. They also need to read technical plans and calculate quantities when carrying out repairs or preparing rooms.

Also relevant

  • Physics - Caretakers need a basic understanding of how heating, lighting, and alarm systems work so they can check they're functioning properly and spot faults. Knowledge of electricity, heat transfer, and simple mechanics helps with everyday troubleshooting.
  • Business - Caretakers often manage bookings for rooms, order supplies and equipment, and supervise cleaning staff. Understanding how to organise resources, manage budgets, and coordinate people is a regular part of the role.
  • Engineering - Caretakers maintain building systems including heating, plumbing, and electrical controls. A basic understanding of how these engineered systems work helps them carry out checks, identify problems, and communicate effectively with specialist contractors.
  • Electronics - Caretakers are responsible for making sure alarm systems, security controls, and automated lighting are working properly. A basic understanding of electronic systems helps them identify faults and decide when to call in a specialist.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

You could apply to do a Property Maintenance Operative, or Facilities Services Operative, Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

More Information

You can apply directly for caretaker job vacancies. You'll need good practical skills, and some employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths.

Experience in building maintenance, cleaning, plumbing, carpentry, electrics or gardening will be useful.

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