Business Details
20 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Construction and Maintenance Services in Colchester
Established in 2006, Rapid Response Maintenance has built a reputation as a trusted provider of comprehensive maintenance and construction services to both public and private sectors. Founded by industry veterans Michael Osborne and Paul Lebrett, our company leverages decades of combined expertise in property management and trades to deliver reliable solutions. We specialise in reactive emergency repairs with an average 3-hour response time, cyclical maintenance to extend asset longevity, and void property transformations completed faster than industry standards. Our commitment to innovation is demonstrated through purpose-built facilities and a 90% first-time fix rate achieved through skilled technicians and rigorous quality control.With a client base spanning local authorities, housing associations, and private portfolio managers, we maintain strict adherence to trade standards while prioritising clear communication and customer satisfaction. Our core values of integrity, reliability, and efficiency underpin every project, supported by continuous staff training and apprenticeship programs ensuring future industry readiness.
Services
Heating
Plumbing
Roofing
Electrical
General Building
Void Works
Landscaping
Groundworks
Carpentry
Drainage
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We guarantee a 3-hour response time for emergency repair requests.
- Our technicians achieve a 90% first-time fix rate across all service categories.
- We operate purpose-built facilities supporting efficient parts storage and logistics.
- Our team includes certified professionals with decades of combined industry experience.
- We maintain continuous staff training programs including apprenticeships and technical certifications.
What people say
Fantastic service
Very competent
Thorough job
Polite and professional
Excellent communication
Services
Reactive Emergency Repairs
Our rapid response team addresses urgent property issues with an average 3-hour arrival time. Utilising fully equipped vehicles and trained technicians, we resolve heating failures, water leaks, and structural emergencies while maintaining clear communication throughout the process. This service supports landlords and property managers requiring immediate intervention to maintain habitable conditions.
Cyclical Maintenance
Preventative maintenance programs extend asset lifespan through regular inspections and servicing. Our technicians follow structured schedules for HVAC systems, roofing integrity checks, and structural assessments to prevent unexpected failures. This proactive approach reduces long-term costs while maintaining property value and tenant satisfaction across housing portfolios.
Void Property Transformations
Empty properties are returned to lettable condition faster through our streamlined void works process. Our teams complete decorating, flooring, and essential repairs simultaneously using coordinated tradespeople. This service minimises void periods for landlords while ensuring properties meet current safety and habitability standards before new tenancies commence.
Planned Maintenance and Upgrades
Long-term improvement projects are managed from initial assessment to final installation. Our specialists handle bathroom and kitchen replacements, drainage system upgrades, and structural modifications while maintaining compliance with building regulations. This service allows property owners to implement modernisation programs without disrupting existing tenancies.
Projects and Installations
End-to-end project management covers complete property renovations and new installations. From initial design consultation to final quality checks, our team coordinates multiple trades to deliver structural changes, system upgrades, and full property transformations. This service ensures cohesive results while maintaining strict budget and timeline controls for large-scale developments.
People
Michael Osborne
Managing Director
Co-founder with construction industry experience since the 1980s. Oversees strategic direction while maintaining hands-on involvement in operational standards and client relationships.
Paul Lebrett
IT Manager
Co-founder transitioning from electrical apprenticeship to property services leadership. Manages technology integration and systems development to enhance service delivery efficiency.
Joel Shurvinton
Executive Director
Senior management team member responsible for strategic growth initiatives and major client account management. Brings extensive property sector experience to operational leadership.
Chris Born
Operations Director
Oversees daily service delivery operations ensuring adherence to quality standards and response time commitments across all maintenance and construction activities.
Darren White
H&S - Contracts Manager
Health and safety compliance specialist managing risk assessments and regulatory adherence for all field operations and construction projects.
Questions
What areas do you cover for maintenance services?
We primarily serve Colchester and surrounding areas within Essex, with capacity to support larger projects across the East of England region.
How quickly can you respond to emergency repair requests?
Our average response time for emergency jobs is 3 hours, with technicians available during standard working hours for urgent property issues.
What types of properties do you work on?
We service both residential and commercial properties for local authorities, housing associations, and private landlords across public and private sectors.
Do you provide guarantees for completed work?
All our maintenance and construction work meets required trade standards, with a 90% first-time fix rate demonstrating our commitment to quality.
Can you handle large-scale property projects?
Yes, our team manages end-to-end projects from initial assessment to completion, including void refurbishments and comprehensive property upgrades.
How do you ensure service quality across your team?
Continuous staff training programs, including apprenticeships and technical certifications, ensure our technicians maintain the highest industry standards.
Reviews (4)
Kate Hawes
Jun 10, 2020
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
Rapid Response provide an excellent service, all work is done to a very high standard and reasonable prices. Hannah, Lydia and Carla always go the extra mile to help. Would highly recommend.
Rapid Response provide an excellent service, all work is done to a very high standard and reasonable prices. Hannah, Lydia and Carla always go the extra mile to help. Would highly recommend.
Patricia Dair
Nov 03, 2019
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Rapid Response were the company who carried out all the making good after the whole of the ground floor of the house was flooded. This had been an ongoing insurance claim and the whole process of dealing with the insurance side was stressful, time consuming, lengthy and traumatic. As soon as Rapid Response started this last part of this process, ie. the reinstatement and making good, painting, decorating, plumbing, and a host of other works, everything was completed not only quickly, but also to a very high quality of work. As a company they pulled out all the stops and went out of their way to
Lydia Eden
Jun 02, 2017
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Highly recommend rapid response maintenance, There customer service is excellent, i reported to my insurance company a boiler fault, and rapid response came out the same day and fixed my boiler, They are extremely helpful and go out of there way to help you. The engineer who attended my property was very polite and explained every step of what he was doing. I have recommended this company to all of my friends and family.
Lucy Francis
May 04, 2017
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Fantastic service ! I had some bathroom works done at my house. So happy with the finished bathroom. I had a new bath fitted along with tiling to the walls and couldn't be more happier. Couldn't fault this company ! Office staff are very helpful and engineers are were very professional when they arrived. They also tided up after works carried out which was a bonus ! Highly recommend!
