The purpose of this paper is to espouse Triggernomic Repair Process Analysis (TRAP), a nonlinear theoretical methodology employed to stress the importance of an informed approach to the diagnosis and prognosis of structural building defects at the owner‐occupier level.
TRAP analysis focuses on the diagnosis limitations relating to house repair and maintenance among owner‐occupiers in the UK, based on a stratified random survey of owner‐occupiers' maintenance decisions.
It is concluded that lack of technical skills‐knowledge awareness is one of the main deterrents to efficient defect diagnosis. The failing on defect diagnosis is broadly defined as resulting from Chronic Deficiency of Defects Diagnosis (CD3). CD3 is furthermore conceptualised as a theoretical dichotomy construct which persists due to Chronic Diagnosis Failure (CDF) and Chronic Misapplication of Maintenance Remedies (CMMR).
The constructs identified help to explain why owner‐occupier housing disrepair remains high and a source of concern among practitioners in the UK. A pro‐maintenance housing regeneration agenda is imminent in order to promote technical skill‐knowledge awareness and the effectiveness of the maintenance decision making among owner‐occupiers.
