Aging buildings, higher material and labor costs, as well as fluctuating energy prices, are driving up expenses across the sector.

With most residential buildings in Hungary dating back to the 1970s, many are now entering a phase where costly structural maintenance is unavoidable. This growing need for upkeep is drawing attention to how maintenance is managed, and while local adoption of modern practices remains uneven, broader European trends suggest a shift is underway.

A 2023 survey of facility managers across Europe revealed a growing emphasis on preventive maintenance and the use of mobile technologies, signaling a wider recognition that digital tools are crucial for managing long-term building upkeep and controlling costs.

“In Hungary, many property managers are still relying on manual systems that make it hard to plan or prioritize maintenance,” said Dalius Šimaitis, CEO of PortalPRO, an international proptech platform active in Hungary.

“Without real-time data and automated tracking, it’s difficult to anticipate issues before they escalate. That often leads to reactive, last-minute repairs, which are both inefficient and expensive. Digital platforms change that by giving owners visibility into what needs to be done, when, and at what cost. That level of control is crucial not only for improving service quality but also for staying financially resilient in a higher-cost environment,” he added.

Šimaitis also emphasized the growing need for long-term planning.

“We’re seeing this across Central and Eastern Europe. Preventive maintenance is no longer a luxury—it has become a standard practice. In countries like Hungary, where many buildings are nearing or exceeding their intended lifespans, digital tools can help extend the value of assets and avoid unnecessary expenses,” he added.

Kornél Bakó, head of operations at PortalPRO Hungary, points to an example of a residential building management firm in Pest County. After introducing proactive maintenance software and digital reporting, the company reduced reactive repairs by 30% and cut its annual maintenance budget by around 15%.

These changes didn’t just improve the bottom line, but also reshaped how the building was managed on a day-to-day basis. With fewer unplanned interventions, the firm could allocate resources more effectively, reduce disruptions for residents, and make maintenance planning part of a broader asset management strategy. Similar results are being seen across Europe, where property managers using automation and diagnostics platforms report faster workflows, fewer breakdowns, and up to 25% reductions in emergency repair costs.

Although digital maintenance adoption in Hungary has traditionally been slow among homeowners and condominium managers, that’s beginning to change. Platforms like PortalPRO are helping accelerate this shift by connecting property owners and tenants with a network of service providers, while enabling progress tracking in real-time.

Its AI tools support users by analyzing uploaded photos to identify potential damage, prioritizing tasks, estimating costs, and generating inspection reports. These features help streamline maintenance workflows and reduce reliance on manual processes.

“Each year a repair is deferred, the financial and operational costs increase,” Bakó added. “In this context, digital systems offer more than convenience; they also support a more sustainable model for property upkeep, allowing owners to plan ahead, address issues early, and protect both the asset’s value and residents’ experience.”