COVID- 19

We are presently carefully considering which maintenance items we will attend in person, in light of the present Corona virus pandemic. We ask that you still get in touch with all maintenance concerns or queries, especially if it is an emergency, in the usual way.

We still intend to send contractors where required, but we are taking care to only send them when necessary, for the protection of our tenants as well as our tradespeople. It may be that we discuss more items over the phone/or email to see if they can be resolved before we send someone to the property. We want to stress that we still want you to report any issues to us as usual.

We are sending the email below to all of our tenants as a pre-emptive measure, in case a visit by a Surveyor or tradesperson is required in future. Can you please look at the list and come back to us if you have any questions.

We will continue to monitor the situation and we will update the measures below as required.

Below is a list of measures that we will be taking in the circumstances that a visit to a property is required:

• Can you confirm whether or not anyone in the flat has symptoms which may be corona virus?
• We are asking tradespersons not to visit if they are displaying symptoms which may be corona virus. As you are no doubt aware, as we are, the absence of symptoms is no guarantee that they any person is not carrying the virus.
• We are asking that whilst the tradesperson is in the flat that occupants stay in other rooms with the doors shut.
• When the tradesperson arrives at the flat they will buzz the intercom but after that they will need no contact with the occupant as they will let themselves in to the flat with a key if the flat entrance door is locked.
• When they arrive they will wash their hands in the shower room or WC. We are asking that tenants leave a clear route (open doors) to the wash hand basin. We are also asking tradespersons to wash their hands before they leave the flat. We have asked them to provide their own hand drying towels.
• We are asking that tenants and tradespersons maintain 2m spatial separation at all times.
• We are asking tradespersons to wear masks and protective gloves and also that they clean down their working area with antibacterial products (wipes) but these items have become scarce so it is highly likely that the tradesperson will not have these items/protection when they arrive.

Please see the current Government Guidance for Landlords and Tenants: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/876500/Consolidated_Landlord_and_Tenant_Guidance_COVID_and_the_PRS_v4.2.pdf

Regards,

Erica Palfreyman