Maintenance as normal during COVID-19
Whilst we are being told to stay at home in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic, life has had to continue. Mortgages are still being approved, houses being sold, surveys completed and essential work still needs to be done. If you are an electrician who needs to fix suspect wiring, a plumber who needs to sort out a broken tap or service a boiler, or if you are a consumer who needs that new kitchen fitted sooner rather than later, then it’s understandable that you may have questions. Can essential work be done at your property?
We will look at what the current Government, local authority and Public Health England advice is and how you can continue to maintain your property with health and safety at the forefront of your decisions.
Am I permitted to continue with maintenance?
Thankfully, work is permitted to continue as usual so long as the work that is being carried out is necessary and essential. The government in England and the devolved regions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have permitted work carried out by tradespeople can continue so long as a tradesperson is well and does not exhibit coronavirus COVID-19 symptoms.
Work should be carried out within public health guidelines and where social distancing is practiced, ensuring that tradespeople maintain a two-metre distance from all household occupants and tradespeople can safely work.
Carrying out repairs or performing maintenance in people’s homes is not permitted or carried out in any household which is isolating. This is also the case where an individual has been classed as “at risk” and any work in these households should not take place unless it is an emergency and only if the tradesperson is willing to do so. Public Health England are able to provide advice to both tradespeople and households.
Work should not be carried out by anybody who has coronavirus symptoms irrespective of how mild or trivial they may appear.
What safety measures can I implement?
A tradesperson coming to your home should be aware of government guidance and the safety measures that are required so that they can work safely at your property. Guidance from Public Health England has detailed the precautions that should be taken.
Examples of this include keeping a two-metre distance from all household members and tradespeople washing their hands regularly and thoroughly for a minimum of twenty seconds. It’s also important to not touch your mouth, nose, face or eyes and if you should sneeze, try to do so into your shoulder or elbow and wash your hands, again thoroughly, as soon as you can. Devolved governments have released their own guidance with broadly the same principles.
If the tradesperson you’ve hired is a member of a trade body, then they may be following advice specific to their trade or industry. As an example of this the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council has provided their own guidelines for their members whilst they continue to work. Examples from this guidance includes:
- On the day they are due to begin a job, call ahead and talk to your customer. Ask them if they, or any other household members, are experiencing COVID symptoms, have tested positive for the virus or have needed to enter a period of self-isolation. If there are no concerns with this, check they are still comfortable for you to proceed with your work as planned.
- As much as it is likely against your nature, don’t shake hands with people when you arrive at their property and wear suitable work gloves for the duration of your visit.
- Request that household occupants remain away from any areas where you need to undertake work, it may be expedient for them to stay in a different room altogether if this is practical. It’s also a good idea to ventilate the room you’re working, with permission from your customer, by for example opening a window.
- Try to avoid collecting signatures where possible and use digital signatures if at all possible.
Increased levels of communication are essential to a common sense and practical approach. By speaking to your customer ahead of time, you can likely head potentially unsafe incidents at the pass.
Other safety tips
In addition to the advice available from Public Health England, government advice is that you should make extra efforts to extensively clean your property. This is an effective way of stopping the spread of COVID-19.
You can do this, and make your house safer for you and any visiting tradespeople, by using cleaning products on frequently touched surfaces, like handrails, remote control, door handles and tabletops. Wherever possible, you should wear washing up gloves or aprons during your cleaning as an extra preventative measure.
In the context of a visit from a tradesperson, you should consider where your visitor will be spending time whilst they are carrying out their work. It is good practice to clear areas, equipment and appliances that they are going to be touching extensively both before and after their visit.
Importance of communication
It is essential that landlords and tenants are transparent with each other in these times of ongoing uncertainty. If you believe your landlord needs to get work done, you should contact them immediately as there may be COVID inspired delays in getting a tradesperson to your property.
Likewise, a landlord must ensure that the fundamentals of being a responsible landlord continue despite the pandemic. Gas and electrical safety continue to be of paramount importance. Annual gas safety checks must take place and electrical safety standards adhered to.
By communicating openly and with swift actions, landlords and tenants can both play their part in household safety during COVID.
How White’s can help
White’s Property Maintenance Ltd is a well-established property maintenance and project management company, and we offer a COVID secure, all in one experience for all of our clients. White’s can offer assistance with all trades. If you are looking for help from a company who will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines, why not call us today to see how we can help on 0151 538 4107.