Coronavirus Advice for Tenants in Shared Accommodation

We’ve pulled together some helpful resources from Public Health England for tenants who are living in shared accommodation.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) present increased risks from the virus as occupants are required to share amenities such as bathrooms, kitchens and also the common parts with other households.

With the arrival of winter and an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is more important than ever that we all take steps to reduce the spread of infection in the community to save lives and support the NHS

Everyone has a part to play in the fight against coronavirus, so we urge you to review the information to help protect yourself and other people. We have made this information available in our Student Knowledge Bank and it will also be emailed to current student tenants.

Reducing the risk in your home

• Regularly clean the bathroom and kitchen using household products like detergents and bleach.
• Clean things people touch the most: taps, worktops, tables, backs of hard chairs, handles on doors/cupboards/kitchen appliances, light switches, handrails.
• Phones will need to be wiped and not sprayed.
• Do not shake dirty washing before putting it in the washing machine.
• Do not invite or allow social visitors to enter your home, including friends and family.
• Wash your hands and cover coughs and sneezes.
• Ventilate indoor areas.
• Click here to download a handy poster with all of the above key info.

What to do if you get symptoms

• If you have any coronavirus symptoms you should stay at home for 10 days and those you live with should isolate for 14 days from the first day you felt poorly, even if they feel well.
• You should book a test if you start to display symptoms call 119 or visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• If your test is positive, continue to self-isolate for 10 days from first symptoms and 14 days for others in your household, if your test is negative you and the others in your household do not need to isolate any longer.
• You also may be contacted and asked to self-isolate for 14 days if you have been in contact with someone outside your household who has tested positive. The rest of the household does not need to isolate unless you start to display symptoms or they have also been in contact.
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital unless it is an emergency.
• In an emergency, call 999 & inform the call handler about your potential exposure to Covid-19.

What to do if you test positive for Coronavirus

• To stop the spread of the virus, it is advised that if you are positive, you should isolate in your current address, rather than moving households.
• If your test shows you have coronavirus, you will be contacted by text, email or phone and will be asked to provide information about the people you have been close to recently.
• Inform your university / employer and your letting agent
• After 10 days if you still have a high temperature, you must stay home and away from people until you feel better.
• After 10 days, if you only have a cough and/or loss of sense of taste or smell you don’t have to stay home and away from people any more.
• Everyone else you share your house with must still stay home, because they might have caught the virus but not be showing symptoms yet.
• They must stay at home for 14 days from the first day you felt poorly, even if they feel well.
• Seek help if existing symptoms get worse (e.g. difficulty breathing) by calling NHS 111.
• In an emergency, call 999 & inform the call handler about your potential exposure to COVID-19.
• Click here to download a handy poster with all of the above key info.

What to do if someone in your household has symptoms or has tested positive

• Tell people delivering things to your home to leave them outside.
• Do not shake dirty washing before putting it in the washing machine.
• Use a different bathroom if possible. If this is not possible, clean it each time after you use it.
• Use separate towels and keep them in your own room.
• Wipe all surfaces you have touched using strong household products (disinfectant).
• Regularly clean the bathroom using household products.
• If you share a kitchen, anyone with symptoms should use the kitchen after everyone else and should clean all surfaces afterwards.
• Anyone with symptoms should eat in their own room.
• Where possible, use a dishwasher. If this is not possible, use separate tea towels, crockery and cutlery and a separate sponge/ brush for washing.
• Clean surfaces with household cleaner, that you often touch several times a day such as: door handles, handrails, remote controls, table tops

Staying safe during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

• Download this useful booklet from Public Health England with guidance specifically for tenants in shared accommodation
• Be aware, however, that additional national restrictions about meeting up have come into effect from 5th November 2020 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
• The booklet is a handy resource that helps provide guidance on how you and those you share a house with can stay safe within your home, including the steps you should take if someone tests positive for coronavirus or is displaying symptoms.
• There is also guidance on support available if you or someone you live with has to isolate as well as details of services that can help during this time.

Other Useful Links

• Up to date information about restrictions to everyone living in Leeds is available on the Leeds City Council website  https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus
• Additional info for Landlords and Tenants can be found on the government website Gov.uk  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities
• Search the HOP Knowledge Bank

We hope all our tenants are staying safe and well and that you take the time to read through this important info.

Remember to let us know if you are self-isolating and lastly, if you do have any queries, then we are here to help. Our branches are currently open strictly by appointment only during the Second National Lockdown and we are fully contactable by phone or email.

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