New Safety Guidance For Property-Related Activities

Lettings and Estate Agents are once again permitted to undertake certain property-related activities. While we are thrilled to get back to work in the office, our branches currently remain closed to the public with meetings strictly by appointment only and we have put new safety measures in place for Viewings, Valuations and Property Visits.

As of Wednesday 13th May 2020, Letting and Estate Agents are once again permitted to undertake certain property-related activities that include valuations, viewings, move ins, inspections, check ins, check outs and inventories.

The safety of our customers and employees remains our top priority so have adapted and reviewed our company policies and procedures in line with government advice. Adapting to this “new normal” means taking extra care, so please take a look below at the new precautions and guidance for viewings, valuations and property visits.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a Tenant and self-isolating, symptomatic or shielding, it is imperative you us know as soon as possible, so we can update our records and ensure we don’t offer viewings or arrange to attend your property.

All our Tenants will be contacted with 24 hours’ notice, should we require access to your property for viewings, maintenance, inspections, check-ins, check-outs and inventories.

Guidance for Sales & Lettings Viewings

Our highly trained staff are perfectly placed to talk through the properties with any prospective Tenant or Purchaser, to help ascertain if it is the right property for them before booking in a viewing at the property. We will ensure that, wherever possible, virtual tours take place before arranging a physical viewing, to further increase the likelihood of a good match. In addition, we will only permit viewings with customers that have confirmed a serious intent to move.

For all viewings of rental and sales properties, we will adhere to the following guidelines:

• • We will not attend any property where anyone in the household is feeling unwell or showing symptoms of Covid-19, including a fever or continuous cough.
  • Throughout the viewing, social distancing of 2 meters will be adhered to at all times.
  • Unfortunately, this means that we will not be able to offer customers lifts to the property at present.
  • All viewings should take place will involve no more than two members of a single household and children are not currently permitted to attend.
  • We advise that viewers bring their own a mask and hand sanitiser to the appointment.
  • Property Negotiators will be equipped with their own mask and hand sanitisers.
  • Hand washing (ideally with disposable towels for drying) or hand sanitising will be carried out by all viewers and negotiators before entering a property and immediately after leaving every appointment.
  • All our Property Negotiators have all been supplied with masks to wear in the event that social distance cannot be easily maintained within the property. They will also use them at the Tenants’, Vendors’ or Viewer’s request.
  • We politely ask that Tenants or Vendors vacate the property during the appointment to minimise contact and to maintain social distancing measures.
  • Prior to the viewing, we request that all internal doors and windows are be opened in order to minimise contact with hard surfaces and to ensure good ventilation.
  • After each viewing, the Tenant/Vendor should sanitise all door handles and other hard surfaces that may have been touched, with standard cleaning products or sanitising wipes.

Guidance for Sales & Lettings Valuations

For your convenience, and to minimise risk, we offer virtual valuations with our experts for those wishing to sell or let out their property. If you would like to book a Lettings or Sales Valuation, please click here. In instances where we undertake a valuation in person at the property, we will adhere to the following guidelines:

• • Customers should not book a valuation if anyone in the household is shielding, self-isolating or feeling unwell.
  • We request that handwashing facilities (ideally with separate or disposable towels for drying) are made available to us, however, our Valuers will always be fully equipped with suitable hand sanitisers and/or protective gloves which can be used throughout the appointment.
  • Throughout the valuation, social distancing of 2 meters will be adhered to at all times.
  • Much as we enjoy a cuppa when discussing your property, you should not provide refreshments.
  • When it comes to doing an inspection and taking notes for the floorplan, we politely request that customers vacate the property to minimise contact and to adhere to social distancing measures.
  • Prior to the appointment, we request that all internal doors and windows are be opened to minimise contact with hard surfaces and to ensure good ventilation.
  • If your property benefits from outside space, please open bi-fold or patio doors for us in advance for access and increased ventilation.

Guidance for Property Visits

Other reasons we may need to enter a Tenant’s property is for maintenance, property inspections, taking inventories, check-ins or check-outs.

• • Neither Staff nor Contractors will not attend any property where anyone in the household is self-isolating, symptomatic or shielding.
  • Throughout the visit, social distancing of 2 meters will be adhered to at all times.
  • We request that handwashing facilities (ideally with separate or disposable towels for drying) are made available to us, however, our Staff and Contractors will always be fully equipped with suitable hand sanitisers and/or protective gloves which can be used throughout the appointment.
  • Staff and Contractors will carry hand sanitizer, which will be used before entering a property and immediately after leaving every appointment.
  • If a distance of 2m cannot be maintained within the property, our Staff and Contractors will wear masks accordingly.
  • If we are attending your property to carry out maintenance, you should ensure easy access to all the parts of the property they need to work in, and make efforts to minimise contact with the Contractor or Staff while they are at work, for example by staying in a different room.
  • You should not provide any refreshments to Contractors or Staff during an appointment.
  • After each appointment, the Tenant should sanitise all door handles and other hard surfaces that may have been touched, with standard cleaning products or sanitising wipes.

We hope that the above help to explain our new processes and offer reassurance that we are following Government guidance and doing our very best to maintain the safety of our customers and staff.

Should you have any queries, then please do ask when you are booking your appointment or if you are a Tenant, do not hesitate to give your Property Manager a call.

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