Latest Update 02 Nov 2020
Viewings
Viewings can only be completed after you have answered some general questions. We will insist that customers wear a face mask and sanitise their hands before entry. Only two persons will be allowed to view and you must not touch anything inside the property.
We will have all doors open and lights on inviting you to walk around then ask any questions. We cannot currently provide any transport for customers. Currently we provide videos for our marketed houses but will avoid obtaining this until tenants have vacated. We start full marketing a week before the houses are empty. This has been working very well as many customers have already seen the house on our “coming soon” page so can apply beforehand.
Valuations
We will only be able to complete these in your absence, given key access and will take care to touch a minimum of surfaces. We will wear a facemask and take all possible precautions. Inspections We cannot feasibly complete these but specific concerns or requests will be considered. We were planning for these to re-commence soon but now feel that this cannot be the case.
Move in and move outs
We will continue to carry these out separately from tenants or owners. We have simple systems for this and it is working well. We carry out the check before the tenants move in and then after they move out. There is just a little more communication for us to complete but this is easily done via email or phone.
Our office
The office will be closed to the public from Thursday 5th November until further notice with the intention of re-opening when the lockdown is lifted. We will still have staff working within the office and the phones will operate as normal.
Internally we have added screens between staff members, hand sanitiser stations as well as regular cleaning and other measures as suggested by our risk assessment. If you need to come to the office to drop something off or collect something this is still possible but we will aim to book times to avoid lots of people arriving together.
Maintenance, repairs and safety checks
We will delay all PAT testing and none essential repairs and Epcs apart from empty houses. We will try to continue with Gas safety checks and Electrical installation inspection reports where possible. Empty houses we will continue to work upon where permitted. Other repairs will be completed we would just ask you are considerate of the contractors who will in turn be asked to wear PPE and sanitise their hands.
Legal changes during the last few months
Property owners will have to give a minimum 6 months’ notice to regain possession not two months as previously. (section 21 notice)
All new tenancies will first require an EICR (Electrical installation condition report) we can complete these for £150.00 including v.a.t. This will apply to all tenancies from April 2021.