In the Coronavirus turmoil, letting agents and landlords have raised concerns about potentially not being able to fulfil their legal obligations to tenants due to the social distancing measures put in place to help tackle the spread of COVID-19.
Property maintenance and repairs
The government has now issued guidance on property repairs and maintenance, allowing for the works to continue during the pandemic, “provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms” and also ensuring that “a two metre distance from any household occupants” is maintained for everyone’s safety.
However, “no work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so.”
“No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.”
Home moves
The government has also taken its stand on sales and rental property moves, advising that the ongoing transactions can proceed “if moving is unavoidable for contractual reasons and the parties are unable to reach an agreement to delay.” This will enable agents to finalise the existing home moves and collect the dues.
As per home repairs and maintenance, the social distancing rules apply to property moves and “anyone with symptoms, self-isolating or shielding from the virus, should follow medical advice and not move home for the time being.”
