Essential maintenance can be carried out during lockdown

Essential maintenance can be carried out during lockdown

8:55 AM, 25th March 2020, About 4 years ago 17

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MHCLG Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick and other government ministers have been confirming this morning that essential maintenance such as boiler repairs and leaks etc can be carried out at homes by tradespersons. However, elective non-essential work such as new kitchens, extensions and decorating should not be instructed or provided.

Government guidance on repairs is as follows:

Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms.

Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a two metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

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. In such cases, Public Health England can provide advice to tradespeople and households.

No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.


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Comments

Peter G

13:39 PM, 25th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Gary Nock at 25/03/2020 - 10:04
Safety checks, maintenance and cleaning should be acceptable work if people are 2 metres apart and/or the premises are empty AND the people involved want to do the work. However, the Government have not stated this as a rule, so the Police may interpret things differently. If work continues then make sure you have these terms agreed, documented and signed by the people working.

MoodyMolls

14:26 PM, 25th March 2020, About 4 years ago

I have plasterers in empty property today.
All the contractors I have spoke with will only go into empty properties or outside wrk.
So where I am it's going to be hard to get anyone for maintenance and if u do there will be high risk costs added

Wilkie properties

16:54 PM, 25th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dancinglandlord at 25/03/2020 - 12:10
I too have a similar situation where I have a half finished flat, what I would say tho is be careful regards a single contractor working alone as this falls under CDM.

As a Project Manager with experience in this situation I would set up a system for lone workers to comply, call him every few hour to make sure he's ok and you should be grand.

Good luck

Bemused

17:28 PM, 25th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Wilkie properties at 25/03/2020 - 16:54thanks
It is becoming antisocial to employ a contractor in any circumstances. I understand the reasons for the clampdown - people travelling to work on public transport; working on materials that colleagues have handled and then going home to family units. Clearly these are reasons not to be working, but as Jo Public doesn't know whether these variables are involved, it may cause friction, even where these issue are not involved.

Dennis Forrest

18:19 PM, 25th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Thanks for all the comments regarding basic cleaning and redecoration of my two bed flat so it can be sold and be someone's home. All posters seem to agree that if no one is put at risk of catching/spreading the virus then this kind of work can and should go ahead, especially as some of the workers are self employed and need the income.

RichDad

20:43 PM, 26th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Lawrenson at 25/03/2020 - 11:31
I agree too: there was already what everyone called a "housing crisis", which has been trumped but not eliminated by the "virus crisis". It must therefore be "essential" work to reinstate a dwelling to be fit for occupation by someone who needs it.

Imagine a nurse, or one of the 600,000+ new NHS volunteers needing a room for a few months. Surely it is an essential service to make such rooms in a HMO or a flat to be available quickly for them?

moneymanager

15:35 PM, 28th March 2020, About 4 years ago

There is a law that says that "things happen" at awkward moments and we had TWO pumps and ECBs fail on two flats heating systems, one model was already on back order and my wizard managed to source an alternative and both got done on Monday. Although my engineer can work that's not much use if his supplier hasn't got the parts for him to fit.

I noted yesterday that the DVLA is extending MOT due dates (due 1st April and later) by six months and I would have thought that some checks will just be extended e.g. PAT tests or EPCs; we don't have gas at all to worry about and defer to superior knowledge.

I saw in The G today that government is ordering Councils to house all homeless in two weeks using their magic accomodation tree, watch out if you have empty properties noted for Council Tax, they might look to requisition and with no prospect of a private let...

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