You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Repairs workers get government green light to enter properties during coronavirus outbreak
Tradespeople and repairs workers can continue their work provided they are showing no symptoms of the virus, official guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed.
The guidance, published on Wednesday, said: “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.”
MHCLG recommended that while doing this work, individuals must adhere to Public Health England’s guidelines on maintaining a two-metre distance.
READ MORE
It also said: “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, MHCLG said.
The announcement was welcomed by the National Housing Federation which called it an “important update”.
It comes after confusion in the sector over whether repairs workers were able to continue work after the government’s new social distancing rules brought in on Monday evening.
On Monday, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said that housing, construction and maintenance workers could continue to work as long as they adhered to Public Health England’s social distancing measures.
Advice for the housing, construction & building maintenance industries:
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenric
🔹If you can work from home, do so.
🔹If you are working on site, you can continue to do so. But follow Public Health England guidance on social distancing.
🔹Outside of work, remember to #StayHomeSaveLives/a>Advice for the housing, construction & building maintenance industries:
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) March 23, 2020
\uD83D\uDD39If you can work from home, do so.
\uD83D\uDD39If you are working on site, you can continue to do so. But follow Public Health England guidance on social distancing.
\uD83D\uDD39Outside of work, remember to #StayHomeSaveLives
However, there was some confusion over whether this applied to repairs workers. Paul Hackett, chief executive of London housing association Optivo, tweeted that “clarification was urgently needed”.
Will Jeffwitz, Head of Policy at the National Housing Federation, said: "We welcome the latest guidance which states that repairs and maintenance work can continue, with appropriate safety precautions. Housing associations will be prioritising emergency repairs and essential work to ensure residents remain safe in their homes at this time. We are also working with the government to clarify the best approach to carrying out safety checks that are due for residents who are self-isolating."
The guidance comes as a number of housing associations have switched to carrying out emergency repairs only, with many workforces badly hit by illnesses.
Inside Housing has also reported on the growing pressure on the Health and Safety Executive to extend gas safety certificates as contractors and housing associations try to adhere to social distancing measures.
Story updated at 14:30 27/03. Quote from NHF was updated.
More on coronavirus
To see all our coronavirus coverage to date – including the latest news, advice to providers, comment and analysis – use the link below.
