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Scottish Housing Regulator advises landlords on how to prepare for coronavirus
The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has written to all social landlords to advise them on how to respond to and prepare for the spread of coronavirus.
The SHR advised all social landlords to make sure their business continuity plans, which are created to ensure that businesses can continue to deliver essential services despite external threats, are up to date and accessible to all who may need them.
It said landlords should prepare to maintain a record of any instances where services cannot be delivered because of coronavirus, for example where a tenant cannot give access to their home or attend its office because they are self-isolating.
Landlords also need to be aware of the latest advice from the government, the NHS and the chief medical officer, which is changing on a daily basis, the regulator said.
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It has advised social landlords to notify it of any significant service disruption or financial impact as a consequence of coronavirus.
The regulator said it will monitor the impact of coronavirus on social landlords and will report any significant impact to the Scottish government.
It will also take account of the impact of coronavirus reported by a landlord when it assesses the landlord’s performance in the annual risk assessment.
The English Regulator’s advice to social landlords said: "We expect all registered providers to prepare for the potential impact of Coronavirus (Co-vid 19) on residents, staff, contractors and suppliers.
"In doing so, ensure that you are following the latest advice and guidance from the government and Public Health England available at gov.uk/coronavirus." The Welsh regulator has also provided general advice, with employers guidance and advice and guidance for those working in hostels, emergency and supported accommodation and outreach workers to be published soon.
Yesterday news broke that a resident of Hanover Scotland was self-isolating in their home in Ayrshire after being tested for the virus.
As of yesterday, there were 115 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, six of which were in Scotland.
Earlier this week, the UK government released its coronavirus action plan to tackle and contain the virus, and warned that a fifth of workers in the UK could be off work unwell during the peak of the virus.
The World Health Organisation’s current mortality rate for those who contract the disease is 3.4%. More than 98,000 people are known to be infected worldwide.
