Having Work Done In Your Home Post-Lockdown

 

Starting to have tradespeople back in your home – FAQs

 

Now that lockdown in the UK is beginning to lift (again), and with summer around the corner, many people are starting to think about home improvements.  But the question we’ve had is, what tradespeople can you have in your home and how do you do it safely? We’ve answered some of our most frequently asked questions.

 

Am I allowed tradespeople back in my home?

Yes, for months now tradespeople have been encouraged to return to work. Contractors, like Broadoak, have been working safely for the past few weeks in peoples homes.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes. Any tradesperson showing symptoms of Covid-19 (coronavirus) should not be working, especially not in your home.

You also should not be having them in your house if you or anyone living with you, are self-isolating or shielding, either because they are showing symptoms or someone in your household has been identified as ‘at-risk’. If you fall under this category, you are likely to have received a letter to explain this.

However, in the event of an emergency, it is acceptable for tradespeople to enter your home and Public Health England can provide advice to you and any tradesperson.

 

What should I do before a visit?

  • Speak to us in advance and provide as much detail as possible. This will reduce the number of visits needed at the property.
  • Prepare somewhere that tradespeople can wash their hands with a separate hand towel that can be washed or disposed of afterwards. Broadoak would hire a toilet for tradespeople to use throughout a project, eliminating the need to use the toilet in your home.
  • Confirm payment details in advance and use bank transfers or other non-cash payments where possible to reduce handling of cash.
  • Book a time when there are fewer people in the household to make it easier to distance.

 

What should I do on the day?

  •  Don’t shake hands when you greet tradespeople at the door.
  •  Leave doors open in your home to limit the amount of handles that they will touch.
  •  Stay in another room where possible and keep your distance (2m is the current guideline at time of writing).

 

How should a tradesperson work to make sure it’s safe?

  •  Keep to social distancing rules
  •  Ask to open a window for ventilation where needed
  •  Wash hands on arrival or use hand gel
  •  Avoid requesting a signature where possible.
  •  Don’t share pens or devices.

 

What should I do after a visit?

  • Clean down anything that may have been touched including door handles and light switches as well as your bathroom if it has been used.

 

If you have any worries about work at your property, please contact the Broadoak team and we will help put your mind at ease. You can call us on 0161 962 1623 or email [email protected]