Carrying out viewings during covid-19

“‘Can I arrange a viewing?’ It’s absolute madness!” taken from an article found on Landlord Zone. Let us respond and say how it is possible to carry out viewings during covid-19. Health and Safety is important to us at Lifeboat Lettings. Which is why we felt it was equally important to show you how we’ve been doing viewings lately. Current restrictions have left businesses facing challenges they might have never considered before. Here we share some of our solutions that has meant we can continue to carry out select viewings during covid-19. Also, we touch upon the alternative when we can’t offer viewings despite the demand for them. We hope that you find this message both informative and reassuring at this challenging time.

How to carry out viewings during Covid-19 restrictions

1. The explanation ‘all viewings are being limited until it is deemed safe to do them’ is conveyed to each prospect. The single exception to this rule is where there is an empty single let property. We are able to offer non-contact viewings to prospective tenants. This is of course in accordance with what is being suggested as safe working practice by the government.
2. We are then keeping information of qualified applicants (GDPR Compliant) until such times when we can complete regular viewings. We plan on picking up where we leave promising conversations and processing any applications later when it is safe again. This is how we can be sure we’ve kept our staff, existing and future tenants healthy.
3. Non-Contact viewings are ONLY carried out where the property is a vacant single let. As a business who also specialise in HMO management this has certainly impacted us. However, there is nothing more important than safety and good health. Despite wanting to fill unoccupied rooms.
4. All non-contact viewings are organised in full over the telephone, skype, facetime, Zoom etc.
5. On the day of the viewing an agent will be at a safe distance while each appointee is visiting.
6. Appointments are staggered, with time between, so that we can maintain social distancing between applicants and agent.
7. Additionally, and importantly, we ask some health-related questions geared specifically towards Covid-19 while we qualify our prospects. Things like, are you well? Its also good to know what they do for work so a risk assessment can be carried out.
8. Finally, a non-contact viewing is only offered once applicants are fully qualified, and we are satisfied it’s safe to do.

Final Word

It’s unlikely that we are the only agents who have been able to work throughout this time. We expect that the phones haven’t stopped for them either, as the demand for housing remains poignant. However, it is crucial that we take the right moves to ensure good health for our staff and our clients.

If you liked this message please feel free to leave your comments below. Alternatively you can contact us at any time during work hours. We are here to help.