Covid-19 Q&A – For Applicants and Residents

Applicants

• Under Construction

If your new home is on a site that is still under construction, you may be aware that work has recently restarted to continue building.

In order to keep our contractors and housebuilders safe, the teams are working at a reduced capacity due to social distancing measures which will unfortunately make build times a little longer.

We are working with the site teams to determine the length of delays caused by the Covid-19 shut down, and establish new completion dates.

Please bear with us whilst we get these confirmed and we will be in touch as soon as possible to advise of when you can move in.

• Fully Built

If your property is fully built, inspected and ready to move in, we will be contacting you to arrange a convenient and appropriate date for you to move in as soon as possible.

This will include contactless key pickups and inventory checks, so you are kept safe whilst you move.

• Re-Let Properties

If you are moving into a property that has been previously tenanted, we need to ensure that the previous residents are in a position to comfortably vacate the property. This will enable us to complete any remedial works and pre-move-in checks, and conduct your inventory.

In order to keep our staff safe, we are incorporating a time period of up to 72 hours between someone vacating the property and our teams completing the above. This may result in a slight delay before we’re able to get you moved in, but we appreciate your understanding whilst we fulfil our responsibility to keep our property teams safe.

• Viewings

In line with the updated government guidance our teams are starting to conduct viewings where possible and safe to do so. In the majority of instances, they will record a virtual viewing for you, so you can see the property without needing to visit in person.

Where an in-person viewing is arranged by exception, we appreciate your cooperation and patience. Viewings will be restricted to two adults per household with the agent waiting outside the property whilst you visit to ensure social distancing is adhered to.

Following any physical viewings, the properties will be checked and cleaned in between visits, with particular attention to door handles and high contact areas to ensure the ongoing safety of all customers.

Residents

• Maintenance

We will begin working through the non-emergency maintenance requests received during the lockdown period, as it has now been deemed safe to restart works.

As you can appreciate, there is a backlog of works that were put on hold which we will now begin prioritising, whilst ensuring our contractors and residents are kept safe throughout the process.

All health and safety guidelines will be adhered to including the use of PPE and practising social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns regarding an outstanding maintenance request please call your Property or Asset Manager in the first instance.

• Inspections

Routine inspections of properties remain on hold in order to reduce the risk of virus transmission between staff, residents and contractors.

• End of Tenancy Check-Outs

If you are due to leave your Simple Life property, all check-outs are operating as normal should you wish to go ahead. Where necessary processes are in place to reduce or remove contact between residents and our teams.

If you are no longer comfortable moving property, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

• Rent Payments

Rent processing and payments are to continue as usual, however if you are in any financial difficulty due to the effects of Covid-19, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Whilst you remain contractually obliged to pay your rent, we appreciate the changing circumstances people are finding themselves in and want to work with all our residents to find solutions where necessary.

If you own your own small business, Government has also put additional ‘bounce back loans’ in place to support your business. Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan

To find out more about the support that is available to you visit the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees.

Keeping Safe

All residents and applicants are reminded to follow the NHS Covid-19 guidance to limit the spread of the virus: https://nhs.uk/coronavirus