COVID-19 Information & Resources

**Below information correct as of 22.05.20 and will be updated as things change**

The Government announced that from the 13th May estate agents may reopen their offices and undertake property viewings, alongside the re-starting of other essential parts of sales and lettings in order to re-start the housing market.

At Davies & Davies we have decided to partially re-open. We are following the Government guidelines and we have decided to add additional safety measures in order to protect our team, customers, clients, partners and contractors. Below you can find information about the safety precautions we are taking, how we are currently operating, our opening hours and how you can contact us currently.

We will do everything we can to help you during the COVID-19 outbreak but please bare in mind that we too are operating under unfamiliar territory. The health and safety of our team, customers, clients, contractors and partners is our number one priority right now. Please be patient and please be kind.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Hours of Operation

Our physical doors are closed and visits to our office are by appointment only (please see ‘Visiting Our Offices’ below).

The majority of our team are still operating remotely, although our office will be staffed by a limited number of our team (please see ‘How We’re Working’ below).

We ask that you contact us by phone and email during the usual hours of business:

Mon – Thurs: 0845 – 1815
Fri: 0845 – 1800
Sat: 1000 – 1600
Sun: Phone Appointment Only by Request

How to Contact Us

General inquiries – info@daviesdavies.co.uk / 0207 272 0986

Current vendors and landlords – please contact your dedicated negotiator or property manager on their direct email address or mobile phone – please see ‘Current Vendors & Landlord’s’ below.

Tenants with maintenance issues or emergencies – please use our Report a Repair facility as usual here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/report-a-repair/

Property Valuations – info@daviesdavies.co.uk / 0207 272 0986

Book a Viewing / Interested in a Property (sales or lets) – info@daviesdavies.co.uk / 0207 272 0986

Landlord’s interested in our property management services – management@daviesdavies.co.uk / 0207 272 0986

Those interested in our Surveying, Financial, Conveyancing and New Build Services – info@daviesdavies.co.uk / 0207 272 0986

VISITING OUR OFFICE:

Visiting our office is by appointment only. If the matter can be dealt with by phone or email please avoid booking an appointment.

For matters for which visiting our office is unavoidable we ask that you please read and adhere to the following:

1. Please contact us via phone or email to book an appointment.
2. We will ask you some safety questions, such as whether you or any member of your household has any symptoms of COVID-19, has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is sheltering. If you answer yes to any of these questions we will advise booking an appointment for when it is safe to do so.
3. We will ask you how you will travel to the office. If you must attend by public transport we will book your appointment during off-peak hours (to avoid rush hour).
4. Please note that we can only accommodate two members of the same household at one time (the Government advises against bringing children if possible, but we understand that child care is very difficult right now so you may bring your children if needed).
5. We will only book one appointment at a time to avoid overcrowding and we will not make any bookings side-by-side. Please do help us by arriving on time as there will be some people working in parts of the building and arriving on time will help us avoid people crossing paths.
6. Upon arrival a member of our team will let you into the building. Once inside please look for the marker on the floor – please do not move beyond this marker. There are two sanitised chairs that you may use (we sanitise these chairs after every use).
7. On the table closest to the door there is a hand sanitiser station, this is for you to use upon entering and exiting the building.
8. If you are collecting keys they will be placed on the desk closest to the door – they have been sanitised. If you are returning keys please place them on the desk closest to the door.
9. Please be aware that we have a Visitors Log that we must fill out for any person entering the building – we will take the full name, contact number, date and time of arrival of you and any other person who visits the office with you. This is for track and trace purposes.

If you are a tradesperson or contractor performing works on the building:

1. Please follow steps 1 to 3 above.
2. Please wear a mask and clean gloves where ever possible.
3. Please sanitise your hands upon entering the building using the sanitiser located on the desk closest to the door.
4. Please wash your hands frequently whilst in the building.
5. Please respect social distancing by remaining 2m away from any one in the building.
6. Please avoid touching anything unnecessarily – if you must touch something please clean using sanitising spray or wipes (we can provide both).
7. Please notify our team when you are leaving the building so they can unlock the door.
8. Please be aware that we have a Visitors Log that we must fill out for any person entering the building – we will take the full name, contact number, date and time of arrival of you and any other person who visits the office with you. This is for track and trace purposes.

VIEWINGS, VALUATIONS & ACCESSING HOMES:

Are We Conducting Property Viewings & Valuations?

In line with current guidelines and restrictions, we are now able to visit properties to conduct viewings and valuations. We are also able to offer virtual viewings, subject to availability. We suggest viewing a property virtually first and then, if you are interested in potentially making an offer, you may book in for a property visit.

If you would like to virtually view or visit a property please get in touch with our team on info@daviesdavies.co.uk

You can also view our Preparing to View a Property Guide by clicking here our Prepare for People Viewing Your Property Guide by clicking here and our Preparing for a Property Valuation Guide by clicking here.

What Safety Measures Are Your Team Adhering to for Viewings & Valuations?

We have put together protocols for our team that they must adhere to in order to perform a property viewing or valuation safely. These protocols have been created using the Government guidelines, but we have added our own additional safety measures to ensure the safety of our team, clients and customers.

To view our team protocols for conducting a viewing or valuation please click here.

If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve our safety measures, or if you have any complaints about a viewing conducted by us please do get in touch with our Sales Director or Lettings Director by emailing them directly:

Mark Scales (Sales Director): mark@daviesdavies.co.uk

Alex Reach (Lettings Director): alex@daviesdavies.co.uk

How Should I Prepare for Someone to View or Value My Home Safely

We have created a set of guides, using Government guidelines, on how you can prepare for people viewing or valuing your property safely. You can use the advice for property viewings and valuations and adapt it for other home visits, such as tradespeople undertaking repairs or other maintenance on your property, surveys, photographers and other types of home access that may be required, whether you are a tenant, landlord or vendor.

To view the How to Prepare for People Viewing Your Property Guide please click here.

To view the Preparing for a Property Valuation Guide please click here.

How Should I Prepare to View a Property Safely

We have created a guide, using Government guidelines, on how you can prepare to view a property safely. We advise viewing the property virtually first and then, if you are interested in potentially making an offer and would like to access the property to view it please contact our team to book a viewing.

To view the Preparing to View a Property Guide please click here.

I Feel Unwell but I’m Due to Visit a Property, What Should I Do?

Please contact Davies & Davies immediately. You must not view a property if you, or any member of your household, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are currently shielding. We will work with you to make alternative arrangements.

I Feel Unwell but a Davies & Davies Agent, Potential Buyer/Tenant, Contractor or Tradesperson is Due to Visit my Property, What Should I Do?

Please contact Davies & Davies immediately. You must not allow access to your property if you, or any member of your household, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are currently shielding. We will work with you to make alternative arrangements.

If you are working with a tradesperson or contractor and have booked them directly you must notify the tradesperson or contractor immediately.

You can also view our Preparing for People Accessing Your Property (Contractors + Tradespeople),by clicking here.

What Safety Measures are Your Contractors Adhering To?

There is an expectation from the UK Government that tradespeople and contractors follow the Government’s safer working guidance and companies should ensure their employees understand how to operate safely and communicate this to customers. This includes, but is not limited to, cleaners, photographers, videographers, inspection clerks and surveyors.

Our contractors and tradespeople operate as independent bodies and it is ultimately their responsibility to ensure that they adhere to the law and Government guidelines. Davies & Davies cannot be held responsible for any issues arising as a result of a contractor or tradesperson not following the law or Government guidelines.

However, we feel that we have a responsibility to try to do our best to limit any potential issues and we do so by:

a) requiring all tradespeople and contractors that we recommend sign a contract with us in which they agree to abide by best practice, to adhere to the law and act compliantly and ethically in any work they perform for us or any of our customers and clients;

b) regularly reviewing our contractors and tradespeople using client feedback and spot checks.

Whilst the responsibility to adhere to Government guidelines about COVID-19 and the law ultimately lies with the contractor or tradesperson, and not Davies & Davies, we have created a guide intended to help contractors and tradespeople prepare to enter someone’s home. It is not legal advice, nor can we guarantee that contractors or tradespeople will adhere to it, but it is there to help and we have sent a copy of this guide to all of the contractors and tradespeople that we recommend and work with.

To view the Contractors: How to Prepare to Enter Someone’s Home Guide, click here.

TENANTS:

Managed Tenants Reporting Emergencies & Repairs

If you’re a tenant whose property is currently managed by Davies & Davies and you have any concerns please contact your property manager directly.

Managed tenants are still able to and are encouraged to report maintenance issues via our online Report a Repair platform as normal. Please note that our contractors will prioritise attending emergency call outs and essential works, such as gas safety inspections. Any other general maintenance issues will be conducted, although there may be a bit of a delay due to COVID-19 and we ask that tenants are please patient. We ask that tenants please make sure to report these issues, as usual, via Report a Repair.

Please note that our contractors will request that all members of the household are not in the property when they attend, other than to let them into the house (if required). This might mean that all household members vacate the property to go for a walk or, if possible, remain in their garden or outdoor space. Where this isn’t possible, they will be asked to remain in one room together away from the contractor. These measures are to protect both the contractor and the household members. If any member of the household is sick, self-isolating or vulnerable the contractor will discuss their own protocols for handling such circumstances with the household directly. We ask that you clean down all surfaces in affected rooms before the contractor’s visit to your property and that you open up all internal doors and any other relevant doors or hatches.

Reported emergency and essential maintenance will be dealt with as normal and priority given to the most serious cases. In the unlikely incident that our contractors are unable to attend a property we will do all we can to limit the impact this may cause and find a solution, we will also keep in contact with you and your landlord to keep you both updated as to the progress of the situation.

If you are a tenant who rented the property through Davies & Davies but are not currently managed by us please notify your landlord directly of any emergency, essential or general maintenance issues.

Your property manager’s remote working contact details:

Katrina Fernandes: 07737151290 / Katrina@daviesdavies.co.uk

Fabio Sampaio: 07581081085 / Fabio@daviesdavies.co.uk

Alisha Eversley-John: 0756231568 / Alisha@daviesdavies.co.uk

Please remember, that if you need to report a maintenance issue or an emergency please use our Report a Repair facility as usual here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/report-a-repair/

In summary, if a contractor must attend your property please remember to bare in mind the following:

1. It is crucial that you notify us first if you or a member of your household are unwell or vulnerable so that we can operate under the correct protocols.
2. We ask our contractors to wear masks and to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser immediately upon entering your property – so they may ask you if they can wash their hands first.
3. Please maintain social distancing advice by leaving the property for a walk once you have given the contractor access to your property, by remaining in your garden or outside space, or by congregating in one room or area away from the contractor.
4. If we are not able to provide contractors with keys due to social distancing regulations, you or another member of your household must be in at the agreed time to answer the door to the contractor and let them into the property.

Please read our full guide to Preparing for People Accessing Your Property (Contractors + Tradespeople), click here.

Keep an eye on our blog for guides, advice and tips during this difficult time here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/insights/

You can also join our tenants mailing list by filling in our registration form at the bottom of our homepage here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/

I’m Worried About Paying My Rent

If you’re a tenant whose property is managed by us and you’re worried about being able to pay the rent in full or entirely please get in contact with your property manager. We will speak to your landlord on your behalf and will try our best to work together with you and your landlord to find a solution. This is a very worrying time for everyone and we’re very sympathetic that tenants are concerned about being able to pay their rent, landlords (as well as other property owners) are concerned about being able to pay their mortgages. If you’re feeling anxious, want some advice or help please do not hesitate to reach out to us – supporting our tenants and our landlords is one of our biggest priorities at this time.

Katrina Fernandes: 07737151290 / Katrina@daviesdavies.co.uk

Fabio Sampaio: 07581081085 / Fabio@daviesdavies.co.uk

Alisha Eversley-John: 0756231568 / Alisha@daviesdavies.co.uk

Active Tenants

If you are currently in the process of renting a property through Davies & Davies our team will be in regular contact with you. However, if you would like to discuss your rental with us, have any concerns, or would simply like some advice during this difficult time please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our Lettings Director Alex:

Alex Reach (Lettings Director): alex@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07921382805

Our team have been publishing guides, advice and tips to help advise you through this difficult time, copies of which you can find on our blog here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/insights/ You can also ask to be adding to our Tenants mailing list to receive weekly helpful guides and insights.

You can also view our Preparing to View a Property Guide by clicking here and you can view our team protocols for conducting a viewing to see what safety measures we’re doing whilst conducting viewings and valuations by please clicking here.

Prospective Tenants

If you’re interested in renting a property through Davies & Davies but haven’t yet been in contact with our team please drop us an email on info@daviesdavies.co.uk or call us on 0207 272 0986. We’re now able to conduct viewings – please see ‘Viewings, Valuations & Accessing Homes’ above.

Keep an eye on our blog for guides, advice and tips during this difficult time here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/insights/

You can also join our tenants mailing list by filling in our registration form at the bottom of our homepage here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/

You can also view our Preparing to View a Property Guide by clicking here and you can view our team protocols for conducting a viewing or valuation to see what safety measures we’re doing whilst conducting viewings by please clicking here.

VENDORS & LANDLORDS:

Current Vendors & Landlords

If your property is currently on the market, or if your property or portfolio is currently managed by us, our team will be in regular contact with you.

We are now showing properties to prospective tenants and buyers. Please see ‘Viewings, Valuations & Accessing Homes’ above for more information on safety measures.

If you are a let only Landlord and you are interested in instructing us to manage your property, please get in touch with Alex on the details below. If you would like to discuss your property with us, have any concerns or would simply like some advice during this difficult time please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our management team below:

Sales Director: Mark Scales – mark@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07870510129

Lettings Director: Alex Reach – alex@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07921382805

Head of Property Management: Katrina Fernandes – katrina@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07737151290

Our team have been publishing guides, advice and tips to help advise you through this difficult time, copies of which you can find on our blog here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/insights/ You can also ask to be adding to our Landlords or Vendors mailing list to receive weekly helpful guides and insights.

You can also view our Prepare for People Viewing Your Property Guide by clicking here and our Preparing for a Property Valuation Guide by clicking here.

Prospective Vendors & Landlords

If you would like to put your property on the market for sale, please get in touch with our Sales Director Mark on the contact details below. If you’re interested in putting your property on the market for rent, please get in touch with our Lettings Director Alex on the contact details below. We offer a range of lettings services, from let only up to full management, which we can tailor to suit you.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, since the lifting of the lockdown restrictions on the property market we have seen a swift rise in new instructions and buyer and tenant inquiries. Whilst we’re understandably pleased that the property market is moving, we want to ensure that we market your property highly effectively whilst ensuring we manage all viewings, valuations and other essential activity safely. As such, our team is keeping up-to-date with the latest research and guidelines, constantly reviewing our protocols and advice in line with new information and guidance by the Government and by our regulating body Propertymark.

If you would like to discuss your property with us, have any concerns or would simply like some advice during this time please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our directors below:

Sales Director: Mark Scales – mark@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07870510129

Lettings Director: Alex Reach – alex@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07921382805

You can also view our Prepare for People Viewing Your Property Guide by clicking here and our Preparing for a Property Valuation Guide by clicking here.

I’m Worried About Paying My Mortgage

If you’re a Landlord (managed or let only), Vendor (currently on the market or previous client of ours) or Buyer (currently in the process of buying or a recent or historic client of ours) and you are worried about being able to pay your mortgage and would like some advice or just a friendly ear please get in contact with our team. We work closely with our mortgage and insurance broker partners Heron Financial and together we can provide advice and guidance to help you through this difficult time.

Vendors & Buyers: Mark Scales – mark@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07870510129

Landlords: Katrina Fernandes – katrina@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07737151290

BUYERS:

Active Buyers

If you are currently in the process of buying a property through Davies & Davies our team will be in regular contact with you. However, if you would like to discuss your purchase with us, have any concerns, or would simply like some advice during this difficult time please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our Director of Sales:

Sales: Mark Scales – mark@daviesdavies.co.uk / 07870510129

Our team have been publishing guides, advice and tips to help advise you through this difficult time, copies of which you can find on our blog here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/insights/ You can also ask to be adding to our Landlords or Vendors mailing list to receive weekly helpful guides and insights.

You can also view our Preparing to View a Property Guide by clicking here and you can view our team protocols for conducting a viewing or valuation to see what safety measures we’re doing whilst conducting viewings and valuations by please clicking here.

Prospective Buyers

If you’re interested in buying a property through Davies & Davies but haven’t yet been in contact with our team please drop us an email on info@daviesdavies.co.uk or call us on 0207 272 0986. We’re now able to conduct viewings – please see ‘Viewings, Valuations & Accessing Homes’ above.

Keep an eye on our blog for guides, advice and tips during this difficult time here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/insights/

You can also join our buyers mailing list by filling in our registration form at the bottom of our homepage here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/

You can also view our Preparing to View a Property Guide by clicking here and you can view our team protocols for conducting a viewing or valuation to see what safety measures we’re doing whilst conducting viewings and valuations by please clicking here.

Our Team:

How We’re Operating

Following consultation with our team and in line with Government guidelines, we have decided to advise our team to remain working from home.

We are aware, however, that some of our team wish to work from the office. In order to ensure safe working practices at our office, but also to help with our team’s wellbeing, we have decided to operate a ‘request and rota’ system. This means that we are running a rota noting who is working from our office on any one day – this helps us to not only ensure that we can always adhere to social distancing and safe working practices but also helps us to track and trace should the need arise. Team members can then apply in writing to work from the office, should they wish to. Acceptance of their request is dependent upon the number of team members in on the date requested. Alternative dates are offered where required.

Currently, two of the directors and a department manager are working in the office on a daily basis. Each are situated on different floors and are responsible for the safety of the work environment, any team members working from the office, and visitors.

Whilst our negotiators are largely working from home, they are able and happy to attend viewings and valuations.

To view our team protocols for conducting a viewing or valuation please click here.

Our Safety Measures

To keep our team, clients, customers and contractors safe we have created a set of COVID-19 protocols for our team members that adhere to the guidelines set out by the Government and our regulating body Propertymark. These protocols cover all of our current activity and range from ‘Working From the Office Safely’ to ‘How to Safely Perform a Viewing’. Our team have been trained in these protocols and have each signed a document to confirm that they have read, understood and agree to adhere to these protocols.

We have also performed a risk assessment and report of our office space to mark out potential points for contamination and to help ensure that we are able to socially distance when at the office. We have placed a safety marking on the floor of the ground floor office, which marks out where visitors must stand. We’ve put up safety signage on our front door and across the building. We’ve also ordered safety equipment for our team including face masks, gloves, hand sanitiser, sanitising spray and door safety openers.

We instructed a deep clean of the office on the 16th May and our office is being cleaned professionally every week day.

We’ve created a set of guides (please see ‘Full List of Guides’ below) for our Vendors, Landlords, Buyers, Tenants and Contractors that are being sent-out by email either en masse or upon every valuation or viewing request. We have also created this guide and will be communicating further about safety through our newsletters, social media, blog and on our website.

Helping the Local Community:

If you’re a Stroud Green or Finsbury Park resident (or live near these areas) you can find a regularly updated directory containing operating information and offers from small businesses, charities and local initiatives, accompanied by tips on how you can help your local community here: https://www.daviesdavies.co.uk/2020/03/help-support-our-local-community/

Full List of Guides:

Contractors: How to Prepare to Enter Someone’s Home Guide, click here.

Preparing for People Accessing Your Property (Contractors + Tradespeople), click here.

Preparing to View a Property Guide please click here.

How to Prepare for People Viewing Your Property Guide please click here.

Preparing for a Property Valuation Guide please click here.

To view our team protocols for conducting a viewing or valuation please click here.

Please note We’ll keep this information updated as things change but for now we’re available on our direct emails, mobile phones, office phone (0207 272 0986) and on info@daviesdavies.co.uk

Please note: all advice given within this article is for general guidance only and should not be considered legal advice.