Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Latest update on lettings and property viewings
19 May 2020
Updated 19 May 2020
Last week, the government updated its guidance, in collaboration with Public Health England, to social landlords and local authorities on how to manage their allocation and lettings processes. The new government (COVID-19) regulations now make it clear that people who wish to move home can do so while also ensuring public safety and protection of vulnerable people.
As a result, we’ll follow the government’s guidance and begin advertising and letting our social rent homes again with the local councils who have also decided to open their lettings service. The process of finding and moving into a new home will be different to before as we’ll have to adapt our practices and procedures to ensure that the risk of spread of coronavirus is reduced as far as possible.
If you’re looking to move home, please check with your local councils housing service to find out if they’ve opened this service and are advertising homes again through their Choice Based Lettings service. We can confirm that East Hertford and Brent councils began advertising our available social rent homes and people on their housing register have been able to bid for properties from 15 May.
Changes we’ve made to viewing a social rent property and signing a tenancy
If you’re bid with the council for one of our available properties is successful, we’ll contact you and explain the changes to our process for viewing and signing up to a tenancy that meets the government guidance on social distancing and keeping people safe. We’ll also want to discuss with you your current health and if you, or a member of your household are self-isolating or shielding and your arrangements for moving before we can proceed with the move.
Obviously these processes will take a little longer than it has in the past and we ask that you bear with us during this difficult time.
Along with the council, we’ll continue to review the advertising and letting process to ensure they meet the government’s guidelines and that the safety of residents and staff is protected. If we have concerns then the service may be suspended again while we review processes.
Changes we’ve made to viewing an intermediate rent, SmartRent and London Living rent property
If you’re interested in moving and are interested in our intermediate, SmartRent or London Living rent, you can find out more about them below and search for available homes using the ‘Find a home’ button. We’re following the government guidance for the letting of these properties therefore all face to face viewings are still on hold. Virtual viewings are available and links to virtual tours can be found on the property adverts.
Our response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
