A MESSAGE WITH A DIFFERENCE FROM THE MANAGING AGENT TO ALL LESSEES AND TENANTS

One of our trainers Andrew, is a block manager and very much used to the day to day running of blocks. He sent us the letter which he circulated to all lessees and tenants in the block his company manages. There is a seriousness to it, but it is full of concern, humanity and care for those reading it.

Dear Leaseholder,

I am writing to you all I’m afraid, about the main topic of the news!

However, I thought instead of a dry protocol letter I would like to share my thoughts with you all.  I have found myself in reflective mood as this situation unfolds and apart from those of you that know me well, or have been to our office, you probably will not know of my interest in second world war aircraft and flying.  I say that as I have collected for many years now prints of aircraft both signed and unsigned and they cover the office walls, (understandably, I am not allowed them at home apart from in my office there!).  Indeed, over Alison’s desk is a signed print of two Lancasters from 617 ‘Dambusters’ squadron over the Mohne dam, appropriate as her Father himself flew in Lancasters as a Flight Engineer. This interest as a young man opened a lot of opportunities for me and I have been privileged to meet and have been friends with pilots and aircrew who actually flew in the second world war and have heard them tell their stories first hand, the good and the bad. 

Anyway, I remembered how my Mother called me from Australia a good few years ago and asked if her friend’s husband could lodge with me as he was coming over for an RAF reunion and a holiday from Melbourne, Australia and so it transpired that a certain Tom Hawkins, formally of 49 Squadron, Bomber Command, arrived a few weeks later.  We had never met but we got on extremely well and we would spend many evenings chatting well into the night and indeed became good friends.  He was a very quiet, steady and gentle man who disliked violence and about the last person who you would suspect to be a Lancaster pilot flying bombing raids. I asked him one night how he dealt with this and his reply was;

 ‘ Well, we didn’t know then what we know now all we knew was that everyone had to do what they could. I happened to be able to fly a ‘plane so they sent me to England and told me to fly a Lancaster!’.

What struck a chord with me thinking about this was that we are in a crisis situation now and what could we do to help, in particular to assist our elderly and vulnerable lessees and tenants.

So as well as introducing what you would expect from us as a managing agent in terms of increased cleanliness routines from contractors, additional sanitising and cleaning routines from cleaners, protective gloves when contractors enter your flat etc. we want to ensure that every vulnerable lessee and tenant is fully supported.  To this end we are attaching an information sheet with our personal mobile numbers on and if it is outside office hours please send a text or email or leave a message on XXXXXXXX. .

Our message to you all is simple. We do not have massive resources as we are only a small company but we can offer some support.  We can be there for a chat if you have to self-isolate, we can organise your shopping and supplies if needed, we can assist with spreading service charge payments should this be necessary further down the line.  In essence we want to ensure that we are there for you and will continue to be there during what I suspect will be ‘the long haul’.

On this note I was very humbled the other day to receive an email from one of our lessees offering their services to anyone in their block who needed any shopping doing and that simple, kindly offer I know will mean the world to some of the Leaseholders there who will potentially really struggle and that got me thinking that we could extend this sort of assistance ourselves to all our blocks.

So please read the sheet attached and if you can volunteer to help now or in the future please let us know.  It doesn’t have to be much just a support network working with us to give comfort to those in need in our blocks, when they need it, or to wipe down the door handles daily should we have an issue within the block, or just the offer of a friendly chat on the ‘phone.  We don’t want anyone to feel alone or unsupported.

Again, those of you that know me will know I always try and pull the positives out of a situation and whilst this one is a bit of a struggle, putting it mildly, maybe this will focus all of us on the fact we are all human beings, our former enemies are now our friends and we are all in the same boat as human beings and maybe this situation will cause us to reflect on this and what we share in common rather than the multitude of petty differences that potentially separate us.

We, like the world in 1939, don’t know what will come, the extent or the resultant issues which will unfold and which will doubtless cause financial suffering as well as physical suffering or most importantly just like our forebears how long this will last but our thoughts are that our main focus must be on supporting you when you need it and please be assured that myself, Alison and all the team will aim and commit to do just that.

With our warmest regards to you all.

Andrew V. Truby BA

Director- Managing Agent.

FROM THE MANAGING AGENT IN RELATION TO CORONAVIRUS - COVID 19

Please follow these procedures to help keep everyone safe and supported.

You MUST tell us if you are self-isolating, so we know there is a potential issue at your block.

You MUST tell us if you or anyone at your flat has COVID 19 again so we can increase hygiene at the block and notify contractors and other residents.

If you are a landlord please ensure your tenants are fully aware of this information, we will also display notices in all the blocks.

Please continue to report repairs as normal. In the event a contractor needs to enter your flat during your isolation they will wear an anti-bacterial and viral mask, a protective suit and gloves. Please do not be alarmed this is for both their and your protection and safety.

If you need help with getting food delivered or anything else please call either Andrew on XXXXXXXXX or Alison on XXXXXXXXXX or email XXXXXXXXXX or leave a message on XXXXXXXXX.

If you are potentially able to offer any kind of support to vulnerable tenants or lessees at your block please let us know. This may be just being available for a friendly chat on the ‘phone, to getting food or giving a lift.

Finally, if you are self-isolating or ill please feel free to give us a call just for a chat if you wish to we don’t want anyone in any block to feel alone or unsupported.