Key Government Guidance for Letting Agents - Part II
As we move into month 5 since the UK went into full-scale lockdown, further restrictions were reintroduced for Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire. People from separate households in these areas are not allowed to mix with each other in their homes or gardens, or in pubs and restaurants. In Leicester, A local lockdown has been in place for several weeks, restrictions are also in place on household visits.
Every day the Government issues information relating to the impact of Covid-19 on different aspects of life in the UK. It is challenging enough to deal with the day to day running of a letting agency and It is too much information for any one individual to read and absorb, as well as implement to not only ensure personal safety but also professional.
We hope the following links will provide some assistance in navigating some of the aspects that need to be dealt with.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 however mild, you must self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started. You should arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 – go to testing to arrange. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You and everyone else in your household must remain at home. Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis.
Actions for HE providers during the coronavirus outbreak
This guide will assist with understanding how universities will be dealing the return of students this academic year. You may find it helpful to consult guidance contained in the government’s recovery strategy and on:
Updates to the shielding programme on national and regional levels
From Saturday 1 August, shielding guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable will be paused across England. This means those who have been shielding over the course of the pandemic will no longer be advised to do so, and can begin to go back to work and school as long as the sites are COVID-secure.
Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
The clinically extremely vulnerable were advised to take extra precautions during the peak of the pandemic in England. This was known as ‘shielding’. As from the 1st August 2020, the government is advising that shielding is no longer required at the moment. This is because the rates of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community have fallen significantly.
There is specific guidance on what will happen if there is a local lockdown in a particular area.
This guidance is government advice and it’s up to the individual’s personal choice whether to follow it.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
The guidance is for visa customers and applicants in the UK, visa customers outside of the UK and British nationals overseas who need to apply for a passport affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus.
After the COVID-19 measures end
We will let you know in advance when these measures will end. After that date you must to revert to the checking process set out in the code of practice on illegal immigrants and private rented accommodation and right to rent document checks: a user guide.
You should carry out retrospective checks on tenants who:
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started their tenancy during this period
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required a follow-up check during this period
You should mark the retrospective check: “the individual’s tenancy agreement commenced on [insert date]. The prescribed right to rent check was undertaken on [insert date] due to COVID-19.”
The retrospective check must be carried out within 8 weeks of the COVID-19 measures ending. Both checks should be kept for your records.