England’s third lockdown may not be enough to suppress the new coronavirus variant, scientists have warned.
It is estimated that around one in 50 people in England had Covid-19 between Christmas and New Year
A record 60,916 new coronavirus infections were recorded on Tuesday, making it the eighth consecutive day the UK has recorded more than 50,000 daily cases, with 830 more deaths.
Although estate and letting agents are permitted to carry on working, they are doing so in a sensible manner by adhering to safety and social distancing guidance.
Tim Hyatt, head of residential at Knight Frank, commented: “In order to get back to some form of normality as quickly and as safely as possible, we must believe in the stringent adherence to the guidelines and give the vaccine time to overtake the number of infections.”
Knight Frank, like many agencies, has gone “above and beyond” to protect staff and clients, according to Hyatt.
He added: “Knight Frank has always taken steps to ensure the safety of its people and clients, the wellbeing of which has been our number one priority from the start.
“In light of the [lockdown] announcement and the severity of the current situation, we are being extra vigilant and cutting back the mixing of our agents even further.
“When working from home is not possible, we have introduced new protocols meaning no more than two people can be located in any of our high street offices at any one time. We continue to follow all the government guidelines with a watchful eye on our teams, insisting on the 2m ruling, the use of PPE and being as strict as possible on recommending virtual viewings.
“We are very much open for our clients, but taking a virtual first approach to ensure all are as safe as possible at this time.
“Throughout the pandemic Knight Frank has gone above and beyond the government guidelines, as an industry we have a social responsibility to do our bit. However, this is particularly difficult when Knight Frank’s office network across the UK is currently dealing with unprecedented levels of interest and a record number of properties under offer.
“With a clear focus on being a true partner in property to all our clients, we are here to help them navigate the current situation, providing clarity and frank advice during this uncertain time.”
Comments (28)
So, here is my humble opinion
My boss has taken the view that while we car remain “open”, we will keep doing what we have been doing for months now and that is to have minimal staff in the office, and others working from home on a rotational basis. We are quite lucky that we all have laptops which makes it easier to transport bits about to continue working.
We have been extra careful since the beginning, and are only showing properties to buyers that are in a proven position to proceed, and advising them they are to strictly follow the guidelines of face coverings to be worn, no touching anything and the 2m rule to be observed at all times where possible. Strict 15 minute viewings, with a virtual tour first, (and also available for a longer look at rooms etc.) and if anything, it has been more productive.
Our door remains locked to all but those that have a genuine need or appointment to come in, and whoever does come in will have a face covering, sanitise their hands and is seated (if needed) at one desk only at the very front of the office… which is regularly cleaned/disinfected before and after use
Do I find it off that such large sections of the working population are shut while we are not, YES … equally though, am I grateful to still have a job, YES – very much so!
Are these odd times and will we disagree on points? YES but everyone has to find their way of making it work best for them and their staff.
Some may not be as lucky as me and have a boss that is as understanding as mine but we can all keep ourselves safe. Masks on, not making drinks for each other, sanitiser and disinfectant everywhere so that when someone else touches something you need to touch you can clean it first.
It is about finding a solution that works for you and then making it work.
Anyway, stay happy folks of the internet world and play nice #WeAreOne
An office crammed full of staff is bordering criminal IMO.
A well ventilated office of say 750 sq/ft with two/three people at a distance in-between is probably just about acceptable. Like our industry its not rocket science-approach it with a degree of intelligence and I’m sure a mix of office and home is the right answer.
Difference this time is how easily this new virus spreads. If you have an office full of staff you will be closing down very soon!
I have closed my office, technically it has been closed to the public for months. We are geared up to work remotely, our tenants landlords and contractors can contact us. For viewings we are only showing empty property and following all guidelines. It is the public that need educating, we are still getting enquiries from applicants in London looking to view “when they come down next week!”
Some people just really need to stay at home if they are that scared.
I suspect that for those who appear overly hysterical about the viral issue, are at greater risk of suffering from anxiety and stress related illnesses (not to mention the very real affects of social isolation on mental health)…far more so, than any dangers posed by a SARS family virus.
There seems to be a great divide in the UK today between…
-Those who accept wholeheartedly the fear-mongering misinformation disseminated by the mainstream media, Governments and their ‘friends’ and partners (many of whom have their snouts firmly in the ‘Pharma’ trough)
and
-Those who dig a little deeper, and have assessed that this narrative has been so grossly misrepresented/propagandized as to appear criminal in its intent.
Dick Value, yesterday summarized some of the misleading facets quite concisely.
When I hear of ”the vaccine”, it is almost as if it is welcomed in a manner akin to Jesus’ second coming! It is worth noting that ”the vaccine”, is not a vaccine in the sense that many understand a vaccine to be, it is quite different (and has NEVER been used beyond a clinical trial setting. Ergo, the population is the ‘trial’…It beggar’s belief the huge numbers of people who know so very little about viruses and the manner in which they are treated, yet proclaim with astounding fervor, that we will be saved (by something of which they little, to no understanding).
”mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein, or even just a piece of a protein that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.”
There exists no long term testing/effects data.
Always lots of moaning about poor employers. Fact is there are a lot more bad employees.
Staff should be happy they still have a job and should be working harder than ever to ensure the business gets through these tough times.
If not hand your notice in and get a job in the public sector with the rest of the work shy.
I know this will upset a few people, not really bothered.
I bet if they were paid late by just a few days they would moan, on average, every branch of 4 four starts every month 15 – 20k in debt (ie. running costs) this needs to be found by the end of the month to pay staff, employers and suppliers. If there is an excess the owner will finally get a wage!
Stop moaning, do what you are paid to. If you don’t want to do up leave so someone who appreciates the position can take it and support your employer.
Smile pelase you hit the nail on the head totally bang on.Typically employees dont know the diffculties of running a business and why should they? That is out job.
That said, I cannot think there can be an employee in the land (except those who work in National Health England who are refusing to work on Sundays to get the vaccine distributed!) who hasnt been made aware of the commercial fragility of every business through these horrific times.
We have 185 staff and operate rigourous Covid saftey rules. We have conducted thousands of viewings, valuations and listings since last May and even with the infection rate leaping up, we have had no incidnets at all.
I think if we ordered our staff to work from home we would have a revolution on our hands.
We must be there to support our customers, many of whom are being forced to move through circumstances not of their choice.
For those who think its wrong then it is absolutely time for them to go and find a job they can do from home. But that isn’t estate agency
are we getting any discounts from
Rightmove?
Zoopla?
OnThe Market?
Why would we?
We had six people from six different households in our office yesterday, which is very worrying but our employer seems to think that Estate Agents are allowed to open so that’s where we should be even though we can work from home.
May I suggest you find a job in hospitality…
If you feel your employer is breaking the law then you can go to trading standards or even the local police. Have you taken this up with them?
what precautions are you taking yourself? Your employer cannot cover you in cotton wool.
Not everyone can work from home efficiently. There are also those who for whom ‘working from home’ produces very little work. Housing is important to people’s lives, some customers have to move or sell, and that’s why Estate Agents remain open.
Then why not the same support as others who are still working?
Our office has between 10-12 employees in on any given day. Full staff required to be in everyday, or risk of being terminated. It’s been established that our jobs can be done from home, while still providing service to those who need it. Our company however holds the view that since letting and estate agents are permitted to trade during lockdown, that it is “business as usual.”
Irresponsible, selfish, and downright dangerous
And so what do you and colleagues think about that……? Seems to me that when the dust settles, it will be even more clear to all that there are some companies who see their staff as a commodity, and some who see them as the principle resource of the business…….. I wonder which ones will have a future?
Should two members of staff from two different personal contact backgrounds be working together in the same office? You only need one of them to bring the virus in, pass it to his/her colleague and off we go again. Comments please.
I ask the question and get the thumbs down from non thinking idiots who haven’t even the gump to offer a reasoned response.
Not put a thumbs down but here is my take on it.
Are desks more than 2 meters apart, do they have their own computer, phone, mug?
On viewings do they use hand sanitizer, mask, gloves and wipes?
If the answer is yes no problem.
No more dangerous than a weekly shop round Tesco.
Thanks SP – there are so many takes on this, and yours is welcome
A lot less dangerous!
If they have no symptoms, what is the issue?
I tested positive a month ago and had no symptoms.
Dick Value – Do you not understand that a Covid positive person with no symptoms is just as likely to infect someone else as a Covid positive person with full blown symptoms?
I didn’t answer WatfordAgent’s point clevercloggs, you did. Try again. Do better. BTW, Watford Agent could have been one of MANY false positives the useless PCR test produces. Symptoms = infection. Basic stuff.
Could be, you’re right. But also bearing that in mind, if there is a number of false positives then there must also be a large number of false negatives. Infection = infection, not symptoms = infection.
False negatives exist but not to the level of false positives.
How do you know when you’re unwell? Oh yes, you show symptoms. Tell me an infection that has no symptoms.