WITH the new lockdown now in force, we have been told by the government to stay at home and minimise our contact with others outside our household and support bubble.

In most instances, no one is allowed to enter your property until restrictions ease – so what does this mean for tradespeople working inside your house, especially if work is due to start soon?

The government has confirmed that tradespeople can continue to enter other people's homes to carry out work, including repairs, maintenance and all other home improvements at this difficult time.

It is listed within the 'permitted purposes' for meeting others from outside your household but the general advice is any work which is not urgent or cannot be carried out while effectively following the social distancing guidelines, should be postponed.

Further official guidance states that permission 'applies to those working in, visiting or delivering to home environments. These include, but are not limited to, people working in the following areas: in home workers – such as repair services, fitters, meter readers, plumbers, cleaners, cooks, visiting childcare providers, and surveyors (this is not an exhaustive list)'.

Rated People offered the following advice for making a visit from a tradesperson as safe as possible:

  • Before a tradesperson arrives at your home, chat to them about how the work will be done with social distancing and hygiene measures in mind.
  • Prepare your home by opening windows and doors to help air circulate and save them needing to touch door handles.
  • Maintain a two-metre distance from the tradesperson while they are working.
  • After they leave, disinfect any handrails and surfaces they may have come into contact with.
  • Let the tradesperson know if you or another member of your household develop any coronavirus symptoms at any time, both during and after the job's done.