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  4. Social Distancing: Preparing For Your Trader

Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Homeowner Advice

Social Distancing: Preparing For Your Trader

In these challenging times, it is easy to let everything feel like a threat. Last week we talked about contact with the unsung heroes – our frontline workers: plumbers, electricians, boiler repair services and other essential traders. At the time of publishing, the government advice specifies that traders can work in people’s homes as long as they do not have any symptoms, and haven’t had symptoms for the last two weeks.

In these challenging times, it is easy to let everything feel like a threat. Last week we talked about contact with the unsung heroes – our frontline workers: plumbers, electricians, boiler repair services and other essential traders. At the time of publishing, the government advice specifies that traders can work in people’s homes as long as they do not have any symptoms, and haven’t had symptoms for the last two weeks.

If people are self-isolating or shielding because they have been advised by the government that they are vulnerable, traders are advised to avoid doing work in homes unless the task is emergency work required for the safety of the household (e.g. gas, electricity, plumbing). Even in these instances, traders are able to decline work if they feel that they are putting their health, or the health of their household, at risk. With this in mind, this week we will cover how you can help to keep everyone safe with a few practical tips.

Before they arrive

Before your trader arrives, you can help them by minimising the time that they spend in your home by doing what you can beforehand. For example, if they are coming to look at a leak in the cupboard under the sink, you can help by emptying the cupboard first. If they may need to move furniture out of the way to get to what they need to see, move it for them beforehand; this will reduce their contact with different items as well as time in your home.

Feel free to ask your trader if they have their own gloves and hand sanitiser; if they don’t, you can get some for them to use. Likewise, you could help reduce transmission by using disposable cups.

Half an hour before your trader is due, wipe down all the surfaces that they are likely to touch using disinfectant; put their mind at rest by letting them know the measures that you have taken.

When they leave

Regardless of whether or not your trader is coming back the next day, as soon as they leave, make sure that you thoroughly disinfect anything that they could have come in contact with.

If anybody in your household develops any virus symptoms within the two week period following your trader’s visit, make sure that you do them the courtesy of letting them know. Likewise, clarify with your trader that you would like them to let you know if they or anyone in their household develops symptoms.

These are certainly challenging times, but if people are sensible and respectful, we are confident that our reliable, trusted traders will be able to keep your homes running smoothly even in these adverse conditions. What’s more, when this is over, we will continue to celebrate our trusted, local traders and keep them busy with all the jobs we couldn’t ask them to do during this period!

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Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

  • What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

    Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.

  • Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

    Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.

  • Should I renovate my home or move house?

    There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.

  • What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

    A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.

  • What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

    Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.

  • What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

    If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

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