Gentoo restarts essential services for tenants within guidelines

It will restart gas safety checks in its properties, with social distancing strictly adhered to and all staff supplied with the necessary PPE.

Engineers will call tenants ahead of appointments to discuss their circumstances before arriving at a property. Once there they will follow strict social distancing guidelines. Tenants will be asked to stay in another room while important safety checks are done.

Gentoo says all their gas engineers have been fully briefed and that tenants who do not wish to give engineers access do not have to. However, under current law checks must be carried out at least once every 12 months.

The association will continue to deliver other essential services, currently reduced under Covid-19 restrictions, including emergency repairs. But its offices will remain temporarily closed. It has also restarted other services, including grass cutting and street cleaning.

Gentoo Group’s chief executive officer, Nigel Wilson, said: “The welfare of our tenants and colleagues is our number one priority. Since the Government introduced national restrictions, we have continued to monitor the situation and any developments in the context of Gentoo.

“Restarting these essential services is vital in protecting tenants and ensuring our properties and neighbourhoods remain safe to live in.

“Gas safety checks for example, as well as being a legislative requirement for landlords, are important now more than ever, with the majority of people spending all of their time in the home.

“It’s also important for our wellbeing that we all continue to use our one opportunity to complete daily outdoor exercise and therefore crucial Gentoo keeps its estates and open spaces clean and safe for the public.”

Gentoo tenants and residents are reminded that they can continue to contact their neighbourhood coordinators about any tenancy related matters. They are also able to pay rent online and report emergency repairs over the telephone.

Click here to see the UK’s latest coronavirus figures.

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