Thorner's Homes: Coronavirus & our Contractors

13th October 2023

Working in people’s homes as a tradesperson / contractor

Can you come in?

If you are a contractor / tradesperson carrying out essential repairs and maintenance in our flats. You can continue work, providing that you are well and have no symptoms. No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild, or when someone in their own household has symptoms.

Tradespeople should assess whether the visit is essential or if the work can be safely postponed. There may be alternatives to a visit, such as a phone or video call. If the visit cannot be postponed you should agree the procedures in advance with our Wardens and the resident in question.

During a visit

You should notify all clients in advance of your arrival. On entry to the home you should wash your hands using soap and water for 20 seconds. You should wash your hands regularly, particularly after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing, and when leaving the property. Where facilities to wash hands are not available, hand sanitiser should be used, and you should carry this with you at all times.

If you are a tradesperson, you should maintain a safe distance (at least 2 metres) from our residents at all times, and ensure good ventilation in the area where you are working, including opening the window, if possible.

If our resident is extremely vulnerable or has coronavirus symptoms

No work should be carried out in any flat which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless your work is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repair.

Tradespeople undertaking work that needs to go ahead in a flat which is self-isolating or where the resident is being shielded, should take additional steps to ensure the safety of the resident and themselves:

- you should ask the resident to stay in a separate room while the work is carried out. If this is not possible, they should stay as far away from you as possible
- prior arrangements should be made with vulnerable people to avoid any face-to-face contact – for example, when answering the door
- you should be particularly strict about hand washing and respiratory hygiene. Once the work is completed, you should tell the customer which surfaces and areas you have come in to contact with. However, you should carry out this cleaning yourself prior to leaving. 

No work should be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild, or where someone in their household has symptoms.

For further information please see the Government’s guidance at:

Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)