Housing company Gentoo has announced it will be operating an ’emergency repairs only’ policy in response to the coronavirus crisis.
At the time of writing, 335 people had died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
As officials continue to grapple with the Covid-19 outbreak, leisure facilities, venues and restaurants have shut their doors – with schools also closed to the vast majority of pupils.
In recent weeks, Government bosses have advised against mass gatherings while encouraging people to follow “social distancing” guidelines.
In response to the pandemic, Gentoo Group, which owns and manages more than 28,000 social housing properties in Sunderland, has announced changes to services.
The shake-up aims to “minimise the threat and spread of the virus” and includes limiting works to “emergency responsive repairs only.”
In the current situation, an emergency repair is classed as:
- Total loss of power (not including power cuts in the area or loss due to pre-payment meter credit running out)
- Total loss of heating or hot water
- Excessive water leaks that cannot be contained
- Water on electrics
- No power to medical equipment e.g. stair lifts
- External communal doors not opening or closing
- Full sounding fire alarms
- Blocked toilet (if only one toilet in the house)
- Exit door or ground floor window not secure
- Suspected gas leaks/escapes
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Suspected exposure to carbon monoxide
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Where possible, Gentoo will carry out routine repair work that has already been scheduled or appointed
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Repairs to void properties, heating replacements and compliance safety checks will also continue until further notice
As part of its response to coronavirus, Gentoo has scrapped cash payments at local area offices with tenants making payments by card, online, over the phone or at the post office / paypoints.
In residential buildings, “intensive cleaning” is also taking place in communal areas, covering lifts and bannisters, alongside the closure of communal rooms and guest rooms.
A statement on Gentoo’s website stresses the welfare of tenants, residents and employees are its “number one priority.”
It goes on to say: “In line with guidance from the Government and Public Health England, we’ve implemented a range of measures and procedures to both protect people and minimise the threat of the disease.
“Our staff have been working remotely or from home where possible and we have stopped non-essential travel and home visits.”
If or when a ‘lockdown’ is triggered by the Government in relation to coronavirus, Gentoo offices and depots will be closed to staff and tenants.
As part of this, the housing firm would provide “critical services only”.
Gentoo customers are advised to contact their neighbourhood coordinators directly if they have any queries about service changes.
For contact numbers and more details on Gentoo’s response to coronavirus, visit: www.gentoogroup.com/coronavirus
