COVID-19 – Phase 2 Advice for letting agents
The Scottish Government have released guidance on moving home in phase 2 of their Route Map through and out of the current COVID-19 crisis.
It recommends following ARLA Propertymark’s guidance which has been designed to help inform letting agents of new ways of working to observe safety measures while continuing to provide a professional service to current and prospective clients during the coronavirus (COVD-19) outbreak.
We would strongly urge you to consult this guidance.
Click here to view the Scottish Government Guidance
Click here to view the ARLA Propertymark Guidance
Let quickly, let safely, let digitally
The Scottish Government guidance outlines a number of key points which agents should consider and follow. We have been working hard and continue to invest in our technology to ensure that our member agents have the digital tools to let quickly and let safely while adhering to the guidance.
Pre-screen tenants
To reduce the spread of Coronavirus and keep the market moving, it is important that only people who are serious about renting a property should be taken to a physical viewing.
river allows agents to easily track the progress of all your applicants and select the best tenants with confidence using MyRentalCV.
Tenants are invited to pre-screen and build their own RentalCV complete with all the information you need to assess their suitability including a credit check, address history and previous tenancy ratings, ID documents and verified employment and income.
View digitally first
The guidance recommends that all viewings should be conducted virtually and online initially. You can upload these directly to Lettingweb for tenants to view.
If you need a virtual viewing shot for any of your properties, the team at riverview can help.
A riverview virtual viewing package eliminates the need for agents to plan and host as many physical viewings, saving time and money associated with them, while reducing the risk of physical contact with members of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Controlled physical viewings
Controlled viewings of property should be made by appointment only as a final check. All parties should provide a declaration of Coronavirus symptoms (current or previous) in writing or via email before viewing.
Tenants should confirm in writing or via email that they have appropriate protective equipment (e.g. gloves and face mask).
Without confirmation the viewing should not go ahead. As an extra precaution shoe coverings can be worn.
Sign leases online
Agents should discourage visitors from attending the office unless it is absolutely necessary.
You can reduce the need for tenants to come to the office to sign leases by creating them with river’s lease builder.
Send, track and sign all your leases digitally – all in one place, saving time and money associated with traditional wet signing.
FREE during the COVID-19 crisis: Streamline your letting process with river LPM
As a Lettingweb member during the COVID-19 crisis, you can get FREE access to river LPM, an end-to-end solution that allows letting agents to manage the entire journey from preparing to market through to digital lease signing all in one place.
Lettingweb Webinar – Preparing for the market reopening
If you missed our webinar last week, you want to share it with your staff or simply want to watch again, the recording is available now.
Topics covered:
Alex Watts, Lettingweb – Market update
Diane Monaghan, Lettingweb – Product update
Daryl Mcintosh, ARLA Propertymark – Government guidance
Rory Cowan, Bannatyne Kirkwood France & Co – Legal update
