Repairs
As a responsible employer and landlord Grampian Housing Association has developed robust procedures to ensure we reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout our operations. Our revised working practices take account of all our varied working scenarios, including processes for working safely on properties while delivering cyclical maintenance (statutory & safety), reactive repairs or planned improvements like kitchens or window replacements.
Safeguarding our employees, contractors and customers and the communities we work in will remain our top priority as we re-mobilise repairs, including special consideration for those who are particularly vulnerable or in the group of those who are ‘shielding’.
How to report your repair
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Restrictions on meetings are still in place however you should continue to report your repair request in the normal manner via the phone (0300 123 9279), email (repairs@grampianhousing.co.uk) or social media. Sending photos of your repair or fault may assist us with a quick assessment of what work needs to be done by our contractor.
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A confirmation of your repair request will now be sent by email or text, and only by letter where we don’t have these contact details.
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Our contractors will then arrange a mutually suitable appointment to carry out the repair and this appointment will be confirmed by text if we have a mobile contact number.
It is vital that Grampian Housing and our term contractors reassure you of our safe working procedures and we will establish individual circumstances and any specific vulnerability you may have by conducting a telephone survey prior to our appointed visit to your home.
Depending on the scenarios arising from each call, our visit may be re-arranged to a time when you are well enough for our visit.
If you are particularly vulnerable, ‘shielding’, symptomatic, participating in trace and protect protocols or just not comfortable with our visit due to general concern over the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will act sensitively and considerately to re-arrange our visit to a time that suits your individual needs or postpone the repair.
Robust risk assessments have been carried out to cover both on-site and in-home works as well as working from home and the office. Each takes into account key pieces of legislation the risks presented by staff becoming infected with COVID-19 and specific hazards related to travel and operational activities. Specific control measures are proposed for each hazard, including good hygiene practice, social distancing and safe storage of equipment.
Key changes in Phase Two for service users
External repairs will restart from Monday 22 June
We will accept new repair requests for external or communal area repairs from that date (where safe to do so and with customer consent). Understandably there is a backlog of repairs and ongoing delays in the supply chain for some materials so please be aware although we will issue repairs we may struggle to meet the stated target completion dates. Contractors will keep you informed of expected timescales when booking appointments.
Internal response repairs
We hope to restart internal response repairs with control measures in place by Monday 6 July.
External Wall Insulation (EWI)
Contractors installing EWI will communicate a restart date from Monday 22 June.
Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR)
Contractors will be carrying out statutory EICR surveys in communal areas of flatted developments from Monday 22 June.
Window replacement surveys
These surveys should start on Monday 13 July and contractors will communicate appointments.
Our safe operating procedures are based on the latest guidance issued by key bodies and working groups, including:
Scottish Government guidance;
Health Protection Scotland Guidance for General Non-Healthcare Settings;
Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum;
Housemark, Scottish Housing Federation of Housing Associations and Scottish Housing Network.
Click here to read remobilisation plan linked to the Scottish Government route map out of lockdown.
