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Housebuilding should continue during lockdown, Jenrick tells industry
The government has written to the housing industry to confirm that housebuilding, repairs work and the housing market should continue operating throughout the upcoming month-long COVID-19 lockdown in England.
In a letter signed by the housing secretary Robert Jenrick, alongside the executive chair of the Home Builders Federation and the chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, the industry was advised that “work can continue if this is done in line with public health guidance”.
“Housebuilding – and its supply chains – should continue working securely,” the letter said.
“Construction and other site workers can go to work. Care should be taken to respect social distancing while travelling to and from work as well as in the workplace.”
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In addition to construction work, it confirmed that home repairs and maintenance can carry on during the lockdown alongside the buying, selling and renting of homes.
Building safety remediation work should also continue throughout the second lockdown and the government has written to local authorities to emphasise the importance of this, the letter said.
It comes the day before England prepares to enter its second national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 crisis, with the public being told to work from home where possible.
The advice differs partly from that issued at the start of the first national lockdown in March, when the housing market was frozen for six weeks and landlords were told only to carry out “urgent and serious” repairs and maintenance work.
While construction sites were never officially ordered to close, the majority shut down for a brief period over spring as social distancing measures were implemented.
Since then, construction sites have been following site operating procedures, which are published and updated regularly by the Construction Leadership Council.
Government guidance has also been published to advise on how to carry out repairs work or move house safely.
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