The IWFM has joined other built estate membership organisations in asking the government to help key facilities personnel continue their work during the coronavirus crisis.
In a letter to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the organisations point out that many of their members who typically provide key facilities and safety-critical services “are struggling to provide them, sometimes because of public perceptions about who should be able to move around in the current environment.”
This has led to some personnel being denied travel or refused entry to buildings.
The letter emphasises the importance of ensuring that this core group of professionals “remain active and have access to specific buildings – taking into account social distancing practices – in order to ensure they are properly monitored and maintained.”
Suggestions made by the group include:
- An official template letter, which could be downloaded and used by employers, employees and self-employed tradespeople carrying out critical functions. Or alternatively;
- Direction as to what critical tradespeople should carry as documents, and what to do if challenged.
Together with the Construction Leadership Council, the group has compiled a list of critical functions and given this to government. They point out how the issue is not just one of safety, but also of legal compliance should a relevant professional be denied the ability to carry out their jobs.
The letter, sent late last week, was signed by the following organisations:
- Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) British Property Federation (BPF)
- College and University Business Officers (CUBO)
- Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM)
- Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM)
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- UK Apartment Association (UKAA)