Tradespeople like you have done an amazing job of adapting your working practices to keep yourself and your customers safe during the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. To keep up the good work, make sure that you’re up to date with the latest advice.
To help you to do just that, we’ve brought together our top safety tips for tradespeople and the latest government advice for the construction industry.
Click on the image below to download your guide for working in homes safely during COVID-19.
Country-specific COVID-19 rules
Last updated: 21st January 2021
ENGLAND
The government’s advised that tradespeople in England can carry out work inside people’s homes during the national lockdown (in place from 5th January 2021). You are also exempt from the gatherings limit in a home, as long as you’re there for work. This is as long as you, the homeowner and both your households are well and have no coronavirus symptoms. You must also follow the COVID-Secure guidance.
You shouldn’t carry out work in a home if anyone in the household is self-isolating, unless the work is to sort a problem which is a direct risk to the household’s safety, like emergency plumbing or repairs, and if you’re willing to do so.
WALES
From Friday 20th December 2020, the whole of Wales is at alert level 4. The Welsh government has confirmed that tradespeople can legally enter a home for reasons such as carrying out repairs and maintenance, activities supporting a house move, gardening, domestic cleaning and construction work.
You should only work in a private home if you can do so safely. In addition, you, the homeowner and your respective households must also be well and have no coronavirus symptoms. You must also follow all the reasonable measures and the guidance on working in other people’s homes.
The government recommends that no work is carried out in a household where someone is isolating, unless it is to repair a fault or to carry out an adaptation to allow the household to stay in their property. Take additional precautions in these instances, to keep both you and the homeowner safe. Public Health Wales can advise you in these specific cases. Find out more about the guidance for working in other people’s homes on Gov.wales.
NORTHERN IRELAND
From Saturday 26th December 2020, additional restrictions are in place in Northern Ireland. The government has confirmed that tradespeople can continue to enter people’s homes to carry out work such as repairs, installations and deliveries, unless they are specifically required to close under the regulations.
You should follow the public health advice and regulations whilst you’re in someone’s home, including keeping a 2-metre distance from the homeowner and their household. You shouldn’t enter a home if you, the homeowner or anyone in either of your households have coronavirus symptoms. Read more about doing work inside private homes on NI Direct.
SCOTLAND
From 5th January 2021, mainland Scotland is in a temporary lockdown (some islands will remain at Level 3) meaning you can only leave your house or garden for an essential purpose. The Scottish government has confirmed that you can leave your home for work.
The Scottish government has also confirmed that tradespeople can enter other people’s homes to carry out essential work, such as:
- Utility (electricity, gas, water, telephone, broadband) safety checks, repairs, maintenance and installations (where they can’t be delayed).
- Repairs and maintenance that would threaten the health and safety of the household if not completed.
- Deliveries, installation or repairs of key household appliances and furniture such as fridges, washing machines and cookers.
- House move-related work, such as furniture removal.
- Domestic cleaning for people in vulnerable circumstances and/or living with a disability, who are unable to clean their own home as a result of that circumstance or disability, in order to support a clean and safe living environment for them.
When working inside a home, you should follow the guidance on working safely, including wearing a face covering and maintaining social distancing. Work can take place as long as you, the homeowner and everyone in both of your households are well and have no coronavirus symptoms.
For more COVID-19 support, visit our Trade Advice Centre:
- Coronavirus: FAQs for tradespeople
- Government coronavirus support for construction businesses
- Coronavirus: How to keep safe whilst working
- Coronavirus: Staying safe whilst working on a construction site
- Winter Economy Plan: The latest coronavirus government support for tradespeople
- 6 lockdown lessons about running a business
- Coronavirus: Digital marketing tips to make your small business stand out
- Coronavirus: Which builders’ merchants are open to tradespeople?
Thank you for the above. It’s an interesting topic you raise and I think that trade business owners have really done a great job at adapting and working within the strict guidelines. It will be interesting to see the impact on the trades in this coming year as restrictions lift.