Propertymark has revealed how estate agency offices are to be run if agents want to follow best practice, as many do while nervous staff return to work.

This guidance reveals how, as many agents will soon find out when they return to their offices and some have already have found out, branches are going to be very different places to the ones branch staff left behind in late March.

Published by Propertymark late yesterday, the advice includes new measures as well as confirming the introduction of previously highlighted rules developed in partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

This includes floor tape and signage to mark areas to help employees keep a safe distance from each other and that all surfaces and office equipment must be disinfected at the start and end of the working day by staff rather than cleaners.

Social interaction

Much of the social interaction that many agents enjoy at work will also be reduced; Propertymark says social gatherings in communal areas such as kitchens and seating areas should be kept to a minimum.

Also, if agents can afford it and it is practical, they are urged to separate workers with plastic screens on desks, and also that each desk should feature a hand sanitiser dispenser.

In larger branch and head offices with larger meeting rooms, team gatherings are to be kept to a minimum, the use of lifts severely restricted and that reception staff must wear PPE equipment.

Client meetings in offices are also to be a significant no-no and can only be held where a video meeting is not possible. And office managers will have to record the comings and goings of member of the public in case the information is needed for contact tracing at a later stage.