Following the publication of the UK Housing Secretary’s Housing Market ReStart and Safe Working Charter updates, DEXTERS, London’s leading independent Chartered Surveyor and estate agent, are reopening their network of 70 offices across the capital to the general public, and restarting physical property viewings, with new anti-Coronavirus safeguarding and social distancing procedures in place.

DEXTERS, a £100 million turnover estate agency business, will reopen to the public with detailed anti-Coronavirus safeguarding and social distancing procedures in place, based on guidance from the Housing Secretary’s Restart and Safe Working Charter guidelines.

All DEXTERS offices will be fully compliant in terms of employee COVID-19 education and poster reminders with two metre separation in place for workstations and seating. The offices have antibacterial hand washing facilities and wipes/gels and an enhanced sanitation and cleaning regime throughout each day for the offices.

The offices will only be open to the public by appointment in order to protect customers and colleagues and in the event that customers visit offices they will be required to wear gloves and face coverings and DEXTERS can supply these if customers do not have them.

Local office managers will be routinely checking colleague temperatures and health, as DEXTERS is determined to have safe workplaces and the agency will be questioning both householders and buyer/tenant visitors about their health with the estate agency operating to a strict COVID-19 safeguarding code which will veto property visits if colleagues are unsure about anyone’s health.

For customers viewing properties for sale or rental the properties will be unoccupied with the DEXTERS sales agent standing at a discreet distance to ensure social distancing. Prior to the viewing all doors will be open and lights switched on, to help ensure that customers do not need to touch anything, and windows will be open to provide ventilation.

During property viewings DEXTERS sales agents will wear gloves and face coverings to help maintain perfect hygiene in the client’s homes and protect both colleagues and customers.

With fine attention to detail DEXTERS is also instigating the sanitation of keys, company/staff cars and DEXTERS bicycles which colleagues use. In addition all tradesmen and suppliers have been issued with detailed government guidance and DEXTERS is working to help ensure they are fully compliant with them.

Jeff Doble, Chairman of DEXTERS says: “DEXTERS is pleased to announce that all of our offices across London are reopening for business, and physical viewings can recommence. Our high quality service is the same, even if our workplaces and safeguarding procedures are now very different. Attention to detail is what being Covid-safe working is all about and our focus is on ensuring that our customers and everyone who works for us can be confident about their wellbeing. We have put in place industry-leading, detailed guides for sellers and buyers, landlords and tenants which will reassure all of our customers. We are absolutely certain we can operate responsibly and safely from each of our local offices, providing our usual, award winning service. We are also limiting public access to our offices and encouraging much more telephone and video contact.”