Here is a thought leadership article on challenges property managers are facing amidst worsening weather conditions and Covid-19 from Rajeev Nayyar - Managing Director at Fixflo. Fixflo is a market-leading repairs and maintenance management software company that is widely regarded as one of the most innovative businesses our industry has to offer. In this article, Rajeev shares his thoughts on what he describes as "a perfect storm" for property managers.
As we bid January goodbye, those working in property management may have reasons to worry.
Last February, three storms descended on the UK one after the other, causing loss of lives and left behind thousands of damaged properties across England and Wales, and many occupants displaced by severe flooding and gales. Looking at Fixflo system data on one million+ property during the three-day rampage by Storm Ciara (9th — 11th February 2020), the largest spike in reactive repair reports was seen in ‘exterior & garden’ type issues (up 186% from the same period in 2019) with those relating to ‘fences’ and ‘windows’ being reported the most.
One year on, as letting agents in England continue to deliver property management services against a host of challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, they and their tenants and landlords are bracing against over 300 flood warnings and alerts.*
Agents operating in areas with weather warnings should consider working with their tenants and landlords to minimise potential property damage and avoid injuries. Advising tenants to turn off gas and electrical supply and educating them on how to turn off the water supply at the mains can be very helpful in case of flooding. Landlords could help by providing sandbags and towels that can be useful for minor floods and prevent water from spreading to more rooms.
Fixflo system data collected in the months following the first 2020 lockdown showed an evident slump in repair issue completion before recovering to normal levels in August. The repairs backlog required several months to clear. We also surveyed 37 letting agents at the end of last year to better understand how the pandemic affected their day-to-day operations. Access issues topped the list of causes for delays in handling repairs & maintenance; contractor availability was a strong second. Many agency businesses are currently dealing with a backlog of repair works paused by these challenges.
With England likely to stay under lockdown until at least the end of February, Property Managers, particularly those in areas with high risks of severe weather should prepare for a possible perfect storm that could compound a sharp spike in repair requests onto an already backlogged system.
A robust and efficient repair reporting portal (not to be confused with a property management system) where occupiers can self-report repairs with all essential details 24/7 will be a necessary function in any property management tech stack.
A specialist repairs & maintenance management solution can automate these processes, support Property Managers with accurate diagnosis and triage, and automatically create an audit trail for insurance claims or disputes. All of these will allow Property Managers to give their landlords and tenants the peace of mind knowing they’re in good hands.
Watch this video to find out how this lettings business was able to use tech to overcome lockdown challenges, including remote working and occupier communications.
Fixflo has also created a guide on Mitigating Covid-19 Risks When Handling Repairs which explains how technology could assist in an ongoing pandemic and allow agents and contractors to work safely and maintain service levels.
*Source: https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings
