Pro Tenant was established four years ago as a relocation and accommodation services specialist, specifically supporting early-career talent and graduates moving throughout the UK. The unprecedented situation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic has impacted the plans of all graduate employers. In fact, two thirds of university students approaching graduation have had job applications paused or withdrawn, according to a survey published by YouGov/Bright Minds. Pro Tenant are fully aware of the impact the Coronavirus “lockdown” has had on graduate mobility and the major challenges presented to both graduate and employer alike.

Covid-19: a case study

Over the last three months Pro Tenant have been supporting our clients and their graduates by managing a number of Covid-19 specific challenges and complications. An extreme situation included a trainee on placement who returned to their house share accommodation to find a fellow sharer had unfortunately died in their room having previously complained of ‘flu like’ symptoms. As well as ensuring the whole house was immediately hygienically cleaned and disinfected to ensure the safety and well-being of the graduate, we had to source alternative ‘shared’ accommodation and negotiated an early termination of the existing tenancy with the preparation of a ‘Deed of Surrender’, with no financial penalties being incurred by the client. To protect the interests of the residents at the new property we also had to ensure the graduate self-isolated for a further 14 days, before moving into their new home.

Early-termination of tenancy contracts

Where the furloughing of graduates has been required (14% of all graduates according to the Institute of Student Employers - ISE) or where graduates have had to terminate their contracts prematurely or return to the family home to self-isolate (this has happened to 25% of renters according to a survey by Opinium), negotiating the early termination of tenancy agreements and house/flat share agreements (with minimum or zero financial penalties) has more recently become the most common service request, in an otherwise enforced period of talent immobility.The recent announcements around the restarting of the UK housing market by the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick will certainly help new talent needing to relocate. When graduate mobility does return more fully, our role will continue to be to ensure our client’s employees remain safe and suitably advised (whether that be when arranging physical property viewings, organising early terminations or providing clarification of existing tenancy terms), whilst strictly following the government’s social distancing and hygiene guidelines.

Property tours: a change is needed

Conducting “traditional” accompanied home-finding tours of properties as we know it, needs to change. As relocation professionals we need to adapt our approach to ensure compliance; from the initial needs assessment phase through to how the consultant interacts with the graduate and the practicalities of viewing “etiquette”. Every physical interaction needs a clearly structured and documented risk analysis - the new normal of living with Covid-19.Find out more at www.pro-tenant.co.uk

Visit our Coronavirus resource centre for more information.

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