Tradesmen are starting work again around here...

[Primetoes]

My Facebook feed this morning has lots of self employed kitchen fitters, carpenters, plumbers etc stating that they are back working as of tomorrow so get in touch for quotes etc.

We are in Wales where I didn’t think anything was meant to change as far as this type of work?

Have I missed the news where it is now ok to enter people’s homes? Or is it simply down to the homeowner to decide?

There are so many mixed messages about this. My husband is self employed and in Scotland it appears that he can't work raw social distancing though the government guidelines were that if you can wfh do but if not go to work.

They just weren't clear enough. Also I think at the start the trades couldn't get any materials but now DIY business have opened up maybe they can get the stuff now.

Still not sure if they would be breaking the law though!

Hopefully we will find out more tonight.

If you can’t work from home you can go to work & observe SD.
Very easy & simple

If you can work from home you should do so. Otherwise you should abide by social distancing and other safety rules.

But it also says you are not supposed to go to other people's houses - that's why so many trades didn't go to work.

It is not clear enough IMO.

Yes they were never stopped from working, as others said it is work from home where you can but if not you can go to work. It is then up to individuals if they want the workman in their house I guess.

Certain places around us, eg carpet fitters, closed outright after lockdown, saying that they weren’t allowed to enter peoples homes. People were also saying that you could only enter people’s homes in emergency...I’m still not sure how much basis this has in reality.

Government guidance is that people who work in other people's homes can work as long as they can maintain 2m distance from household members. Our cleaner came back this week and we have had outdoor builders in building an extension the whole time. Building Control at the council confirmed it was allowed.

They were never stopped from working in the first place but I think many people saw it as an opportunity to take some time off especially when the government announced the grants for self-employed people.
I’m not saying every tradesperson saw it as an excuse to not work when they could but from personal experience, we have a family member who is young, fit and healthy and was due to redo our front garden which would have been totally safe and wouldn’t have involved any contact with us at all. I thought it was perfect as he’d still be able to earn some money while other bigger building projects had been put on hold and he’d never have to enter our house but we were told he’s not working at the moment

So if workman can go into people's homes why can't removal teams?? . I'm waiting to move. Selfish point of view

Never stopped here.
Seemed to empty property and outside jobs though.

It did say initially that only ESSENTIAL work could be carried out in people's homes e.g. an emergency plumber - I wouldn't say that getting your living room painted or fitting wardrobes is essential.

@cushioncovers I guess it would be more difficult for teams of people to keep 2m apart? Rather than one tradesman.

Lots more workers' vans on the road.
We do need to get people back to work before everyone goes bust