UK Covid lockdown rules question

[SunStruck]

Hi,

I live abroad and have done for years which is why I need to ask this question, as I am not sure.

Long story short, I own a flat in the UK and I've been in dispute with my management company for years. They overcharge service charges and make claims that are not true (that I haven't paid them - they've actually taken me to court for this - small court claim - but I've got all the proof I have so I'm confident I'll win).

I need to put together some evidence for court that they're overcharging and I'm wondering if services could have been carried out during Covid lockdown (they claim services were carried out throughout: General Maintenance, Gutter Clearance, pest control, window cleaning).

If you say they couldn't have (without breaking the law), do you have a link to a proper gov website with this law please)? As a part of my evidence.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate all the info I can get on this!

Properties still had to be maintained to certain standards throughout all lockdowns. Otherwise the properties would not be lettable.

hamiltonfraser.co.uk/knowledge/managing-property-maintenance-during-covid-19/

Gutters would have to be cleared, as without it, the property could deteriorate.

Pests would have to be controlled, as outbreaks could cause disease.

bpca.org.uk/News-and-Blog/advice-for-pest-professionals-operating-during-covid-19-

Window cleaning - not so sure. Obviously desirable, and the law always was work from home unless you can't do your job from home, which is clearly the case.

I think you may have to concentrate on different aspects of your case.

Lockdown didn’t prevent any of those things you’ve mentioned being done, though some people/businesses took the furlough money and stopped work anyway. The only sectors that were prevented by law from operating during lockdown were hospitality and personal care I think.

This may be useful for you to read, and for anyone else interested in lockdown timetable in UK.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9068/

Our window cleaner worked throughoit - no reason why not.

All of the services we pay for through our service charge continued during lockdown (cleaning/grounds maintenance etc)

U.K. didn't have one set of Covid rules - you could say which country without being identified I think!

@Drunkpanda

U.K. didn't have one set of Covid rules - you could say which country without being identified I think!

I think all would be the same with regard to property maintenance.

In England, people who couldn’t work from home were never prevented from working unless their workplace was forced to close (eg restaurants, clothes shops etc). So yes, they could have legally done the things you’ve listed.

If you’re talking about Wales, Scotland or NI though, I’m not sure.

Yes, essential services were able to continue to function throughout lockdown. We weren’t all literally locked into our houses unable to go out.

It is very likely that all those services did continue throughout lockdownZ

People were allowed to go out to work if their job meant they had to choice but to leave the house.

There was only a few industries that were not allowed to operate as they encouraged people to gather (shops, restaurants, events, etc).

You need to identify the country within the uk as there were (and still are) different rules.

Thanks so much guys, very helpful! London :)

Our window cleaners didn't work through lockdown

Realistically, March to July 2020, most non-essential services shut down including buisnesses that could have legally remained open. There was no childcare provision prior to June 1st in England which also affected work decisions for people who work out of the home.

In November 2020 (partial lockdown) and Jan to 29th March 2021, many businesses that had WFH at first did continue where they could.

One factor in summer 2020 was disruption of supply chains, items like plasterboard were very hard to come by which affected restarting.

For building maintainence/ cleaning, I would expect a relatively normal service to have been provided from July 2020 and would give the benefit of the doubt prior to that.

For context:
Shops reopened June 15th 2020.
Pubs & hairdressers reopened July 4th 2020
Larger scale entertainments e.g. trampoline parks, (but not mass events) reopened mid-August 2020.

London was not affected by additional localised or regional restrictions.