As a commercial property manager, it’s important to be aware of risks both seen and unseen. With the spread of the COVID-19 virus, this makes your job even more difficult. Trying to keep things as close to “business as usual” as you can is challenging when managing a property with multiple tenants. While you might not be able to completely prevent the spread, there are ways that you as a manager can work to keep your tenants healthy.
Turn Your HVAC into a Germ-Fighter
One of the most vital components in your building is your HVAC system. If the majority of your building is still confined mostly to their units, your HVAC is working overtime. While you may notice some extra wear and tear on the system’s components, there are also issues that you can’t see. The constant recycling of air inside your building increases the chance of germs circulating and potentially spreading to others. The good news is that there are several ways for you to turn your HVAC into a germ-fighting machine.
Enact Social-Distancing Guidelines
To help limit person-to-person contact, you should enact distancing policies for your tenants to follow. Your local government has most likely issued standards to follow, and it’s important to remind tenants about them. If you have a common area such as a lounge or gym, hang up flyers that detail room occupancy with guidelines about keeping the area clean. It is also a good idea to reduce hours for common areas to limit the amount of foot traffic. Another option is to divide larger areas into smaller ones using tape or barriers, creating personal space for each tenant.
Keep Tenants Updated with Guidelines and Other Information
Information about the spread of the virus and how to keep yourself safe is continuously updated by local and national governments. With these mandates being revised regularly, it can be difficult to keep track of the most up-to-date information. However, keeping your tenants informed may go a long way toward keeping them healthy. Use email campaigns, print out flyers or talk with them directly about what they can do to help keep your building safe. You should also be sure to update tenants about how maintenance requests and other operations may have changed during this time.
Increase Your Building’s Cleaning Schedule
If you have a janitorial staff on site or hire out to a cleaning company, have a discussion with them about increasing sanitizing efforts. Look at having them come in more often and doing more deep cleaning in high-traffic areas and on items tenants frequently touch. For an on-site cleaning staff, ask that they modify their routine so that those high-traffic areas are addressed more frequently. For a cleaning service, inquire about any specialized equipment they have that can help purify air or sanitize surfaces.
Offer Cleaning Equipment to Tenants
With a shortage of cleaning items, like hand sanitizer or wipes, your tenants might not have what they need to stay healthy. However, if you are able to purchase a few extra resources, the gesture won’t go unnoticed. You can set up sanitization stations around your building that your tenants can use. To let your tenants know you care, consider distributing small packages containing useful cleaning items along with a personal note of support.
Partner with Local Restaurants and Delivery Companies
Due to shutdowns and distancing rules, many locally owned restaurants and bars are hurting financially. Because of this, more and more are looking to partner with third-party delivery services. If your tenants aren’t able to make it to the store or feel uneasy about going shopping, this could be a good choice for you. Ask local business owners to see if they would be interested in offering deals to your tenants on their food. This not only helps your tenants break up the monotony of cooking every night, but also helps support your local businesses. These relationships can also work for you down the road as a marketing tool for prospective tenants.
Keep Everyone Healthy with NPI
The health and safety of your tenants is a priority, and there are many other hazards out there. A commercial inspection from NPI can help you identify potential issues and keep your tenants safe and happy. Find your local inspector and schedule an inspection with NPI today.
