• IN this densely populated area of flats, we are concerned about people who are potential COVID-19 carriers moving into short-term lets in close proximity to other residents.

The government should take control of, and responsibility for this situation.

People who fly into Australia are quarantined in hotels for two weeks. But people who fly into Heathrow are given a leaflet suggesting they might isolate themselves.

They then travel into London on public transport. Some returning travellers have been using short-term lets to quarantine.

The government appears to have passed the buck for quarantine to private landlords. At the start of the epidemic there was news of buses taking returning holiday makers to quarantine accommodation.

But public quarantine seems to have completely vanished; people entering the country remain untested and obliged to seek private accommodation in which to quarantine.

Residents of flats are hard hit by the lockdown and at high risk because of proximity of neighbours. Short-term lets increase that risk.

The BBC reported that some owners were describing their properties as being “COVID-19 retreats” and “perfect for isolating with family”. Estate agents are still advertising short-lets in Camden.

Government guidance leaves open the possibility for people who have been in contact with COVID-19 to move into short-term rented flats.

The guidance for households where someone has symptoms is that any vulnerable person should, if possible, be moved out to stay with family or friends. What if they don’t have family or friends to stay with?

There is no prohibition on moving them into rented accommodation. People moving into a short-term let from a household with possible COVID-19 infection may themselves be carrying the virus.

Government advice is “Home buyers and renters should, where possible, delay moving to a new house while measures are in place to fight coronavirus (COVID-19).” Flats are not mentioned and the “where possible” provides a get out for short-term letters.

We need enforceable legislation to prevent short-term lets during the COVID-19 crisis.

1. Short-term lets should be made illegal, with a fine that is large enough to act as a deterrent. There could be exemptions, such as health care workers who need accommodation.

2. This law needs to be enforced, which will only be possible if the occupancy status of people (including name of owner or renter and length of rental period) in all flats is known.

Councils and housing associations have the power to gather this information in their blocks; privately-owned blocks do not. Councils should have the power to compel owners/ managing agents of these blocks:

– a. to provide the council with a list of the names of all the flat owners in the block and the names and occupancy status of all current occupants; – b. to inform the council if new tenants move in, with names and length of occupancy.

The council would then have information which could help to ensure that short-term lets are not increasing the risk of infection to neighbouring flats, some of which will be occupied by vulnerable residents.

Several groups of people have a need for emergency accomm­odation, including new arrivals from abroad who are in quaran­tine; those who are at risk of abuse at home; and vulnerable people who need to be removed from a household with COVID-19.

The government needs to make proper quarantine arrangements, rather than increasing the risk of spread by forcing people to seek short-term lets in close proximity to others.

Vulnerable residents of flats may remain isolated for many months with no possibility of enjoying fresh air in a garden.

They need to know that they are not being put at higher risk by property owners and estate agents promoting short-term lets without regard to the risk.

NICKY COATES
Co-Chair, Bloomsbury Residents’ Action Group