Pandemic On The Property: How Should Managers Respond? - Granite Grok

Pandemic On The Property: How Should Managers Respond?

Apartments

COVID-19 has everyone on edge, and infection prevention is the name of the game. For individuals sharing common spaces in apartments, though, and those residing in rented accommodations more generally, isolation can look a little bit different. Not only do they have to carefully navigate social distancing in elevators and hallways, but they may face additional restrictions by their landlords or property managers.

What types of precautions are appropriate for property managers to place on their tenants? The debate is sure to last as long as this pandemic, but here’s what we know so far.

Banning Guests

Under the current public health recommendations, Americans are advised not to have any visitors to their homes or even to socialize outside in groups. It’s not a formal restriction, but many consider it an important part of preventing COVID-19 from spreading. One property management group may have taken this recommendation too far, however, by banning residents from having guests or risk being considered in non-compliance with their lease.

Many are angry about the regulation, specifically because it impacts individual apartments, not just common spaces. Additionally, for those who take a libertarian viewpoint, this is simply overreach – except it’s coming from their property manager, not the government. Of course, the bigger question is whether property managers have the right to do this.

There’s certainly no legal barrier to property managers taking such steps during an unprecedented public health emergency, but that doesn’t mean that they should. However, property managers do have a significant interest in preventing conflicts between tenants in multi-family properties. Given that social distancing recommendations have created tensions anywhere strangers, and even neighbors, intersect, trying to control who enters the property at this time may make sense.

Requesting Notification

While all property managers are trying to prevent COVID-19 from entering their buildings, the fact is that many will face the harsh reality of infection, if they haven’t already. What, if anything, should property managers do when it comes to sick tenants? In Dallas, Texas, one property management group requested that tenants notify management if they test positive for COVID-19 – but it’s just a request. Legally, property managers can’t require tenants to disclose this information.

The main reason why property managers are pushing for disclosure is so they can deep clean all high-touch areas in their building and ensure that other residents are safe, but they don’t need tenants to disclose their health information to take such actions. Rather, it would be smarter for property managers to just assume that individuals on their property have been infected and to take extra sanitation precautions. Property managers have the tools they need to keep tenants safe without interfering with tenants’ right to privacy.

Finding Guidance

It’s hard for property managers to know what to do during this time – just like everyone else – but they do have access to industry-specific support and guidance. The National Apartment Association (NAA) has issued a number of documents regarding management best practices. This includes practices like closing any onsite fitness centers, providing timely communications, and providing maintenance team members with PPE. Addressing disease spread can be done without interfering with tenants’ privacy or forcing them to radically change their behavior. Rather, property managers can make changes in their own operations that will benefit everyone.

Americans are already facing so many restrictions on their daily activities and their homes are the one place that things should feel normal – even if most people are spending a lot more time cooped up inside. Property managers would do well to provide whatever information is available to them and otherwise step back.

Tenants are already bound by the restrictions of their lease, as well as local, state, and national guidelines. Property managers can proceed with the faith that those regulations and recommendations are enough.

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