Following the Scottish Government announcement on Monday 4th January 2021 regarding increased COVID -19 restrictions, we are providing the following update.
As an organisation we continue to ensure that we have all the correct measures in place to deliver services to our customers. In the past year we have invested to ensure our team can work from home, providing additional communications systems and IT for this to happen. During the later part of 2020, we had commenced a phased return to our offices. As a result of the new restrictions this will now need to be paused.
Our offices will therefore remain closed to the public with only a small number of staff in each office in order for essential work to be carried out (key handling, post etc).
As a result of the first lockdown in March 2020, we have established a comprehensive risk assessed approach to ensuring our staff can work in the safest possible way and this will continue to shape how we work during this new lockdown period.
This will mean that from today we will suspend site inspections until the next Scottish Government review in February 2021. Communications routes from you to us will remain active and diverts are in place to ensure that communications are received and actioned. You can therefore continue to contact James Gibb through the normal routes and provision of core services, repairs and maintenance will continue. The majority of our staff will continue to work remotely but will be fully operational, working to ensure the very best of customer services at all times.
Our suppliers/contractors for delivery of core services, repairs and maintenance will work consistent with Government Guidelines. We know that during this lockdown period that essential work is permitted for activities in connection with the maintenance, purchase, sale, letting, or rental of residential property that the person owns or is otherwise responsible for. This will be subject to the contractors own organisations measures and approach.
Where our staff are needed on site, they will have had risk assessments completed. Where possible they will limit movement within common areas to outside core times in the day to restrict interaction with others. We would ask that all safe distancing measures for our staff are respected when working on your site. On site offices will be closed for access by homeowners and only our staff will be allowed access. Please contact your Development Manager for information, as arrangements for each location/site may vary.
With regard to planned improvement works, these will be suspended until further notice, other than essential/urgent work (for example a roof refurbishment). This will be subject to further Scottish Government updates in February 2021 and beyond. Please contact your Development Manager for confirmation about whether any work already agreed is going ahead.
For now, we would remind all homeowners that during this time, our aim is to communicate with you via email wherever possible. Can we therefore ask that homeowners contact us to provide us with their email contact details if you have not already done so. We recognise that some homeowners will not have this form of communication and you may wish to discuss with friends or family members if they can assist.
We will also be increasing our communication flow via our website and request that as many homeowners as possible access their James Gibb+ portal, where you will receive all information regarding your account.
Please contact us at enquiries@jamesgibb.co.uk to provide us with your email address. Your James Gibb+ account can be accessed through our website, www.jamesgibb.co.uk. You will need your Account Number and JG+ number which can be found on your most recent invoice.
Please be assured that James Gibb will continue to carry out the factoring service for your development however we must limit contact to protect our staff and also our customers.
We hope that all our customers, clients and team are safe during these exceptionally difficult times.
Regards
Directors Office
