Guide to Reopening Business Amid Covid-19: Landlords

When it’s time to return to the office and reopen business there are multiple things to consider. You are responsible for the safety and well-being of your staff, tenants and visitors to your property.

While your exact strategy will depend on your home state and business type, you can use this guide as a starting point to help you plan and prepare for the “new normal.”

Property Owners: Things to consider when tenants return

Stay up to date on regulations

Regulations will vary based on your state, county, city, town and industry. Please make sure you have a system in place to stay up to date on the latest developments.
Consider assigning a staff member to monitor updates.

Adjust building access hours as necessary

With increased cleaning requirements, you might need to limit public and even tenant access to the building.
This may mean implementing stricter work hours and no after hours or weekend access.

Train your staff to prioritize

Handwashing
Social distancing
Facial coverings

Consider screening and testing measures

Temperature checks
Symptom checks
Virus and/or antibody testing

Create a communications plan

For stakeholders in the property
For tenants (leaseholders)
For employees of tenants
For visitors

Your communications plan should include:

When the property is opening including dates and restricted hours
What precautions you are taking
How to contact you with any questions
How updates will be communicated

When Tenants Return

Post Signs

Common areas
Entrances and exits
Restrooms

Recommend

Handwashing
Social distancing
Facial coverings especially in common areas

Clean and Disinfect

Common areas
Entrances and exits
Door handles
Elevator buttons
Handrails
Provide disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and facial covering options

Monitor ingress and egress

Visitors
Contractor access
Will you need to make traffic flow adjustments in common areas

Consider and/or enact new protocols as needed

Common areas
Elevators
Entrances and exits
Restrooms
Deliveries
Food services
Tenant amenities
Curbside pickup if relevant

Different asset classes will have slightly different requirements, please feel free to contact SVN Bluestone & Hockley Advisors for further assistance. Below are additional resources for businesses as the country reopens.