Coronavirus – An Opportunity? (Written 20 April 2020, amended)
Submitted to Property Managers Association (Scotland) Ltd and Institute of Residential Property Managers
Scotland, the United Kingdom, the whole world has seen disruption of an unprecedented scale, since the turn of the year when Corona Virus came into our vocabulary. Offices are closed, staff are at home, social gatherings are banned and even walking the dog is restricted.
In these almost unimaginable times, we have seen temporary hospitals created, temporary morgues built, and NHS staff stretched almost beyond the level a human can take. We have seen rising death tolls and shortages of all sorts of items that used to be taken for granted.
The worst of times has also brought out the best in some – from a 99 yr. old Captain raising over £20m in a few days to ordinary people just delivering their neighbours shopping or collecting their prescriptions. It is now becoming common for Companies to be publishing the good that they are doing – Gin distilleries turning to making hand sanitisers, Dyson making ventilators and engineering companies making face masks.
So, as a proud member of the Property Management profession – I went looking to see what our industry is doing to assist in this time of crisis. And sadly, whatever is being done is not being highly publicised.
We know that often our industry is sometimes not seen by the public in the best of lights. The “Factor” in Scotland has been, at best misunderstood, and Managing Agents across the Country are often viewed with hostile eyes. Why do we not, as an industry use this crisis as an opportunity to show our best side to our clients and to the wider community?
We do not want to be perceived as just protecting our own businesses – many of the firms websites that I looked at show how business is continuing – but maybe we want to show how we are using our resources for the good of others. Property Managers know their owners – they know who is elderly, who is maybe a bit infirm or maybe vulnerable. Is this not the time to reach out to these owners, to assist, maybe with something as mundane as collecting a prescription?
While undoubtedly some owners will experience short term difficulties in paying fees, it is likely that the drop in income will be relatively minor, once the crisis is over. While some may feel the need to furlough some staff, surely that should be the minority. Would it not be better for the industry, and the general public, perhaps for these staff be being linked to volunteer projects – so that the Property Management industry can shout loudly about the positive impact it is having in these terrible times
I am proud of being a Property Manager, I am proud of our professional bodies and I know that there are many really good people in our industry. Can I suggest that the Firms and Individuals who feel the same start to show what our industry is doing? Let’s see articles and information flowing into IRPM and PMAS telling the world how Property Management Firms are helping; how we are putting our clients ahead of ourselves.
When this is all over, owners will look and ask – what did your Firm do during Corona 19? Do you want to grab the opportunity to have a positive response, that you can be proud of?
Richard S Burnett Past President of PMAS and Past Chair of IRPM