Property managers are preparing for the worst, dusting off or hastily putting together disaster preparation plans to brace for the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Property managers are preparing for the possibility of having to implement extraordinary measures to minimize the risks of transmitting COVID-19 in commercial buildings and apartment complexes.
A shortage of on-site staff who become sick or are caring for family members could prompt apartment complexes to close fitness centers, swimming pools and common areas, the National Multifamily Investment Council said in an advisory to members. The spread of the pandemic could disrupt basic services such as trash collection, security services and even move-ins and move-outs.
The Washington, D.C.-based industry group has posted the preparedness protocols on its web site and created an electronic mailing list with alerts that will be available to members and the general public.
“We see this obviously as a public safety crisis, and it’s a public service we can offer,” said Julianne Goodfellow, NMIC’s senior director of government affairs, in a webinar sponsored by Connect Commercial Real Estate.
The departure from normal operating practices illustrates the seriousness that multifamily landlords are taking the coronavirus. Other property sectors have their own serious challenges: retailers and hotels are reeling from the decline in business travel and avoidance of public gathering spots, while industrial tenants are facing supply chain disruptions.
SIOR President Mark Duclos recommended that tenants examine their leases to determine their rights if landlords decide to shut down a building due to contamination or other disruptions to operations.
In an advisory to apartment landlords, the NMHC recommended creating crisis teams of senior management to prepare for potential legal liabilities and gaps in staffing. Properties should secure emergency generators for power shortages, stockpile cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment, consider letting employees live in model units and prepare to outsource IT services. Leasing offices could be shuttered in favor of online platforms, and liberal leave policies and staggered schedules could maximize social distancing.
All of the measures should have been in place prior to the World Health Organization’s declaration of a stage five pandemic last week, NMHC said.
The group also stressed the importance of frequent and accurate communication with employees, residents and “even the media” on prevention tips and changes in policy.
That advice contrasts with that of the Arlington, Virginia-based National Apartment Association, which cited potential liability issues in advising members to refer questions from residents and the media to the Centers for Disease Control and local health authorities.
New Cleaning Equipment Sought for Offices
Office property managers and building service firms are stocking up on new types of equipment designed to provide better sanitizing. Oakland, California-based Metro Services Group has ordered 2,000 of Protexus electrostatic sprayers to use in high-touch areas such as doorknobs and armrests, CEO Michael Oddo said. The product is manufactured by Braintree-based Earthsafe, which was co-founded in 2014 by R.J. Valentine, CEO of The MBA Group, and whose other ventures include the X1 Boston indoor racetrack in Braintree.
Steve Adams
Valentine said he became concerned about the spread of pathogens in health care facilities and public places after a friend died because of a hospital-acquired infection. The Protexus sprayer uses EPA-approved hypochlorous acid solution to coat surfaces in seconds, replacing labor-intensive manual cleaning methods involving rags and mops. Clients include hospitals, schools and commercial properties.
“There is such a demand for this that we cannot keep up,” said Valentine, estimating the company has 5,000 back orders.
Industrial properties should adopt many of the same cleaning protocols as other types, said Mark Duclos, president of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. He recommended that tenants examine their leases to determine their rights if landlords decide to shut down a building due to contamination or other disruptions to operations.
“This is why you argue things like force majeure in a lease,” said Duclos, who is president of Hartford-based Sentry Commercial. “If you’ve got a landlord who can’t provide certain services because they can’t get an HVAC contractor into a building, it’s good to know that.”
