Communicating decorating work to tenants properly

What a proper advance notice actually contains

A useful notice tells tenants the specific dates, the specific areas affected, what access if any is needed to their own unit, and a contact for questions. We draft these to be circulated by the managing agent or landlord at least a week ahead of any work starting, longer for anything requiring access inside a flat.

• Specific dates and affected areas named, not a vague date range
• A named contact for questions, reachable during the working period
• Any access required inside individual units flagged separately and clearly

Signage that answers the question before it's asked

On-site signage at the point of work — 'wet paint', 'route diverted', 'lift lobby being decorated, lift in normal use' — stops the same question being asked by every tenant who passes. We put signage up before starting each day's work, not partway through once someone's already complained.

Handling the tenant who wasn't told, or didn't read the notice

Not every tenant reads every notice. When someone approaches us on site with a question the notice already answered, we treat it as a fair question anyway, explain the plan calmly, and point them to who to contact if they have a concern beyond what we can address on the spot.

Keeping the managing agent updated as the work runs

Programmes shift — weather, access delays, an unexpected repair discovered mid-job. We update the managing agent as soon as any date changes, so they can reissue notices to tenants before the change causes confusion, rather than tenants finding out only when the work doesn't happen on the day they expected.

• Any programme change reported to the agent the same day it's known
• Updated notices issued before the affected date, not after