Thanks for clarifying, I understand that the usual day to day jobs like lawn mowing won’t be happening but I’m halfway through a decking job for an old couple who as desperate to get out in their garden, especially now. I’ve already laid the subframe but now waiting on a wickes delivery and need to finish the job next week or they will be stuck inside. I guess I’ll have to speak with the local police about it.
Markos, just finish your job and take cash in hand. That's how it will work now. You are not doing anything wrong. I doubt you or many others will do anything different at the moment. Good luck and be safe.
The wording on the gov.uk site is: "You should only leave the house for one of four reasons: Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home."
You can't do gardening jobs from home. To me, this means it's allowed.
Shops and public places need to close but other businesses are allowed to continue, no matter if they are essential or non-essential.
Well considering Markos is self-employed, and the Gov’t are failing to protect the self-employed, yet subsidising up to £2500 for employees (seems fair), I can’t see how they expect people not to flout this when and where they can. The Gov’t had better put in better support for the self-employed if they expect people to choose obeying the very necessary rules in place over food/bills. Only those with substantial savings/family to fall back on can afford to follow this as it stands. They really didn’t think this through. In other countries, self-employed are being given an average of previous years’ earnings. Here, the self-employed are allowed £94/week but only if they get sick, and good luck getting benefits if you have any kind of savings or other household income.
To me, it’s not really clear enough and you’re right about being self employed... they always forget about us to be honest! The trouble for me is one of doing what’s right, in this case an old couple desperately trying to get out in the fresh air is important. Also, I noticed hardware stores are allowed to stay open so tradespeople will still be allowed to continue offering important services like plumbing etc, I doubt the government and most people won’t deem gardening as important but knowing how it can affect people’s mental welfare, especially now more than ever, I think having a nice and safe garden is going to be a massive boost to some people. I just feel sorry for those people in flats that don’t have a space to roam and exercise safely. A lot of this must come down to common sense
I think we should expect an announcement on self employed VERY soon. MPs and the British Chamber of Commerce have been vocal about it. People are going to break the rules if they can't earn a crust, and that is going to make the health crisis far worse.
The HM Gov guidance is:
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:
Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as
possible.
One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your
household.
Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent
outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Gove has just said that work can go ahead on building sites but that just contradicts everything the government announced last night.
I've got a family building a house who have only got their rental place until the end of the month and then have to move in to the new place. They don't mind a few unfinished bits here and there but the drains aren't connected yet as well as a few other essentials. Personally I'd rather see builders protected as years of breathing in all kinds of horrible stuff like concrete dust etc never leaves their lungs very healthy at the best of times.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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The HM Gov guidance is:
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons:
These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.