Installers can only sell remotely during the national lockdown, Certass Trade Association has confirmed.

Certass Trade Association has been working with government to get clarity on as many questions from members as possible regarding what is and isn’t allowed during lockdown. After confirmation that installations can still be carried out in homes, most questions from installers were about sales visits.

Jon Vanstone, chair at Certass Trade Association, said: “Over the Christmas break, updates were made to the tier system with the information specifying that ‘door-to-door sales should not be taking place, and sales activities should be conducted remotely (such as by phone, online, or mail)’.

“It should be noted that government’s definition of door-to-door sales includes ‘the sale of goods and services to customers at: their home, their workplace or another individual’s home’, so this applies to organised sales visits and not just ‘door canvassing’.

“The rules of the national lockdown have built upon the tier system, and we have had confirmation that this guidance is now in place for the lockdown period.

“However, as replacement windows and doors are a bespoke product which requires a survey of the property prior to definitive quoting, surveys can still take place in the home. Strict Covid-secure procedures should be followed during surveys to protect teams and homeowners.”

Certass Trade Association members can access a complete Covid Secure Procedures Guide from their members’ area where, for example, colour samples are required for the decision-making process. These must be left with consumers and returned by Covid-secure methods, with special consideration given to contamination procedures on delivery and return.

“We have also produced a Remote Selling Guide in partnership with Balls2 Marketing, with advice, tips and information to help with the remote selling process,” Jon said. “This is available to download from our website.”