Coronavirus: UnderTheDoormat to offer London properties for free to NHS workers

Coronavirus: UnderTheDoormat to offer London properties for free to NHS workers

Start-up has teamed up with partner on-demand linen provider and cleaning service LaundryHeap to make homes available near hospitals for key health workers

British luxury home rental business UnderTheDoormat is offering free accommodation in London for NHS workers as hospitals battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The start-up has teamed up with partner on-demand linen provider and cleaning service LaundryHeap to make homes available near hospitals for key health workers.

UnderTheDoormat was established to provide short let accommodation to guests seeking a home stay in London and now has 300 properties in its portfolio.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a downturn in bookings so it has switched its attention to working with the property owners and Laundryheap to open up homes that might otherwise sit empty.

UnderTheDoormat will make the properties available to qualifying Key Workers who want to stay close to their place of work or away from the rest of their families to reduce possible infection.

UnderTheDoormat chief executive Merilee Karr said: “Many of the thousands of Key Workers across London are staying in temporary accommodation and funding this from their own pockets.

“As a business, our mission is to utilise empty homes across London and, whilst many of our paying guests are unable to book with us because of the travel restrictions, we want to make sure that these empty homes are put to good use and what better way to do that than to invite Key Workers who are supporting our capital city through this crisis, to use them.

“My own family members in the US are healthcare workers so I know first-hand how important their work is in this crisis.  Key Workers are essential for all of us and are going above and beyond on a daily basis.

“We hope that, by offering them the chance to stay in a centrally located London home, it will allow them to stay in a safe place close to their place of work. We also plan to ensure we give them the UnderTheDoormat service – including quality linens and towels – so they can come home to comfort at the end of a long day.”

Laundryheap chief executive Deyan Dimitrov added: “The UK’s key workers need our support more than ever and we’re in a very fortunate position to be able to offer a helping hand.

“We’re proud to be working with UnderTheDoormat to offer this new initiative, and hope that our services to provide freshly laundered linens and towels can help ease some of the strain during this difficult period.

“Our on-demand services operate door-to-door and are contactless, meaning guests can rest assured that their laundry has been taken care of using methods tailored to kill viruses and other harmful germs.”

UnderTheDoormat has a supply of 300 homes across London, ranging from one bed apartments to large family homes.