Six weeks ago, the United Kingdom was still a hive of activity, albeit a nervous one as the coronavirus began to have a serious impact on continental Europe.

Now we are living in a world of social distancing, and the `new normal’ feels like it could be with us for some time.

However, that doesn’t mean work can stop. Properties still need to be managed. For millions of people these properties continue to provide a home for the vital services which are keeping Britain ticking over as we battle the pandemic.

You might assume that British Land’s shopping centres are closed – but from Bath to Basildon, Hull to Sheffield to Edinburgh, 46 of our 47 retail assets are open because they host pharmacies, supermarkets and other key local services.

Visit Central London today and it is almost deserted compared to its usual level of bustling activity - which is a credit to Britain’s great social distancing effort. While Broadgate normally hosts 30,000 people, there are now less than 1,000 people working there. For those with long memories, it’s how the City of London used to be at the weekend, before great bars, restaurants and hotels arrived in areas traditionally perceived as ‘business areas’.

Working with our partners to keep shops open and enable essential businesses to run from our office buildings is absolutely crucial to our local communities, wider society and the UK economy. So, it’s critical that we keep our places operational for them.

So, what is the key to good property management in the Covid-19 world?

Integration is key: Joined-up thinking and communication is difficult enough in these difficult times without long supply chains and mixed messages, and one thing that has made a huge difference for us at British Land has been having a single integrated team.

Throughout the crisis the voice of the property management team has been heard clearly at our daily Executive Committee. From our teams on the ground managing our assets right up to our chief executive Chris Grigg, we have clear and rapid line of sight on any issues which might arise, meaning we have been able to work at real pace as the situation has rapidly evolved.

Remember, it’s only a few weeks ago that some large office businesses were sending staff home to test resilience in preparation for the current situation. Real estate occupiers big and small, and landlords of all types and sizes have needed to react quickly to what we are regularly reminded is an unprecedented state of affairs.

Right from the outset we put communication first. With so much uncertainty, customers needed to understand what we could do to support them, how our places would operate and who to communicate with if they needed something.

We have been dealing with problems that are completely new – some of our smaller retailers won’t have ever had to return to a space that has been closed for some time. We will ensure that they don’t get caught out by failing systems when they re-open.

Our management surveyors are working through new challenges as well.  Some property owners have chosen to pursue small customers for their rent, but we decided early on to support the companies who add so much vibrancy to our centres and campuses.

Safety remains paramount– just because a building is almost empty it doesn’t mean you can reduce health and safety testing and maintenance, like alarm and lift tests and flushing water systems. Our places need to remain safe and ready to open as soon as government guidance allows.

We have learned so much in the last month, and we’ll go on learning but fundamentally integration, resilience, dedication, attention to detail and communication are key in both this Covid-19 world in which we currently live, and in planning beyond that.