UnderTheDoormat and LaundryHeap to house NHS staff for free
UK: Luxury home accommodation business UnderTheDoormat has pledged its support to London’s NHS who need accommodation by opening homes together with its owners and linen partner LaundryHeap.
The two companies are joining forces to open homes near hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak for NHS staff and key workers to stay in for free.
UnderTheDoormat usually provides short let accommodation to guests seeking a home stay in London – offering the luxury service of a hotel in the comfort of a private home.
However, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing a downturn in its bookings, it has switched its attention to working with its customers – the property owners – and partner company Laundryheap, an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service. Together, the companies are set to open up homes that might otherwise sit empty over this period to qualifying key workers who want to stay close to their place of work or away from their families to reduce possible infection.
UnderTheDoormat CEO 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,” she added.
LaundryHeap CEO Deyan Dimitrov said: “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,” added Dimitrov.
UnderTheDoormat has a supply of 300 homes across London, ranging from one-bed apartments to large family homes.
For more information, visit the UnderTheDoormat website here and the LaundryHeap website here.
Who to contact:
Key workers – Qualifying NHS and key workers are advised to contact NHShomes@underthedoormat.com.
Property owners – If any property owners have a home that is currently sitting empty and they would like to offer it to a key worker, they should contact myhome@underthedoormat.com.
Join the pledge – If any companies want to offer serviced apartments or any related services, they are asked to contact hello@underthedoormat.com.
