Practical Tips for Crisis Communication in Housing Companies
Below are practical tips for crisis communication in housing companies from our expert Tomi Hanka, who has worked in property management. What should be taken into account and remembered?
Don’t let the crisis catch you off guard
Crises, even in housing companies, do not adhere to schedules. It’s good for the property manager to prearrange with the board how communication will be handled in exceptional situations and how each resident will be reached. For example, in the event of a serious fire where residents need to be evacuated, paper notices and bulletin boards are ineffective. Updating phone numbers and verifying their accuracy is not feasible when the situation is urgent.
Every resident should be easily and effectively reached
By far the easiest way to reach residents is through a mobile application and push notifications that appear on the device’s screen even if the app isn’t opened. No complicated logins to online services, no need to remember passwords. At that moment, residents have other things to think about.
Not everyone has a mobile phone or tablet, or the ability to use one. In such cases, the application can be downloaded by a relative or caregiver. These arrangements should also be made in advance. It’s important that someone knows what’s happening in the resident’s building if their own ability to act is already limited.
According to good governance principles, residents should be communicated with using a variety of methods, taking into account their information needs. Often, especially in the event of a fire or major water leak, the possibility of using traditional communication methods is very limited. An app is the easiest way for a resident to stay informed today. The app complements or even replaces many communication methods in the housing company.
Post-crisis review
In crisis communication, it’s important to remember post-crisis communication and effectively inform everyone when the situation is over. And, of course, to review what went well or poorly at an appropriate time. This way, we’ll be prepared next time with new methods and perhaps tools.
– Tomi
Interested in crisis communication in housing companies? Check out the article “Crisis communication in housing companies requires planning and anticipation.“
