Since the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020, many European countries have enforced measures that restrict the movement of people and curtail economic activity. With the closure of construction sites and cancellation of events, this has serious consequences for the equipment rental industry, including the health and safety of rental companies’ staff, the suspension or cancellation of rental contracts, the management and maintenance of machinery, and the ability to retain staff and pay salaries.
On this page you will find links to information provided by rental associations, news updates relevant to the sector, important policy information and other associated information. The page will be updated as more information becomes available.
Please also see the news feed at the bottom of this page for the latest information about how the crisis is affecting the rental industry, watch the IRN Webinar on Rental & COVID-19 and this video on the situation of the rental market in Europe, and read our COVID survey on the impact of the pandemic on machine owners, dealers, contractors and rental companies.
Information from national and international rental associations
Finland
Association of Finnish Technical Traders
France
Germany
- What rights do landlords and tenants of machines have in times of the corona pandemic? (members only)
- Guide: Labour Law and Corona
Italy
Assodimi//Assonolo
- Rental data after summer
- Post-COVID rental survey
- Collection of news and useful material to manage the COVID-19 situation
- Request for rental services to be included in list of essential activities
Norway
Russia
- Impact of COVID-19 on the rental market in Russia
- Current situation in the Russian rental market and forecast for 2021
- Implications of COVID-19 for construction in Eastern Europe
- Appeal to the authorities to support the rental industry
Spain
- Information on COVID-19
- Impact of COVID-19 on machinery and equipment rental companies (survey report)
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
International
Construction sector updates
- International Rental News – Construction and COVID-19: rolling news update
- Committee of European Construction Equipment (CECE) – Covid-19 updates
- European Builders Confederation (EBC) – Updates on Covid-19
- European Demolition Association (EDA) – Information about COVID-19
- European International Contractors (EIC) – COVID-19 and the Global Construction Business
- European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA) – COVID-19 Impact Survey
- European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) – COVID-19 updates, including an overview of EU and national measures
European policy updates
- European Commission coronavirus page + Timeline of actions
- European Council coronavirus page + Timeline of actions
Financial support
- Recovery plan for Europe including a EUR 750bn ‘Next Generation EU’ recovery instrument and a reinforced long-term budget
- Temporary Framework for state aid enabling Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen under state aid rules to support the economy
- Access to finance – Sources of financial support in Europe (per country)
- Measures adopted for immediate release of cohesion funds – Legislation releasing funding from the EU budget to tackle the COVID-19 crisis
- EUR 750bn Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) – a temporary asset purchase programme of private and public sector securities
- Pan-European Guarantee fund (EIB) – Support for SMEs, mid-caps and corporates, aiming to mobilise up to EUR 200bn
- Banking Package – Facilitates bank lending to businesses and households
Other
- Practical guidance on the continuous flow of goods across the EU via ‘green lanes’ – Guidance on border management in order to keep freight moving across the EU and ensure that EU-wide supply chains continue to operate
- Database and Map of government measures in Europe (per country)
- Joint European Roadmap to phase out the containment measures due to the coronavirus outbreak
- Sources of updated information on COVID-19 in the EU/EEA and the UK
- EU-OSHA guidance on a safe return to work