Lockdown diaries: Greystar’s Michela Hancock

Michela Hancock is managing director for Europe at build-to-rent developer and manager Greystar. Here, she shares a day – 1 July – spent juggling new job responsibilities, home-working with a one-year-old and her first post-lockdown outing. It’s 5.09am. My eyes pop open. For a second I don’t remember what is going on, and then it hits me. It’s week 15 of lockdown, and I have one more hour of sleep until the kids are awake. This isn’t enough time for me to actually sleep, so I know I will just lie awake and think of everything I need to do. I’ve taken on a new role a­­­t Greystar growing the third-party platform and strategic partnerships in Europe. After leading UK development for the past seven years, I am learning new markets while working across new geographies. It requires me to be laser focused. No comfort zone here. This week, I have three presentations for third-party clients to finish and a diary packed full of video calls with my team and external meetings. I check the news. My family in Virginia is keeping me updated about what’s happening in the States, and they are sad not to be able to visit, but we all understand it can’t be helped. Babies have been born, birthdays have come and gone – it’s all been shared over video calls. At 6.02am my son George comes into the bedroom: “Hi mom, may I please have an oat bar?” From this moment on, we don’t sit down again until we go to bed. It’s a school day, so George needs lunch and to be out the door by 8.20am. My daughter Anne is only one so she’s still at home, which leads to its own challenges, but I’m also very lucky to have this time with her. At 8.30am I have a quick call with my colleague Will Atkinson, to discuss a potential pipeline opportunity. I’m still involved in sourcing deals for student and multifamily, and working with the country leaders to see if the opportunities work for us. He tells me about a deal that could be a possible third-party opportunity and I add it to my spreadsheet. Organisation is critical here, as so many things happen so fast. I need lists and order. Now for the onslaught of video calls. I have a welcome interruption from Don O’Sullivan, chief executive of Galliard Homes, who wants to see if we would be interested in forward funding a portion of development they are considering. We decide to resume our monthly catch-up breakfasts as soon as we are allowed to. I dial into the British Property Federation Covid taskforce call at 9,30am. We discuss planning, construction, the recovery plan and code of practice. It reminds me that I must call Ian Fletcher, the BPF’s director of policy, about the re-emerging discussion of BTR as a separate planning use class, which came up in the last meeting. At 12pm I stop for a quick lunch with my daughter. I’m not sure I ever saw her for lunch during the weeks before lockdown – I rarely made it home before bedtime. I know we won’t get this time again. I heat up chicken fajita and she eats my entire plate of food. Frozen’s “Let It Go” plays in the background. I shut the door and try to read the news. It’s hard not to focus on the negatives, but I am interested in the announcement around radical planning changes. New regulations will give greater freedom to change the use of buildings and land in town centres without planning, as a move to kick-start the construction industry. Our amenity spaces opened up today for multifamily, so I check in with the team about the process and feedback. I confirm leasing numbers for the portfolio, as we need to give our monthly Covid data to the UK Apartment Association and the BPF. I get a call from one of our existing third-party clients and spend some time discussing life along with business. I find it is important to try and talk about how people are doing. Sometimes by just saying it’s been a hard day you find others open up about the isolation. I’m OK today, and have been this week. Some weeks are harder than others. At 3pm I have a mentor call for the Crew UK Connects Mentorship Programme and speak to a fascinating woman who is looking for a job in development. Next up, the Greystar town hall meeting. Then a chat with Alex Notay, BTR fund director at PfP Capital, to debrief on a webinar from last week and make a date for virtual drinks. There are no networking events to rush out to, which has completely changed my life. I used to be out several nights a week. Now I need to read books to the children. Armed with Peppa Pig and Dr Seuss, my husband and I divide and conquer. I have dinner tonight with Maddie McDougall, global head of real estate and housing at Lloyds Banking Group, at another friend’s house. I haven’t been out since lockdown began, so it feels strange to be getting ready, although the feeling of rushing has a sense of familiarity. Later, in my cab home, I reflect on the day and wonder how much longer we will be in this situation. As I look out at the dark and empty streets, I almost forget I am wearing a face mask and the world is in a state of survival. Back at the flat, I check my diary: nine video calls tomorrow – busy day! Then I check on Anne and George. It’s 11.11pm and I can’t seem to shut my mind off, thinking about tomorrow’s presentation, a strategy report, Anne’s school meeting and George’s socially distanced birthday party to plan.