In the latest guidance published by the Government, plans have been set out to restart the housing market in England, which has been frozen since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown.
Under the new guidance, people who wish to move home can. Estate agents can now open, viewings can be carried out, removal firms can restart operations and solicitors can conduct exchanges and completions. Care must still be taken to contain the virus and the simplest way to do this is to wash your hands frequently and main social distancing.
The latest advice, which relates to people moving between private residential homes, can be found here.
The key points to note are as follows:
- You may allow an estate agent access to your home to conduct a market appraisal and to take marketing photographs. Social distancing should still be observed whilst this is taking place.
- Property viewings can take place, provided they are limited to members of the same household (open house viewings should not take place). The Government’s advice on regular hand-washing social distancing still applies.
- When conducting property viewings, you should open all internal doors and ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned before and after each viewing.
- Property viewings and moves can take take place provided both parties are free of symptoms and are not within any prescribed 14 day self-isolation period.
- Surveyors may enter a property provided neither they nor any member of the household are showing symptoms or self-isolating.
- Removal companies may operate but you should seek to minimise your contact with the crew, maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres where possible. If you are able, belongings should be cleaned before they are handled by the removal crew and hands should be washed regularly during the process.
As conveyancing solicitors, the advice to us is that we should aim to conduct as much of our business remotely as possible. We have successfully arranged for our staff to work from home and we are continuing to operate on a ‘business as usual’ basis. Whilst our office is currently closed to clients, we are still able to conduct meetings by telephone and video call and we are able accept documents by email or by post and hand deliveries to our office via the letterbox where original documents are required.
If you are currently in the process of selling or buying a property and would like expert advice, call our friendly team today on 01244 312306 and we will be happy to advise and assist you.
