England’s conveyancers, residential estate agents and removal companies are now able to move towards completing property transactions working under the strict social distancing guidelines.
Property professionals, home buyers and sellers, tenants and landlords have been granted a new freedom with an amendment to the Coronavirus travel regulations by the Government this week.
It is no longer illegal to travel to, or from, estate and lettings agencies and properties for sale and to let, meaning houses can now be bought and sold.
Anne Emmerson, head of conveyancing at Wake Smith Solicitors looks at the restart to the residential property market.
“This is key to the resurgence of the residential property market but the safety and protection of everyone is priority.
“A new era of social distancing, face masks and other safety measures will ensure Government guidelines are adhered to, so the industry can safely move forward, and those people wanting to move can.
“Most estates agents have the technology, processes and services in place to carry out the home buying process virtually through means of video viewings and valuations.
“And at Wake Smith we have the online, email and telephone capabilities to process the conveyancing steps that will enable us to service clients to safely and confidently with their pending and new transaction going forward.”
Buyers and sellers advice
It is possible to put a home on the market, view properties by appointment and complete purchases, subject to following Public Health England guidance.
Anyone advised to self-isolate should not move home or view properties. Viewings should not take place where someone in the house being viewed has symptoms or is self-isolating.
Initial viewings should be done virtually where possible. Physical viewings should be limited to people in the same household. Open house viewings are not allowed. It should be possible to view show homes on new developments or visit a particular plot, with the developer having an appointment system in place.
Parties should agree "amicable arrangements" to change move dates if another party or someone in the chain is shielding or clinically vulnerable, has coronavirus or is self-isolating with a family member. Parties should be as flexible as possible and prepared to delay moves if needed. Buyers "should not expect to move into any home where people are ill or self-isolating".
Latest statistics from Government estimate that some 450,000 transactions are currently in the pipeline, amounting to more than £82 billion in property value and over £1 billion of agent revenue.
Wake Smith’s friendly team of property law and conveyancing solicitors are experts when it comes to moving, buying or selling your house making the whole process as simple as possible.
The firm has invested in the support of staff and equipment to enable the continued quality service to clients during the lockdown period and through the transition period we are now in.
Get a free instant online quote using our conveyancing calculator or call 0114 266 6660 for start your house buying or selling journey.
