Coronavirus: Moving home allowed as curbs lift on estate agents in England
Caz Blake-Symes • May 13, 2020
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The government has set out plans to restart England's housing market, which has been in deep freeze since the coronavirus lockdown. Estate agents can now open, viewings can be carried out and removal firms and conveyancers can restart operations.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the changes must be carried out under social distancing and safety rules. It is estimated there are 450,000 buyers and renters with plans on hold.
"Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process, from viewings to removals," Mr Jenrick said. "This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so."
Meanwhile, the property markets in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland remain shut. Home viewings are not permitted under lockdown regulations and their land registries are either running a reduced service or are not registering transactions.
Alistair Elliott, chairman and senior partner at estate agents Knight Frank, told the BBC's Today programme the measures were "a major first step. We believe the public will have confidence to re-engage with the housing market," he said.
Jonathan Hopper, chief executive of real estate consultants Garrington Property Finders, said: "Few things are more likely to make people want to move than being cooped up in the same four walls for weeks on end, and property portals have seen traffic increase by up to a fifth."
Personal Finance and Consumer Affairs Analyst Kevin Peachey comments:
This announcement will test the housing sector's hope, and belief, that a wave of pent-up demand amongst buyers and renters is ready to be released. Yet, the reality is that many people's finances are now less secure than they were just a few months ago when they were preparing to move. Expect a lot more haggling over price from both sides if they have yet to have formally agreed what they will pay or accept, especially if getting a mortgage is harder.
Estate agent Savills has already suggested that people who still have money to look for somewhere new, may now be rethinking their priorities. A spare room and good Wi-Fi may suddenly have become more appealing when working from home, and a large garden may be even more of a golden ticket for anyone with children.
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