COVID-19
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Phew! Moving home exempted from new English lockdown
Estate agents were holding their breaths this evening as Boris Johnson made the much-anticipated announcement that England is to once more return to a total lockdown. Citing the alarming speed at which the new Covid variant identified before Christmas has been spreading through the UK, including a 20% rise in deaths over the past week alone, Johnson confirmed the lockdown. “We need to do more together to bring this vaccine under control as our vaccines are rolled out,” he said. But those within the property industry will be relieved to hear that home moves are to be allowed. Or as Russell Quirk and many others put it on social media just after the Prime Minister finished his address – “Phew”. This official guidance says: “Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work. You can still move home, the guidance says “People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving home unless absolutely necessary. “If you are looking to move, you can go to property viewings. Follow the national guidance on moving home safely, which includes advice on social distancing, letting fresh air in, and wearing a face covering.” Johnson, who said the lockdown it…
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Covid diaries: How my estate agency survived the pandemic
The fact is that 2020 has been an extraordinary year for everyone. No one has escaped or been untouched by the effects of corona virus in some way shape or form. I’ve decided to take a look back at the last 12 months, how it affected my agency, the housing market in general and why I truly believe that lockdown had done estate agency a huge favour that can only make things better and more profitable for the coming year and for years to come. January to February I remember starting 2019 with a sigh of relief, full of positivity and enthusiasm. Finally, after years of uncertainty, a [Brexit] agreement had been made, a date had been set, and we were leaving the EU. All the waiting, all the anticipation and all the hesitation from people looking to buy or sell their property seem to vanish overnight. I’d been telling people for months that Brexit wasn’t going to hugely affect the property market. At the end of the day the things that always keeps the market moving are births, death, marriages and divorce – little did I know how this theory would ring true a few months down the line!…
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LATEST: Government says agency branches CAN stay open across all Tiers
Official guidance has now been updated after it took Ministers two days to make a decision about agency branches.
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“How can I ask my team not see their family over Xmas, but do face-to-face viewings?”
Agency in Kent makes the difficult decision to only work from home and not book face-to-face appointments during the Tier 4 lockdown.
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Housing market market to stay open in new Tier 4 areas
Announcement by Boris and commentary from civil servants and Robert Jenrick suggest - but do not confirm - that branches may stay open.
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DEBT bombshell: Property industry owes government £2.42 billion
British Business Bank lending via CBILS and Bounce Back loans reveals eye-watering extent to government support for industry.
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Tenants to stop moving during current lockdown, new research predicts
Proptech platform Goodlord says its data from the Midlands city suggests that fewer tenants will move home during the current Covid restrictions.
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Will tenant referencing cope when millions come off furlough in March?
Industry players worry that million of tenants will struggle to pass referencing after prolonged periods on the recently-extended scheme.
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Welsh estate agents get ready for Monday’s return to home moving
Propertymark says home moving is a vital role in supporting the economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.
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EXCLUSIVE: Solicitors slam MP for saying lockdown will disrupt conveyancing process
Three key conveyancing industry organisations have told The Negotiator that Covid rules do not prevent paperwork being completed either face-to-face or online.
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