Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has given more details of the property market re-start including that 450,000 homes sales and rentals are waiting to complete, he estimates.

From today these will now be able to proceed and all buyers and renters will be able to complete purchases, sign rental contracts and view properties in person.

Estate agents, conveyancers and removals firms can return to work while following social distancing guidelines.

Jenrick has also sought to get the house building industry back on its feet with a Safe Working Charter launched to help sites work again with new rules designed to protect builders’ health.

“Today I am announcing new guidelines to allow the housing market to resume,” says Jenrick.

“Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process from viewings to removals.

“Our step by step plan is based on the latest guidance to ensure the safety and protection of everyone involved.

”This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so.”

Jenrick is also expected to reveal more details of the social distancing rules that agents will have to follow when completing viewings, and has said he will make an announcement in parliament today on how the housing market can restart as fast but as safely as possible.