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Estate agents have a moral obligation to do their bit for the country during the latest Covid lockdown by keeping their staff and the public safe, advises The Guild of Property Professionals.
While government guidance allows people in England to move home and estate and lettings agents continue to be allowed to work, it believes the new announcement is another reminder to the property sector to act in a Covid-secure way.
Compliance officer Paul Offley (picture) says the robust Covid-secure policies in the property sector have kept it – and home-buyers – moving. “Now more than ever, agents have an obligation to continue to act within a safe manner to ensure that they are protecting the public and doing what they can to minimise the spread of the virus,” he says.
Offley believes that although physical viewings are permitted, given the current circumstances and resurgence of the virus, agents should ensure that these only take place as the very last step once they’ve gone through much of the process virtually with potential buyers.
“Agents have a moral obligation to ensure that all buyers are taken through the process of virtually viewing a property before any face-to-face appointment takes place,” he says. “Buyers should also consider whether there is a genuine need for the appointment to take place now or consider whether the appointment could be deferred until restrictions are eased,” he adds.
“As one of the few sectors that have continued to be able to operate, we need to continue to ensure we are acting according to the prescribed health guidelines to help keep both clients and staff members safe during this wave of the virus.”
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