‘Some agents are not aware of the property viewings guidance’

Location, Location, Location TV show presenter Phil Spencer has joined his screen partner Kirstie Allsopp to warn that confusion and frustration is building over the new restrictive property viewings rules.

These require agents to only allow property viewings when buyers are likely and able to make an offer and therefore ‘have all their ducks in a row’.

Yesterday large numbers of people on Twitter had engaged with Allsopp to complain about the hoops they are being asked to jump through in order to view properties.

Now Spencer has joined the fray, writing a blog for his MoveIQ site that warns many house hunters simply have no idea about the guidance issued to the industry, and that some agents are equally unaware of how it works.

Guidance

“It seems some agents are not aware of the cross-party guidance. Therefore, we have some agents doing a good job and some who are woefully unprepared,” says Spencer.

“The property market may be open but it is not able to operate in the same way as it did before lockdown.”

But the TV star does not agree with the many Twitter commentators, who, as we highlighted yesterday, have said the restrictions are over the top.

“If you’re a genuinely keen buyer who is ready, willing and able to proceed, then I don’t see a problem with proving that to be the case.

“Being prepared and sharing this with the estate agent proves you’re a committed buyer. It can only be a good thing.

“It is going to get you better access to properties that might suit you.”

Read the Propertymark guidance document on viewings.

Read the government advice.