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Wales confirms estate agency branches must close as part of ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown

Agents hoping they could keep their branches open to help facilitate sales, lettings and property management had their hopes dashed on Friday.

Nigel Lewis

estate agency

The Welsh government has confirmed that the country’s estate agency branches must close during the country’s two-week Covid circuit-breaker, which kicks off in earnest today.

From 6pm on Friday a raft of draconian restrictions were imposed in Wales which are very close to the Spring’s national total lockdown, including severe limitations on travel and social interaction.

But just hours before it started, the Welsh government confirmed that agency offices should close, after originally stipulating that visits from members of the public would be banned.

The default position with regard to shops (“any business selling goods or services for sale or hire in a shop”) from 6pm on Friday 23 October is that they should all be closed, unless they are a category of shop that provides goods or services that is explicitly allowed,” fresh guidance published on Friday says.

Any shop

“This position extends beyond retailers selling goods such as clothes stores and includes any business operating out of a shop, such as estate agents, travel agents or beauty salons.”

This follows earlier commentary prior to the start of the circuit breaker that while viewings and visits to estate agency premises were to be banned, virtual viewings are to be allowed. Moves that cannot be delayed can be completed, and mortgage surveys are permitted if those involved follow Covid safety guidelines.

Repairs and maintenance at properties are also allowed, but only after the Welsh government last week did an abrupt u-turn after indicating that these activities would be banned during the circuit-breaker lockdown.

Read the latest regulations in full.

October 26, 2020

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