Lockdown and moving house - is it actually possible?

[LeaveTheBottle]

Hi,

Quick bit of background - we are in a medium chain. All surveys and valuations done. Mortgages in, searches and enquires mostly done so waiting for the final loose ends to be tied up and then should have agreed exchange and completion dates in the next couple of weeks I would think.

Apparently everyone in the chain is keen to get things moving full steam ahead (as it stands) and nobody has yet expressed cold feet, but I am still very anxious.

If we do go into lockdown before we have a completion date set up, can we actually physically move? I hear in some countries who are in lockdown, moving house is permitted, with the necessary precautions I assume. I can't imagine removals companies being open for business though, but then maybe there is a way this could be done if we all kept our distance??... Can't see how we could do it without them.

Is there anyone in the know about this? I can't stand to think we'll be stuck here indefinitely. It's taken us a couple of years to get to this point and it's been hell. It really has been a nightmare.

TIA

Good luck all, we moved the first week of lock down. Stress levels were awful but I have hope for you all.

Ps ignore the nasty, rude and pathetic comments from people who clearly have no idea how much time, money and effort goes in to it!

X

Just coming on to update, house move done! So so relieved. Completed on my sale 1 April, me and DD had to live with ex for two weeks (so much fun...not) and have completed and in my new home today 😁😁😁 Removals coming with my stuff from storage tomorrow morning.

Currently on a blow up mattress in a sleeping bag but so so relieved and happy, the stress was awful at times. Never moving during a pandemic again!

So glad you made it!

All the best to those still waiting x

Yep...still waiting! Hopeful for our date in May 🤞🏻

@LeaveTheBottle did your buyers manage to sign their documents? We are in the same position (our buyer say they need a witness to sign the contracts and won't be able to do this until the lockdown is over)

We have hopefully found someone to move us mid May. So stressful!

Those that have already moved how have you found your new neighbours?? We're moving into a large village that is very sociable normal but obviously these are strange times to try and get to know new people. Am a bit worried people might think we are disease ridden and give us a wide berth 😂

@lustforlife re signing documents we just signed ours then left them on the neighbours doorstep and they did the witness bit and then left the out for us. You need to get on with your neighbours though I guess!!

I have a buyer for my home and there is a tiny chain - all of whom are willing to wait out this lockdown scenario. The problem for me is that both I and my buyer are in the shielded group, so will not be able to let removers or anyone into the house. Bit of a bind that!

Maxiflump 1 ..we moved just on the edge of lockdown literally last minute before removals stopped working...we moved from a City to a large Village people are brilliant and supportive they even sent welcome cards and a cake !! although it was the reason for our move Country life is looking very good...glad to be out of an overcrowded polluted City I also see that people in Cities are looking to get out after Covid not everyone obviously but it's making people think .good luck stay safe and enjoy village life

Has anyone waiting to move been kept updated? I've heard nothing at all since around 23rd March and I've tried to contact the solicitors a few times this week with no response. My solicitor actually left during this process and was informed someone else would be taking over and the assistant who I had been in contact with with everything via email said to contact her with any queries but I am panicking a bit now as to wether everything's still on hold and the buyers are still ok to wait as their solicitors are still doing moves as normal as I've heard nothing. Just wondering what others situations are and any advice?

@stressandmorestress our solicitors have been really good at keeping at touch although we are at exchange point so they're not actually waiting on anything. Hope you manage to hear something soon.

Eagerly awaiting the PMs announcement on Sunday and what it might mean for removal companies. We are ready to exchange and the property we are moving into is empty so can legally move but just need someone to physically do it for us. Not holding my breath though......... who is is in the same boat?

We are getting mail from solicitors regularly and not too far from exchange. Also waiting to see what the changes will be as a guide to completion date.

I’m in the same position - just waiting to find out when we can exchange and complete! Fingers crossed for you all. Let see what Sunday brings. I don’t think much will change but we will soon find out! X

We have moved this week. We got a removal company but with all the extra measures we had to take to ensure social distancing, I think realistically a van would have been the better choice.

We've finally got a date for 29th May to exchange and complete. I still never heard anything from the person who was meant to be dealing with it, I had to email the solicitors reception who forwarded into a different person who is now apparently dealing with it and said we were ready to arrange the date? I wonder how long I would of been waiting to hear if I hadn't if chased it up again with reception. It feels like the excitement of buying our first home has been lost a lot due to everything going on, I know my partner feels the same too!

@OutComeTheWolves congrats! Hope you're settling in well 😊 I haven't even arranged removals yet must do that tomorrow! We have family who have vans though so we can try get insured on theirs for the day if need be

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52641373

Some good news for us all!

Frustratingly we're being delayed further. We'd all come to a date for next Wednesday but our buyer was waiting for a new mortgage offer, which has come through to day, but only the interim offer via email and no one will move forward until they have a hard copy, which has to come by mail, as no one apparently can send it via email which is ludicrous in the current situation. So we're now in limbo again. So fucking sick of it all.

@0htooooodles sorry to hear you're still waiting: hopefully you're nearly there!

We exchanged and completed and moved in yesterday! A manic 48 hours but we already love the house and all the extra room. Poor kids are plonked in front of endless tv whilst we try and unpack around them. Oh to be able to send them to grannies for an afternoon

We are supposed to be exchanging and completing on 1st June. Don't hold out much hope considering how many empty promises we have received so far! Only 3 in the chain and the process has been going on since the beginning of feb. I'm 32 weeks pregnant so really hoping we can get this all over with soon...

We heard today from our solicitor and we are also aiming to complete v soon, on the 2nd June. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly going forward! For everyone else too!