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

Although all my deliveries due to come on moving day have all cancelled one by one tonight 😭

I'm in similar position due to move from one rental to another on Monday. I have mobility issues and cannot move my things myself. Almost everything in boxes ready to go.
Can't sleep tonight with worry that the movers are going to pull out ...

Exchange and completion same day is essential is what my solicitor is saying or will be in a mess if you are admitted to hospital in the gap between.

I think if the move does not involve removals it's ok as not coming into contact with others?

I had an offer accepted today. I am desperate to move as am currently living with my ex and it’s horrific. The seller and I understand that this may take a while and they need to find somewhere. I’ve waited so long for this and really don’t want it to fall apart. I’m thinking we can at least start the process with solicitors as that can be fine remotely.

Done remotely I meant to say

I think most of us are waiting guidance too. We can do the legal if you can physically move. If you are completing this week your mortgage monies were requested last week, that shouldn't be a problem.

DH is a solicitor for a private firm that does conveyancing and other things, he does housing litigation so not this type of law but they will be stopping every type of non court based law they do. All fee earners sent home on 80% pay apart from a few who can deal with arrests and committals. All conveyancing will be stopped from Monday which frankly is terrifying.

I'm in the same situation, exchanged last week due to complete Wednesday so in a days time I just don't know if it will happen now and I live on my own so quite scary really, I will update the post after calling solicitor and removals company on the morning

And here. Due to complete on Thursday, funds requested from mortgage already.
I need to move out of rental as tenancy up and can't afford to pay both. All utilities terminated. 😩

Snap. Our removal company is still going ahead for Thursday, waiting to hear from solicitor.

But to be frank I’ll take the hit with a fine, I’ve read this morning that it’ll be £30 a person so I’ll pay that rather than not move. We’re also staying very local so if needs be it’ll have to happen overnight over a couple of days.

My elderly parents with health issues should be moving from Stoke to Manchester this morning, so I can care for them, at the moment we don’t know if the move will happen.

@Campervan69 I'm sorry, I don't know. I think there's some government advice on it.

That's really shit though. Is it a standard high street law firm?

I work for a licensed conveyancers (although I'm a solicitor) and they've got most people working from home now. The few in the office are those without children or health issues, so it's perfectly possible.

Similar situation here. Supposed to be exchanging and completing thusday 26th
Everything has been signed, money has been requested, only 3 of us in the chain. The house we are buying is now empty. Are people thinking the solcitor side will be the problem? I expect our van hire will be closed from today too. This is a nightmare

Joining this thread as we were due to exchange and complete on the 6th April... not sure if this will still happen or not, feel sick

Hi, we are the same and I am stressing! We have waited almost a year for our move and our chain already fell through in November, it has been so difficult! Someone in our chain is buying a new build so we exchanged a few weeks ago with completion due 6th April, now we have no idea what will happen! I am almost 16 weeks Pg and just want to get in our new home and prepare for them. We currently have hardly any furniture as we sold most of it when our last sale fell through - we are desperate for a sofa! Sounds selfish given the current pandemic but I’m stressed and our solicitor doesn’t know what will happen yet

I’ve had 3 hours sleep last night with worry can people update on this thread when they hear anything?

The question was put forwards to Michael Gove on BBC Breakfast just now but he was quite unclear - he just said “if possible, please stay in your current home!”

But didn’t mention those who are legally contracted to move home etc

Morning, just an update my movers have arrived this morning and are loading/putting my stuff into storage. So relieved, so clearly they are working for now.

@Conrad79 well that’s very helpful of him I know it’s a difficult and confusing time but someone has to decide surely. I have sent the question into Sky News also, so has my DH so will see if they respond.

we are suppose to be moving on Friday with house full of boxes. My solicitor said that mortgage companies May not release the funds. Help

Joining the thread because due to move on 14th April, so day after lockdown might end.
Possibly a different situation as I'm a vicar so won't own either house, but useful to know what official guidance is.

Hi,
We are ready to go just waiting for our buyers side to tie up some bits then we are set to exchange. This can be finished remotely. We are moving into a new build and our buyer is an investor so only the 2 of us in the chain and they will not need immediate access to our house so no need for any contact. We can physically move ourselves provided the investor gave us time to do a few trips. I assumed it was a no go so have prepared for the worst. Hoping we can at least exchange for some security and maybe agree a completion date after the lockdown!

Just spoke to the admin guy at my removal company and he seemed to think removals were classed as an essential service

I joined because of this thread and we are all set to complete on Monday and our removal company have just cancelled this morning (from Wix to Ipswich) we just don’t know what to do? I checked yesterday and the had confirmed that they would do it previously as it’s an essential place of work and we will keep our distance.

Due to move from one rented property to our new on tomorrow and as of tomorrow we have no water utility, no TV licence, TV or broadband also all our benefits will be moved to the new property too.

We would be self moving so not sure if that is allowed?

Also all mail has now been changed to the new address and we have deliveries lined up at the new address too

Do you think self moving is allowed if it's just my husband going literally back and forth round the corner?