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

Update from CLC

Discussions with Central Government are continuing. UPDATE

In the meantime, if you are acting for someone who has exchanged contracts and has a completion/moving date booked over the next few days, and you and your client are able to proceed, there is currently no Government guidance to prevent you doing so. This is, of course, subject to following current guidelines in respect of public health, properties not being occupied with cases (or suspected cases of) Covid-19, occupants not being in a state of isolation, and if all parties are able to abide by the social distancing rules.

Further guidance is likely to be issued today/tomorrow.

www.clc-uk.org/lawyers/coronavirus/

Discussions with Central Government are continuing. UPDATE

In the meantime, if you are acting for someone who has exchanged contracts and has a completion/moving date booked over the next few days, and you and your client are able to proceed, there is currently no Government guidance to prevent you doing so. This is, of course, subject to following current guidelines in respect of public health, properties not being occupied with cases (or suspected cases of) Covid-19, occupants not being in a state of isolation, and if all parties are able to abide by the social distancing rules.

Further guidance is likely to be issued today/tomorrow.

www.clc-uk.org/lawyers/coronavirus/

My work have just been advised that no new titles are being registered so it looks like unless the sale has already settled (completion in England) it won’t be happening, even if it’s concluded and therefore you are legally tied to the sale/purchase.

I’m in Scotland remember but i expect the situation in England will be heading the same way. And of course even if it doesn’t anyone selling in England to buy in Scotland won’t be able to move.

This has just came to me in the last hour or so and we’re still working out exactly what it all means but those of you due to move any day now should probably be preparing for the worst.

We are due to move on thursday. Our house is empty. We sold all our furniture and it's all being bought new. We have had to move in with mum for 2 days. We cant stay here as my partner is a vulnerable person and my mum is working in the nhs. We now can't move to the new house on thursday as planned. And the old house I'm empty with no furniture able to be delivered. I have 2 children and now need to risk a hotel or something. Which is also ridiculous price wise

Just spoke to our sellers EA. Apparently because there was a new build at the top, which is a couple of weeks off being completed, they can't arrange a valuation under the latest advice.

Obviously this will hold things up...indefinitely, but I've been informed once again, that everyone in the chain is still very keen and nobody is in the high risk group, so if we are able to move within the next 12 weeks, that should be able to go ahead.

@Forever

Is it an option for your mum to love to a hotel? Reason bring nhs staff can stay in a hotel but then only x

our title for our purchase was registered yesterday!! funds are all in place our completion is Friday and we have removals sorted ,we have even arranged to pass keys into buyers once completion email arrives as estate agents are all closed and can't sort keys etc.....we have done this by the skin of our teeth I feel for all that are not as fortunate especially those who were close to exchange

That's great news!
How did you find out you had land registry entry? I'm due to complete Thursday and so scared

speak with your solicitor if your moving Thursday your land registry should be done by now also I have looked at their site not a word on any delays I'm dubious about that comment

the guy who made that comment is in Scotland maybe problems there
...cant see any here at all

Forever...

So sorry this had happened to you. What happened with your land registry... are you in Scotland?

Hi, Scotland sale, date to move was this Friday, all papers signed. Removals cancelled then solicitor says that land registry is closed and we may or not be able to move? A lot of maybes that we are no nearer understanding. Can anyone help me to understand? We are a chain of 5 we are 3rd link. What happens to mortgages if we can’t move Friday? Are we due charges for not completing funds on date of moving ? 🤯

Fantastic news El and anyone else who has managed to do it in time. As for the rest of us close to exchange, so many awful, stories on here. My move was supposed to be the final part in a long drawn out divorce going back five years. I've binned a load of furniture, and moved most of our possessions into storage. I have a pile of pictures etc waiting to be binned at the last moment in case the sale falls through and I have to put the house back together and remarket. My washing machine gave up the ghost the other day. No point in buying a new one as my vendors are leaving theirs. I can cope with the delay in the sale etc but I'm worried in case house prices crash and someone in the chain lowers their offer and it all collapses. Fingers crossed for all who are caught up in this. Compared to what others are going through re CV it's small fry, but it can be hard to keep it all in perspective

We've been told by my solicitors they are doing no more completions until this lock down over and that this will be enforced with all solicitors, although I know it hasn't with my sellers. So god knows when it will be for us, but the extra time is probably what we need at the moment as my partner is now out of work.

Also can't remember if I also posted this but my solicitor is only doing exchange and completion on the same day at the moment which I believe all should be doing to protect people against having to penalties if they are unable to complete.

stressandmorestress it will not be enforced by all solicitors where did you get this fact ?? more scare mongering and BS

The firm of solicitors I work for has now closed their offices and only the owners remain to wind down any completions that are scheduled for the next few days

campervan yep that's what our solicitors are doing from home remotely they are only finishing off those transactions at completion stage ours is Friday

@MissyVerity afraid I can’t, I honestly don’t know more than I posted earlier. I asked a manager about a settlement I have due later in the week and was told they are trying to ‘dig into what it all means’ but at the moment assume that it won’t. I would hope you won’t get hit with any charges as everyone is in the same boat but I’m an agent, not a solicitor or paralegal. All I can do is recommend you speak to your solicitor ASAP tomorrow.

We spoken to our solicitor and agent re: Friday and very small chain. So far all going ahead. We shall see.

@elcampello7 really sorry this seems to have offended you but I'm just passing on the information that was emailed to me by my solicitor this morning, to make others aware. This is exactly what I was told, why would I make that up when I'm going through an incredibly stressful situation myself?! The mind boggles. Like I said it hasn't yet been the case yet with my sellers solicitor. No need to be so rude! I mean it's pretty obvious and common sense really that they're going to hold off with exchanges/completions where possible.

@Conrad79 thank you x it’s rented but I am overcrowded at the moment with no garden so going to be a long lockdown.

@LeaveTheBottle

They said there executive has shut them down and the running on an emergency basis only so they are not allowed to give me the keys 😭

stress ...apologies didn't mean to be rude just seems things are different all over

Yes they must be, I should of stated though which I realised after I posted, we are exchanging and completing on the same day so if you have already exchanged and you have been told completion will still go ahead I doubt that will change. Fingers crossed for others in that situation. I don't want to worry people anymore! Feel like this is one huge nightmare. Hoping everyone gets the outcome they want 🤞

Was there any clarity after that man on Sky News said there would be?

I’m still none the wiser. And extremely stressed. It’s making me ill :(