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

@Conrad79 same
My heart is physically hurting.

@Conrad79, I haven't seen or heard anything since then. Very frustrating.

As far as we're concerned, everything has to be put on hold because we still have a survey in the chain which needs be carried out and that seems to be a definite no at the minute.

I can't see the lockdown being lifted after the 3 week review. I think the pm has just said that to give us a bit of hope and not overwhelm us with the much more likely 8-12 weeks.

I'm due to complete tomo. In such a state! 😭

8-12 weeks!

I don’t think anyone will have jobs in 8-12 weeks what a life eh!

Such a sad situation for everyone!

broken 234 ...anyone who has exchanged and has completion sorted is ok....its those who haven't exchanged while need surveys land registered etc and in a chain who have major problems in effect if you have not reached Echange nothing is legal
.

broken 234 the issue with completions is getting removals and the keys if you have this sorted you are good to go

I'm help to buy... and as it stands they haven't released the final paperwork to release the funds... I can't get hold of anybody!
Keys and moving sorted.... need the final link. Unbelievably stressed. This marks end of two year divorce and new start for me.

@broken234 we have heard back from help to buy had to email them they have said they are good to go no issues on their side

Really!!!!!! All my emails keep bouncing back! Which region are you in?! I'm so happy!!

HI, just wondered if anyone had any more information regarding house move? We are due to exchange and complete on Friday also and just don't know what to do

Dawn if you haven't exchanged its going to be difficult

Dawn this is the problem Solicitors Arranging Exchange and Completion on same day ....always push for Echange as early as possible with completions agreed later that makes it legal until then nothing is solid a buyer can pull out a minute before completion without a penny to pay and this to a chain and its fragile

We were due to exchange and complete on the same day this week but our solicitor called yesterday and the vendors are wanting to hold off until mid April now till this hopefully starts blowing over. I’ve said that’s fine with us as we wanted to decorate the house before moving in anyway and put new floors down etc but with everything being closed this will be difficult to do! I am a little sad as we nearly completed in less than 4 weeks since putting an offer in! So really quick! Now we just have to be patient 😭

Different situation but friends in the forces were packed and ready to move yesterday and 30 mins before they were due to leave the removal company cancelled on them. Not essential travel! Not sure if this will affect you.

hollywal I’m not sure if things will be back to normal mid April.

There’s going to be an awful lot of mortgage offers running out and “no completion” conveyancers losing money.

But at least lives will be saved

would it be classed as "essential travel", if you don't move and then have no where to live?
So stressful isn't it :-(

Sad mum......are those people in the forces now homeless ? your post does not make sense as if they were moving they would own there new place and have to.vacate wherever they are .this would be essential travel as you are only travelling to your own property #confused

The solicitors have brought it forward a week already, and we have already handed our notice in :-(

Holywell this is the result of many people doing Exchange and Completion on the day ...not a legal leg to stand on , always get exchange ie all the paperwork etc done asap then its legally binding

@broken234 we are north east so it comes under agent1 at help to buy what email address are you using ?

We haven't exchanged yet but we're pretty much ready to do so. We are moving to a new build on a development and they have responded to me to say they have completions taking place this week and next as long as solicitors wish to continue but exchange and completion on same day. As we are moving into a new build and our buyer is an overseas investor and no one will be imminently moving into our property and we are moving things ourselves I'm thinking it may go ahead.

Update from Scottish land registry today . My fingers toes, and eyes are all crossed

"We have held a number of discussions with the Law Society and UK Finance colleagues over the last 24 hours about how we can enable settlements, that need to proceed in the next few days, to go ahead.
We are concluding our discussions with the Law Society and UK Finance this morning and will be providing further guidance later today on the options available to customers"

Sadmumbecauseofson

Tmac are still hiring Van's if this is any use to them.

I really hope you lot have positive outcomes sooner rather than later, I keep trying to tell myself there's nothing I can do but still absolutely gutted it's all I'm thinking about, years to save to be able to buy and picturing how things are going to be, buying everything for it and being so excited to my partner being sent home from work unpaid for however long when his wage is the our main source of income, I don't see any other outcome than losing our dream home at the moment. I'm in tears yet again writing this I just can't seem to pull myself together. I just feel like I'm having a breakdown and there is no light for us. 😭

@Foreverhopeful91thanks for posting that we were due to move Friday even if it can go ahead not sure how we can physically move.