Moving house

[afrikat]

We exchanged a few weeks ago. Due to complete Friday 3rd April

We are now in lockdown. I am assuming this means removal firms won't be able to work?

Or people in the chain may be self isolating?

We are legally obliged to complete....what options do we have??

I think it’s going to vary from company to company. I’d ring around and see if you can get one who is willing to move you.

It’s pretty essential in my view. My company have asked that we stay out of the house, which is a sensible precaution imo.

I’ve just tried to get hold of my solicitor for completion today but I don’t know what is happening yet.

My moving company are planning on still going ahead. They will be wearing PPE and want us out of the house.

Our movers are also going ahead.
DH now guilt tripping about the ethics. Can’t win

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Here is guidance from Propertymark today

MHCLG GUIDANCE FOR THE SECTOR

Propertymark has spoken to a senior civil servant at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Goverment (MHCLG) this morning.

The civil servant stated that agents are not “essential businesses” under the new rules and therefore their view is that agents should close their offices immediately.

Furthermore, they stated that there should not be any in-person viewings, routine inspections or house moves.

MHCLG is still looking into property maintenance tasks such as gas safety checks and hopes to issue guidance on these points as soon as possible.

In a further development, British Asscoiation of Removers (BAR) has issued communications this morning instructing members that moves should only be completed if they are already underway, any move that has not yet started, should not go ahead.

Propertymark will keep members up to date later today and as any further information becomes available.

My moving company can move us as well, because we have exchanged our contract. Now to sort out EA for keys (since their office shuts) and mortgage company to make sure money can go through. It seems that their Case Handler Team for mortgage company is shut. Such a nightmare.

We will have to stay out of the house while they make the move. which is fine for us.

Well we’ve completed on our sale and just waiting for our purchase to go through now.

Our solicitor have confirmed we're still set to complete on Friday.

We're moving ourselves so not relying on a removal firm.

Update - so I got an automated text message from my mortgage lender to say funds will be transferred to my solicitor today. Rang solicitor who was thankfully available and told to transfer my part. I rushed to bank to transfer my deposit and fees etc. Very odd experience in the bank sitting on a chair with tape 2 metres around it and bank teller filling in forms. Anyway....

Rang estate agent but they are closed with voicemail giving an email address for contact so I sent an email about completion on Friday and wondering where I get keys. I have bought contents like sofa from sellers so I don’t need anything apart from maybe plates etc.

Just a waiting game now to see what estate agent says and if I can travel to the new house which is a few miles away.

I feel better about this than I did yesterday. Hope others get some good news

I've been told my new build has carpet missing. No turf down. They are struggling to get the tradesman in to rectify, yet are still pushing for me to complete on Friday.
I'm not sure I want to find a removal company who isn't BAR registered who is prepared to move me when I'm going to be on lockdown with a 2 year old and no tv or WiFi connected and no outside area for an undetermined amount of time.

Our buyer has asked us to put everything on hold for 30 days. we were supposed to exchange last monday.
not heard back for the developer we are buying from...

and just when the housing market was recovering...

@Teddypops can you please let me know where you get information from? Thanks

I'm an ARLA member. I received the info by email this morning from them.

We completed ok today. It was very stressful though. My furniture is still in storage. Who knows when I will get this back!

How is everyone doing? We are all set to move on friday.

I phoned our van hire place and at the moment they are still able to rent us a van. So fingers crossed it will still be that way next Wednesday when we want to move our stuff. We have already exchanged so hopefully we can still complete and move.

I don't see the point in trying to stall as this lockdown could be for a long time. Id rather move now then lockdown. Not wait for it to be over!

Does anyone know anything about the land registry? I believe your solicitor contacts the land registry to put your name on the title deeds BEFORE they transfer the money? Currently the land registry office isn’t open so I’m not sure if I will be legally allowed to move if my name isn’t on the title deeds or can this be done later ? I am in Northern Ireland btw. My invoice from solicitor does look like this was underway as I have paid it everything. Keys are meant to be given to me tomorrow

I think land registry can be done afterwards- in fact I think has to be done afterwards when you actually own the land. Your solicitor should be able to advise.

Looks like we are ok to complete tomorrow. Moving our stuff to storage tonight. But with the EA and solicitor working from home. It will take longer than expected I think to get the key on the day.

Thanks @PaddingtonsHat
Money is available to pay sellers solicitor, solicitor just couldn’t get anyone in land registry due to c19 closure. I just worry if this will be able to happen and goggling info is confusing it is usually changed before money is transferred but there are cases where people waited weeks and were in their new house before registry was updated. Hopefully mine is underway. I just worry mortgage lender won’t be happy as technically I won’t own property until registry is updated.
yesterday I wasn’t thinking straight between phone calls with solicitor and estate agent (who are now closed) and also trying to work from home solicitor mentioned a scenario where someone could falsely try to take out a loan against property if registry isn’t updated, I think the scenario was dodgy sellers doing this.

We are on to move tomorrow morning. We’re moving from rented to rented so a much simpler processs.

Moving house been added to list of allowed movement!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52044452

'Several new activities which are permitted have been added to a list outlined by the Prime Minister on Monday.

They include moving house, fulfilling legal obligations, accessing critical public services and to escape injury, illness or the risk of harm.'

This actually makes me feel much better. Our removals firm started loading some stuff today and the police came round asking if they were key workers. Thanks a bunch neighbours, we will miss you too!