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Original poster

So.....are we allowed to move now or not? PMs latest announcement

67 replies

ESpressoNotEXpresso · 10/05/2020 19:39

Hi,

Like so many, since lockdown our house move has been indefinitely delayed. We were at the final stages and the chain were about to agree on exchange and completion dates. Of course, this has all been up in the air for the past 7 or so weeks.

Given BoJos latest announcement of people being encouraged to go back to work if they can't WFH, then does that mean that removals companies will be operating from tomorrow? I know some already were, but most weren't.

Thoughts?...

OP posts:
foodtoorder · 10/05/2020 20:40

I have no idea really but I am hopeful too.
The selling buying process has been done in reverse almost. The buyers couldn't get a survey don't before lock down but the searches and questions on deeds etc are done.
Hoping some surveying can be done in the coming weeks to get things going.
We are in a small chain that so far is still committed.
Hope you get some good news soon!

BruceAndNosh · 10/05/2020 20:45

Moving house was specifically mentioned in the Coronavirus Act as being allowed

selfisolatingsince2007 · 10/05/2020 20:46

We're mid buying a house (started it all before this happened), and the guidance we got is moving is ok, movers are working, but you can only move into a vacant home. So if you're buying, you have to wait for the home to fall vacant.

workshyfop · 10/05/2020 20:47

I was about to post asking the same question. Contracts all ready to exchange. The government advice on it hasn’t been updated since the end of March and still saying postpone if you can.

workshyfop · 10/05/2020 20:48

Are people moving then?

Rio5555 · 10/05/2020 20:59

People have always been moving. My best friend moved house early this week. They just had to exchange and complete in the same day. (England)

selfisolatingsince2007 · 10/05/2020 21:01

@workshyfop yep, I have had someone in my antenatal group move only last week as they managed to complete on the house buy. As long as its vacant which it was for them.

Mummyshark2018 · 10/05/2020 21:06

I thought you were always allowed to move

Original poster
ESpressoNotEXpresso · 10/05/2020 21:21

@BruceAndNosh, I think initially that was for buyers who had already exchanged and were so contractually obliged to complete.

Our buyers are BTL investors, so they don't need to be in straight away and the top of the chain is a vacant new build, but our new house and sellers onwards won't be vacant. We were planning on wearing gloves, masks and anti bacing the entire house on the day we move.

If we aren't allowed to do this, the chain will undoubtedly collapse, as people aren't going to wait for a vaccine until we can do the physical move!

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 10/05/2020 21:25

If the people you are buying from have moved out when you arrive, then technically isn't the property vacant?

Utterlydespairing · 10/05/2020 21:28

You’ve always been allowed to move

Original poster
ESpressoNotEXpresso · 10/05/2020 21:29

@Nat6999, I'm not sure that's what they mean, is it?..

OP posts:
Tiggytico · 10/05/2020 21:30

We're in a house swap situation.... bar the homebuyers report we're all ready to go. And move is literally around the corner... we could move without removals if need be!

Fingers crossed!! Gutted that my DH hasn't been able to use this time to strip wallpaper etc! (I'm still working.. and he's a decorator so I'm not shirking)!

magnarocks · 10/05/2020 22:53

I don't think it's v clear still, the advice was always only to continue with moving if absolutely necessary (e.g. contracts had already been exchanged). I'm hoping for some clarity in the next day or two.

magnarocks · 10/05/2020 22:54

I interpreted it the same way as you @workshyfop

MissLemon18 · 10/05/2020 23:25

I'm hoping so! Just waiting for dates. Our local removals firm is a member of BAR, so it has been on pause, following gov advice but the website was updated tonight to read 'office closed until Mon 11th May', rather than 'office closed until further notice', so I expect BAR will update their advice tomorrow.

cushioncovers · 10/05/2020 23:25

Before today You could move if you had already signed contracts or if the house was vacant. After BJ speech today I'm not sure if it's changed or not.

MissLemon18 · 11/05/2020 10:06

Just been in contact with our local removals firm - they're resuming services with amendments - just said to contact again when we have our date, which we're hoping will be in a couple of weeks.

GherkinsOnToast · 11/05/2020 11:04

We are all set to go - the only thing holding us up is the Mortgage valuation, they can't do a valuation because the house has been lived in by the same family since the 1930s and has never been sold! We need them to value the house so we can exchange and complete. We are not in a chain there is just us and the people we are buying from who are moving into a vacant property. We also need to be able to give notice on the place we're in!

Boredinthehouse · 11/05/2020 11:31

We’re apparently exchanging/ completing on Wednesday. I’ve never been this nervous before!!

Lalalaboring · 11/05/2020 11:33

(Our new house is empty so the process has been continuing throughout lockdown)

Lalalaboring · 11/05/2020 11:34

Oops didn’t mean bracketS!! We’re hopefully moving this week Shock

Removal men are good to go too eeek

Smallgoon · 11/05/2020 11:55

and for those of us that had completed and had begun works on said vacant property, which were then halted to due to lockdown - can we now resume? I'm confused. Seems I'm not allowed to take public transport (I don't drive) so how can I project manage what is going on in my new property (I haven't yet moved in). Such a grey area for those of us that had completed a month before lockdown.

workshyfop · 11/05/2020 14:15

Checked BAR website and they’ve put this up

So.....are we allowed to move now or not? PMs latest announcement