When do you think they’ll allow house viewings again?

[likeamother]

Am just pondering and interested in opinions, I know we can’t say for sure.

If people who can’t work from home are now actively being encouraged to go into work, does this include work being done on homes and, as an extension, house viewings?

Living with stbe in lockdown and keen to restart the ball rolling on my house hunt!

This was on the BBC page Tonight, see last sentence.

Home Affairs Correspondent
These are the all-important new legal rules for the lockdown in England.

They are written in Parliamentary legal language so can be hard to read. But here are the most important parts.

From midnight tonight you can:

Visit a "public open space" for "open-air recreation to promote physical or mental health or emotional wellbeing"
That can be done with one member of another household
A public space includes any open or public land or a "public garden"
The new regulation confirms that garden centres can open - and that people can visit estate agents and view homes they want to buy or rent.

We had a viewing the weekend before last. Our property is unoccupied though. The estate agent let the viewers in then stood back whilst they viewed.

Estate agents will have to put protocols in place, as other business owners will have to.

Social distancing, maybe latex gloves and/or sanitizer, masks, open windows. Whatever is necessary.

If the UK gov and devolved govs can reduce stamp duty, and councils can reduce search fees etc, all the better.

My friend is desperate to downsize, her financial security depends on it following recent ill-health retirement. I also know of a married couple who want to separate although they’re getting on ok for now because they’re both key workers, so not under each other’s feet all day.

...and view homes they want to buy or rent,,,

Surely not just like that? If the property is occupied, it would be the same as visiting another household which definitely isn't allowed. I assume with precautions put in place. Quite surprised...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52641373

Thanks @Tulipvase my friend just sent me this and I came on to share. Checked all day yesterday for an estate agent specific update and had resigned myself to it being June earliest!

I’m sure they will put precautions in place, I wonder if they’ll ask vendors not to be there or if the EA doing viewings is considered worse in terms of risk. I imagine they’ll limit the viewing party to two maximum as well.

Yes it's on the BBC news site now. I thought this would be way down the list of priorities. But aren't people going to say why then can't I visit family and friends' houses if I take precautions?

I agree, but the same could be said for cleaners and non urgent trades now allowed in. It’s v conflicting!

Yes good news for you OP out today. I don't think house viewings are the same as visiting friends as you really don't need to be there yourself. Many buyers would probably prefer that you're not. So you the vendor can go out, or hide in the garden, and the agent can sit in the car outside having unlocked the front door for them. Nobody really needs to be told "This is the kitchen, it's a good size with a nice view of the garden" do they?

I think the actual removal might be a bit trickier if you're buying a house that the occupant is moving out of the same day, and if you need to use a removal company. Personally I'd go for a rented home rather than buying right now.

BBC News just announced its from today! Good luck to all

From today.

On BBC now. 🌝

Our house is not officially on the market yet but we have our first viewers tomorrow (it goes on properly on Friday). We are going out, leaving windows and internal doors open. Viewers and agents wear ppe (supplied by the agent if viewers don't have it). The agent then shows them in and leaves them to it. They then leave and any conversations are done over the phone or email.

When we come back I will be using dettol on any door handles, cupboards and any surfaces that may have been touched.

Fingers crossed it all works!

Would you really let a complete stranger wander around your home by themselves without at least an agent being present?

I wouldn't as they could take anything or snoop into things that they shouldn't.

I would heffa. I don't really have stuff to worry about and we wouldn't be far away. I might put my work laptop in the car and any other valuables I could do easily like the kids tablets but I wouldn't sweat it.

I thought about this but I don't think there's much option at present if you want to have viewings. People have to give their name and address before a viewing.

We are going to view some houses on Friday, we have to wear masks and gloves and stand 2m away from the agent (the vendors will be out or in the garden) all internal doors will be open and we're probably only going to be there for 10 minutes so the risk is low. I think this is also why it's not compatible to seeing your family, would you stay 2m away, not sit down, not touch anything and leave so soon at a friends/relatives house?

We had a call yesterday saying the marketing will resume now. We're in a rental and got told we have to be out with all lights on and doors open while they view. Frankly I'm not that keen as we've gone all lock down without a sniffle and I'll be bloody annoyed if some scroat comes in and coughs over the kitchen just before we move out!
I might be saying no viewings until we leave.

Would be better if you could view via FaceTime with the agent, then only one person attending the household and you can see what you need to see without physically being there.

Doesn't really seem necessary to be doing viewings while tenants are still there for rentals. The landlord could just wait till the tenants move out. Obviously different for selling houses as you need a buyer lined up before you can move usually

@Winnipegdreamer I just would never put in an offer based on a video call though. I couldn’t check for cracks, damp smells or patches, dodgy fences etc. It’s such a big purchase, I’d have to view face to face.

I read they’re asking agents to ensure people are serious though, will probably rule out some random / nosy viewings as I think the only people physically looking at the moment are the ones who really do need to buy and are serious.

@likeamother I didn’t think of that! We’ve viewed some horrendously damp houses and the smell is the first giveaway!

Hopefully NI follows suit soon! We've our house on the market and serious interest but no viewers allowed and we're not allowed to view anything. All abit of a standstill but fingers crossed 🤞

My agent will be there in the house with viewers (for most people it's a no-no letting someone unupervised - if that was published as arule, what an invitation for thieves!)
Agent will keep 2m distance or more and both will wear masks and gloves.
The opening of cupboards/wardrobes won't be allowed but vendor has to leave all doors open inside. Also 'no use of facilities' so really viewers dob't have to touch anything pretty much.

I always thought house viewings were one of the safest things to do, esp in masks etc!
And only 1-2 viewers are allowed.

*unsupervised

I'm a tenant and our landlord is selling the flat we have been renting for a few years. it was on the market for a while pre covid so lots of viewings, but didnt sell. Now the estate agent wants to restart physical viewings and i absolutely hate the idea. My child is still off school and i just can't get my head around why its ok for total strangers to traipse in and out of the flat when it's not ok for friends to visit.

It does seem bonkers doesn't it shivers?
The government wants the economy to start moving again, and get people off furlough, plus it's unlikely that if you had family over you and your child would be out, your family would wear PPE, not touch anything and leave after 10 mins.