Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Moving during lockdown

24 replies

Mumbum2011 · 30/10/2020 22:23

Reading the rumours that we're heading for another national lockdown and getting very worried! We're people still allowed to move house during the last one? We're re-locating to another part of the uk (via boat) and have booked and paid for removals. Moving in with family for a few weeks until we complete in new house. Is there likely to be delays etc

OP posts:
Amijustagrump · 30/10/2020 23:06

They better- can't stand my neighbours and they were suppose to move during the first one! Due to go in 2 weeks now and I'm counting down the days

MoirasRoses · 30/10/2020 23:12

I just posted a topic about this - my stress levels have risen 3000x this evening 🥴 we are due to exchange next week & move the week after..

BluebellsGreenbells · 30/10/2020 23:16

Unlikely. It was allowed only if there were problems with violence or danger.

123456kent · 30/10/2020 23:19

Also in same position and have asked sols same question and they believe that whilst it was all off during first lockdown, this one will be different. Market will stay open because of the stamp duty holiday. In Wales you can still move at the moment, and in tier 3 areas in England. So my guess is that moving can take place.
Whether there’s childcare in place on the day will be a different matter!! ... :-(

MoirasRoses · 30/10/2020 23:25

Yes, I think there goes childcare. Which will be hell but so long as we can move I suppose. You can still move in the current Welsh lockdown but you couldn’t back in March.

Things are different this time. We have covid procedures in place. Removers wearing masks, washing hands, keeping apart from us etc..

MollyButton · 30/10/2020 23:43

I would think you can still move- you could during the last one its just removal companies shut.
I'm just glad the surveyor got in yesterday - and expect the survey here next week will have to be cancelled.
But logistics will be complicated.

FangsForTheMemory · 31/10/2020 00:25

It’s more a question of ‘does everyone still want to?’ I think. I was hoping to exchange this week and haven’t because my vendors haven’t agreed the date. I’m wondering if they have been waiting to hear about lockdown and if they’re going to postpone exchange. If they do, I’m screwed.

Maybenexttime08 · 31/10/2020 08:01

Moving into a new build end of November. Sadly looking doubtful unless the building trade will be allowed to keep working.. and removals!

Lilothblos · 31/10/2020 08:02

Really worrying isn’t it. I feel like if moving stops surely they have to extend the stamp duty holiday?

Stressme · 31/10/2020 08:10

We are due to exchange next week out buyers lost their last house in March due to lockdown so they really want to move this next week I really hope we can everything is packed and ready

hedgehoglurker · 31/10/2020 08:36

You were allowed to move if necessary, which we had intended to during the last lockdown, as it was already all planned.

However, it was cancelled at the last minute as our Seller's removals firm stopped as they couldn't maintain the 2m social distance required.

We were simultaneously exchanging and completing due to risk of an imminent lockdown, so it was all delayed. Thankfully the chain held together and it went through 2 months later.

user1019273703 · 31/10/2020 08:42

I managed to sell my house and relocate in the last lock down. Managed to hire a van and move ourselves so it is doable. Good luck OP

Mindymomo · 31/10/2020 08:54

We are hoping to exchange and buyers move in same day, this Friday. It’s a probate sell and has already taken nearly 4 months so far, as everything has taken longer. The buyers Solicitor seems useless, so we’re just waiting on them all the time. The Estate Agent has done all the pushing so far and has really been great.

MirandaMarple · 31/10/2020 09:43

I moved in July. No problems.

LooseMooseHoose · 31/10/2020 10:20

At the beginning of the first lockdown, all moving was stopped, then it became only if the house you were moving too is empty and then later moving was ok as long as socially distant.

I doubt they will stop moving this time. I am guessing this new lockdown is going to have lots of caveats to try to protect the economy

gingerbreadfox · 31/10/2020 10:23

We are due to exchange in the next month. I hope nothing affects it 🙁

Winewednesday · 31/10/2020 10:27

Hi OP, we moved in the first lockdown, in fact the very first week! It was very stressful and the not knowing if it was going ahead was a horrible feeling. Unfortunately our removals had pulled out and the only option was to hire a couple of vans and move ourself's(which we did.) We had to do a simultaneous exchange and completion on the Friday and it wasn't until 3.30pm we had exchanged. If was tough moving without any help but we did it and I am so glad we did. It was definately worth the added stress. My advice would be to keep on at the solicitors and the estate agents to make sure everyone is still happy to go ahead. In the first lockdown, removal companies did start back up again fairly quickly so I am not sure if they will stop this time. Best of luck

PointyMcguire · 31/10/2020 10:28

I would like to think this time around they won’t put a total stop to moves as they’ll want to protect the economy and the momentum gained from the stamp duty holiday. Or perhaps that’s just wishful thinking on my part as we’ve already exchanged and are completing imminently on our old house, and won’t be exchanging on the new house until most likely the end of November.

gingerlace · 31/10/2020 10:39

Do you really think lockdown will happen? I can't see the point if schools etc are to remain open. we're waiting for our mortgage application to be approved and I'm worried this will effect it. Our buyers are cash and our sellers already have already moved into rented so it's all waiting on our mortgage currently. I was hoping it would drag out until after Christmas but now I just want it done ASAP!
I hope it works out for everyone! X

Original poster
Mumbum2011 · 31/10/2020 10:43

Thanks everyone, it's just so stressful on top of everything! We're waiting on mortgage valuation and hopefully final offer. Conveyancing almost complete. We're hoping to move in end of November at the latest.

OP posts:
showmethegin · 31/10/2020 11:39

We moved on 3 April so about a week into full lockdown. That was only allowed because we had already exchanged. All sales that hadn't reached exchange were put on hold.

We were lucky that our removals firm honoured the booking but I know some didn't.

Vintagevixen · 31/10/2020 20:20

I moved on 1 April just after the first lockdown.

I moved in a chain of 4 so we all moved into previously occupied house, it was only the top of the chain that moved into an empty house. So to say you were only allowed to move into an empty house or if there were problems with violence or danger is completely untrue.

I had exchanged prior to lockdown though and I was very lucky in that my removals company did finish all the jobs that had been booked pre-lockdown including mine.

So it can be done - I would hope they will keep house sales going and be a little more organised this time. Keep your eyes on the websites for the British association of removers and there is one for conveyancing solicitors too with the latest advice too.

madmarchmare · 31/10/2020 20:26

Childcare is still in place.

Work from home if you can - so construction and removals will still be operating?

Can't see why you couldn't move.

user1471538283 · 01/11/2020 21:40

Yes you can and we are!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.