If estate agents close due to covid restrictions, will we still be able to move?

[Bug55]

Just read an article saying that more measures are likely in the next few days, one of which would include closing estate agents. We are due to exchange on Monday next week and complete on Tuesday and now I’m worried. Would we still be able to move?

We have a new tenant moving in to one of our rentals in two weeks. If the government aren't allowing that the tenant will be homeless.
Another well thought out restriction.

[quote lightand]@HelloThereMeHearties, but my DDs buyer physically "measured up" recently.[/quote]
You don't need that to exchange, or complete. Measurements are on the plans, no?

@Silkiechickscat

I thought in March lawyers were not allowed to exchange and removals stopped. The removals could be done with van hire but if we can't exchange and miss stamp duty deal may collapse.

They won't stop lawyers working from home.

Honestly, people are getting their knickers in a twist over something that is not going to happen! No way is the government going to cancel the housing market two months before the stamp duty window closes!

Yes its not like there's a pandemic on and the hospitals are overflowing and the government needs to raise money and has announced it may stop sales including current ones.

Ours is falling through right now.

Yes its not like there's a pandemic on and the hospitals are overflowing and the government needs to raise money and has announced it may stop sales including current ones

I can't see anywhere it has announced that? Pausing house moves is not the same as stopping house sales.

Agreed, people need to stop panicking, nothing has been announced re the housing market. We're due to complete in two weeks and I'm confident it will go ahead. The government has plenty of other measures it can use before closing off moving house.

Hopefully they'll think it through properly before bowing to the pressure to stop the housing market.
Last time they stopped it we lost my DP's house sale and it was an absolute nightmare. Cost us a fortune as it had been on the market and empty since the previous November. It didn't sell again until June.
Now we're selling my house and getting stuck in it all again is just too much to bear as this one has taken forever to sell too. We can't afford to lose the stamp duty holiday for the house we're buying so we'll either be stuck in a house we hate or living in a rental we can't really afford.

Fingers crossed for everyone

Why can't estate agents work remotely? I don't understand why they would have to close

Estate agents can wfh....its not hard have to stop...they just have to close 'shop'

Why would the estate agents being closed have an impact on you completing? All they do is hold the eye and that can be done directly between seller and buyer.

We are due to exchange the end of this week/beginning of next with completion 6 days later. Using a removal firm. Our chain will fall apart if we don’t get the stamp duty holiday. We can’t find £15,000 from nowhere now. This is so stressful!

We moved in the first lockdown (had already exchanged before lockdown and our buyers were renters). We had issues because the removal firms weren't working so our sellers struggled to get out. It did get done though with a few compromises.

Estate agents do not do anything on the day of completion other than receive/hand over keys and take their big payment! Estate Agents closed in the first lockdown and people still moved. Stop panicking. Please.

Apparently Boris said that he may need to stop people moving home. Not that he may need Estate Agents to close.

Why on Earth would people need to stop moving home? How can that be policed? How can that be legal or proportionate? Or possible?

Several people on the buyers and sellers thread, who have spoken to EA, have been told viewings will stop, and anything that hasn't reached the exchange stage will stop, so there's some hope there.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4092275-Buyers-Sellers-Roll-Call-13?pg=24

Link to thread if anyone wants it ^

@PoppiesinOctober

Several people on the buyers and sellers thread, who have spoken to EA, have been told viewings will stop, and anything that hasn't reached the exchange stage will stop, so there's some hope there.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4092275-Buyers-Sellers-Roll-Call-13?pg=24

Link to thread if anyone wants it ^

How is that hopeful??

How is that hopeful??

Ooh, bit snippy aren't we? It's hopeful for people who have exchanged, and are still waiting for completion, to know that there's hope it won't fall through still.

Sorry, didn't realise this was a negativity pit.

Not snippy or negative, I just couldn't work out how that was a positive thing for most people

@CodenameVillanelle

Not snippy or negative, I just couldn't work out how that was a positive thing for most people

How is that? For people who have exchanged, or are very close to exchange, and are worried a pause will damage things, or collapse their chain, it could provide a sliver of hope that they could still proceed.

Granted, not all that hopeful for people in earlier positions, but I just thought it might bring a bit of peace of mind for some people.

Has anybody been given any clues as to when these restrictions may come into effect? We are so close to exchange!

Viewings are still taking place. We have two booked and please god they need to go ahead. We have been on the market for more than a year, are in the middle of a divorce and viewings are conducted in one hell of a lot safer way than supermarket shopping or take-always!

This has been taken from a gov.uk article by the media. If you search the policy it's been there since 22nd March. Last updated 7th jan.

It's a possibility but not a new announcement