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?

I've been dealing with EAs about a rental and they all seem to be working from home. It's not got in the way of anything at all.

I managed to move last April right at the beginning of lockdown 1, when no-one knew anything about what would happen! There were even doubts about the land registry and rumours were flying round like crazy that they would shut down - luckily they were fine.

Estate agents can work remotely, key handover can be contactless. I had exchanged so my move went ahead - if you have exchanged the process cannot be legally stopped so it has to go ahead. The government couldn't stop me in April, so I don't see how they could stop exchanged deals this time.

Solicitors all worked remotely as did a lot of mortgage companies I believe, though was a cash buyer so luckily didn't have that layer of complication.

Removals companies - well I must admit I was very lucky, they committed to completing all pre booked jobs and I literally think I was the last one done. I would hope they are more geared up this time and would carry on working. The guys who did my removals didn't even know if they were going to be stopped by the police at the time!!

So it can be done - especially if you have exchanged. My sympathies to you all - it was the most stressful time of my life particularly as it was the culmination of a separation too!

I managed to move last April right at the beginning of lockdown 1, when no-one knew anything about what would happen!

Yes, same here. We moved into a rental a few days after the announcement in March. Keys were left in a lockbox at the house, and we signed all the paperwork digitally. So here's hoping.

@blancheduboiss

I hope not. We've given notice and are moving early Feb (though it is military quarters though so pretty different).

Sorry - that was definitely meant to say 'I hope so' not 'hope not'

I'm praying we can, considering we aren't dealing with any sort of estate agents/solicitors/buyers or sellers/movers and we need to for DH's job. I so want out of this shitty rental!

Nervously placemarking.

@Nervousseller2020

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

That's some sort of positive I hope.

As I see it:
Estate agents going to view and value a property - covid risk, going into peoples homes and going from home to home so could pass covid around
Surveyors going to do valuations - again covid risk as could spread covid around
Removals - covid risk as coming into contact with multiple people over the course of a week and handling furniture etc
Moving into a house someone else have vacated - small risk I suppose of lingering covid.

Now I can see the above does carry some risk but a solicitor carrying our searches/enquiries/paperwork and mortgage lenders carrying out applications etc is no covid risk at all.
We are just waiting for a couple of enquiries to be answered and then are good to go for setting enhance and completion date. We are buying an empty house and will carry on renting for a few weeks while we do some decoration/work etc.
I can’t see that is carrying on with our purchase is any covid risk at all!

I wonder if they did completely stop all house buying activity wether they would extend the stamp duty deadline at least for those already with offers accepted and solicitors instructed?

I get that a lot of people are saying ‘why does it matter if estate agents are closed?’ and key handovers can be arranged between buyers and sellers. Our problem is that we are buying a house in Worcestershire and the sellers have already moved down to the south coast so we are going to need the estate agents as a go between.
Also removals - trying to move the contents of a family home in a hired van, in one day, with the children around is going to be nightmarish.
Mainly I worry that it won’t just be estate agents closing, but property market stopping. Based on what happened with schools (announcing at 8pm one day that they are closing the next), I fear packing our house up on Monday, and then finding out Monday night that we aren’t allowed to move on Tuesday! It’s just a bit of a headache 😬 No one knows for sure what will happen yet so I guess we have no choice but to hang on and keep everything crossed

Moving may stop. The house market will not.

It's a halt on moving that is worrying me too as our buyer is moving across the country so needs proper movers. They've delayed us enough already without this being yet another problem.
I'll be a lot happier if they can at least exchange soon but that's not looking likely either so we really need the market to stay open.

Due to exchange tomorrow (although thinking this will be early next week now) but hard stop of a next Friday, 22 January, completion.

Small chain - FTBs buying ours and our new house is empty.

Keeping EVERYTHING crossed it can all still go ahead. Our EA has contacted us again today to push for exchange as feels if that is done then completion next week will be OK. He has a nervousness Boris will make an imminent announcement. Although he said he is torn as the stamp duty break and economic impact is be greater this time so thinks any house related announcements will only be if things get even worse...

So for that reason alone I hope they don't announce anything - yes money could be lost, yes it will be a massive inconvenience (as I type this sat amongst half packed boxes) - but I am praying things don't get any worse from a health / NHS crisis point of view.

Panics. Completion is Tuesday. Mortgage offer expires 29th. Chain of 2 links. We’re FTB. Then the sellers are moving and then the other sellers are moving into rental... don’t have a Covid clause due to mortgage expiration. We’re been staying indoors all the time so that we won’t get it before the 19th. Really hope the all the sellers are too

@Silkiechickscat

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.

So, the Stamp Duty holiday has now been extended. How does that fit in with your theory that the Tories want to stop house sales to checks notes raise more money by stopping the housing market @Silkiechickscat?