The government has faced requests to tighten restrictions to help reduce Covid-19 infections.
They have warned that the government may have to do more if current lockdown rules are not enough to stem the spike in coronavirus cases. Unfortunately, if this is the case, it would include putting a stop house moves in England – this would apply to owners and private renters.
Labour leaders have called for property viewings to be stopped for the duration of the lockdown, but ministers are considering how to enforce this. They expect this to include lots of different measures including property viewings and home moves being stopped locally and nationally.
The prime minister last week announced a set of new national restrictions, like those in March last year, but unlike the first lockdown, the housing market remains fully operational, with people able to move and estate agents allowed to operate, and even able to still go inside homes.
The government plan to keep the rules under constant review and have vowed that where they must tighten them, they will.
Updated guidance provides useful advice on the type of impact that tighter restrictions could have on moving home, and in turn the activity levels for the sales and lettings industry.
Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus outbreak states that it may become necessary to pause all home moves locally or nationally for a short period of time to manage the spread of coronavirus.
At Horizon Lets, we always make the safety of our staff, contractors, landlords and tenants our main priority, but we have made even more provisions to ensure this is possible whilst sticking to the new guidelines and restrictions which have been put in place.
All letting agents should be sure to make anybody who is about to begin a legally binding contract aware of the latest government advice by always ensuring that the possible implications of Covid-19 are considered, making contractual provisions to manage these risks where necessary.
Note: You should not expect to immediately be able to move into any home where people have Covid-19 or are self-isolating and any new timeframes needed to allow for this should be agreed between all relevant parties if this situation occurs.
Anybody who is renting a property, letting agents and landlords should be aware of and follow the government guidance on coronavirus and renting which contains advice that could be applicable for possessions, repairs, maintenance and health and safety.
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