Agents should know in the next 36 hours how new Coronavirus restrictions will affect how they work.
The Prime Minister is announcing tougher Tier restrictions to operate from the end of the England lockdown on December 2.
Under the current England-wide lockdown agents have been able to work in branches but without widespread visits from members of the public; sales and house moves have gone ahead, under existing social distancing and safety guidelines.
10 Downing Street has already confirmed ahead of Boris Johnson’s announcement that after December 2 more areas of England are set to be placed into higher tiers than before to keep the virus under control, with specific tier rules strengthened to safeguard progress on reducing the infection R rate achieved during the lockdown.
It is not yet clear exactly how restrictions could affect the housing market, although the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says this is likely to be set out later today or tomorrow.
Changes made to the overall Coronavirus restrictions will be discussed in Cabinet again this morning and then announced to MPs today or tomorrow; later this week the proposals will be voted on by Parliament.
The BBC suggests that the key verdict on which areas of the country will fall into which Tiers will be revealed on Thursday of this week.
In Scotland over the weekend some areas moved into what the Scottish Government calls Level 3 and Level 4 measures.
Under those, house moves and other activities related to the property market can continue but must be carried out safely, referring to that country’s Coronavirus guidance at all times.
At Level 4 people can work in other people’s homes, but this should only be to provide essential services, which can include an estate agent visiting or a house move going ahead.
However this is only if the occupier is well and is not showing Coronavirus symptoms and neither they nor any of their household is self-isolating. Social distancing must also be observed.
NAEA Propertymark says: “In [Scottish] areas at Level 4, tradespeople can continue to work in other people’s homes, but should only provide essential services including urgent repairs and maintenance, and work to support a home move, for example, furniture removal.”
