Advice on moving home during this stay-at-home period
Mar 29, 2020
The UK property market has come to a grinding halt after official advice to stay at home and postpone a move if at all possible.
There is so much uncertainty about what will happen in the future, buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants on the verge of concluding their transactions do not know for sure when or whether their planned move will come to pass.
The government has said that "there is no need to pull out of transactions", and "we all need to ensure we are following guidance to stay at home and away from others at all times". Confusing. Here is the official advice along with links to useful articles.
• Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• Useful Q&A from Zoopla including what it means if you're a buyer or seller, or if you're a landlord or tenant.
• BBC article: People urged not to move house
• Coronavirus financial help and rights from Money Saving Expert including: "I'm due to move house and hired a removal firm - can I still use them?"
• What ARE buyers and sellers allowed to do as lockdown freezes the property market? via This is Money
• London’s rental market flooded by bargain Airbnb listings via wired.co.uk.
Top takeaways
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Homebuyers and renters have been urged to put moving plans on hold while the UK is in lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
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The lockdown is in place until Monday 13 April initially, and will then be reviewed.
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Buyers who are due to move into an empty property are allowed to go ahead, but others have been told to delay their transaction.
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The British Association of Removers has said its members should only complete any moves that are currently underway and immediately cancel or postpone where possible any moves that have not yet started.
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Banks and building societies have agreed to extend mortgage offers where completions have to be delayed to priorities safety.
