Nov 2020: The Government has permitted Estate and Letting Agents to open their branches during the forthcoming lockdown

(05/11/20) Estate and Letting Agents are permitted to continue carefully operating under the new lockdown rules which have now been approved by MPs.

In a statement to the industry, the Government says: “Buying, selling and renting a home can continue, in a COVID-secure way, as it has in recent months. Estate and letting agents can operate, show homes and sales suites can remain open and property viewings, mortgage valuations and surveys can take place.”

The approved regulations specifically state that activities relating to the sector are allowed to continue under exceptions to leaving home to undertake any of the following activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property:

• visiting estate or letting agents, developer sales offices or show homes;
• viewing residential properties to look for a property to buy or to rent;
• preparing a residential property to move in;
  moving house;
• visiting a residential property to undertake any activities required for the rental or sale of that property.

Commenting for Propertymark, Timothy Douglas, Policy and Communications Manager said: “Following the laying of regulations for national lockdown measures in England we are very pleased that the hard work of our members and the importance of the property sector has been recognised with exceptions in the rules for home moves as well as visits to branches and allowing agents to visit property to undertake any required activities ... buying, selling and renting a home will continue and must be done in a COVID secure way and in accordance with the guidance.”

We ask our clients to contact us by phone and email wherever possible in these uncertain times and to make prior appointments for any Covid secure face-to-face office meetings wherever possible to limit visitor numbers.

Further guidance on how we conduct Covid-secure viewings will always be given to ensure we maintain protection at all times whilst continuing to operate.