The Housing Secretary has told EYE he is not yet ready to ease restrictions on home moving as agents await further clarity on when they can return to their branches.
The Government’s long-awaited strategy on easing lockdown restrictions yesterday contained no mention of the property market or estate agents, leaving firms reliant on guidance issued by the Ministry of Housing in March.
The March 26th guidance said agents should work from home and properties can be marketed but viewings should not take place inside a property, although virtual viewings are allowed.
Those who had exchanged were urged to try to delay completion but the guidance said moves could go ahead if they were unavoidable and social distancing measures were followed.
That position appears to have remained even after the Government’s strategy on easing lockdown was released yesterday.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told EYE: “The current restrictions, while necessary and important, have been difficult, with some families feeling stuck in homes no longer suitable for them.
“We do not want these measures to continue any longer than they need to.
“That’s why I’m looking to ease restrictions on moving home as soon as it is safe to do so, guided by scientific and medical advice.”
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is under pressure to revise its guidance on buying and selling properties.
Paul Offley, compliance officer for The Guild of Property Professionals, told EYE that he expected agents would be classed as ‘non-essential retail.’
The Government’s strategy yesterday said non-essential retail businesses could reopen from June 1st, subject to the social distancing guidelines being followed.
Currently only workplaces in food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories are allowed to be open.
Safety guidelines for all businesses are due to be published this week.
Offley said: “Having listened to the Prime Minister and read the document, there is absolutely no change to where we were before.
“I am hoping agents are classed as retail. We have been classed as retail when it comes to incentives such as business rates.
“I think that would put us into the second phase for June 1st.
“Until that is updated, the guidance since March applies and people remain working from home.
“Agents can start to get their offices ready for a return but the question is whether anything from the previous guidance is revised.
“Even if they did open doors, they would need guidance on social distancing while doing viewings.
“We need to know if the Government will revise that.”
A joint statement from NAEA and ARLA Propertymark said it has pressed the Ministry of Housing for clear guidance.
The statement said: “We had anticipated much more clarity from Government about how businesses can get back up and running, however the industry specific detail is yet to be published.
“This only causes ambiguity, as it allows individuals to interpret the Covid-19 recovery strategy in their own way.
“We have again pressed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the need for clear guidance to ensure that agents can operate safely both at work and in their interactions with consumers.”
Dominic Agace, chief executive of Winkworth said agents are continuing to work from home and are using virtual viewings and video appraisals but said valuers need to be able to get back to work to allow mortgages to progress.
He said: “This could be done with strict social distancing, hygiene and wearing of masks and other protective clothing rules in place.
“The Government needs to consider this as a priority.”
Isobel Thomson, chief executive of safeagent, added: “While agents will have hoped to see more sector specific direction in today’s guidance, easing lockdown is clearly a complicated process balancing the demands of protecting the health of individuals and the economy.
“Safeagent wants to see our sector fully back up and running as soon as it is safe to do so and we are proud of the way in which agents have risen to the challenge of providing an important service, using creative, virtual ways of working to support tenants and landlords at this time.
“We continue to engage with Government to ensure the best interests of everyone in the private rental sector are met and we look forward to guidance evolving in the near future that will provide the important next steps for our sector.”
Meanwhile, business advisers at Blick Rothenberg have warned care needs to be taken to ensure that targeted relief such as the coronavirus job retention scheme remains available for those who need it.
David Hough, business advisory partner for Blick Rothenberg, said: “Reducing access to the furlough scheme after the current end date of June is appropriate for some businesses but protection needs to be afforded for those who genuinely cannot yet return to work.
“There are those, who are expected to return to work if they cannot work from home but who live with vulnerable people, for example an elderly relative or someone with an underlying medical condition.
“Circumstances like these are difficult to navigate but targeted income support for these individuals would allow the existing measures to be tapered down whilst continuing to protect those who most need it.”
Read the Ministry of Housing guidance
Read the Government’s strategy on easing lockdown restrictions
Comments (26)
I think the property world is living in a bubble at the moment….when furloughing and other financial support starts to be removed a reality check will take place for us all and the seriousness of this epidemic will finally come home to roust. We will see a huge number of people being made unemployed which by definition will have a huge impact on the property market, banks will tighten up lending criteria and mortgage products reduced which will affect funding, repossessions will be on the increase and Agents, solicitors etc will have to try and regain losses during this period by reducing overheads I,E. making staff redundant moving away from the high street etc.
My first property bubble burst in the late 1980’s property crash and 30+ years later on I am still not earning anywhere near the same high level of fee income as I did then and certainly do not enjoy the same lavish life style. We are still paying for the 1980’s property crash, the 2008 financial crash and now the Covid epidemic cost will put both these added together into an insignificant classification.
As we keep on getting told “get ready for the new norm” because you ain’t seen nothing yet!!
Woodhen (be interesting to know what’s behind the name!) You could be right but the last 20 or so webinars etc. I have watched the presenters, gurus, trainers have been highly upbeat and shouting from the hills about pent up demand, advising change normal way of working to new normal to cope with C19, embrace to bring better consumer experience and to outwit their competitors, recruitment of self employed working for licensed/franchisor EAs models etc etc. Am I correct in thinking you think they are on cloud 9 and maybe have just their own interests at heart. I too lived through the late 80’s early 90’s and 2008 crashes and for me they were highly profitable times because I prepared and took risk. At the moment we don’t have a crash as such but a mandatory stall so I’m thinking it actually levels the playing field by almost starting again for many and those that have been keeping in touch with their clients and prospects will be first out of the blocks. That said, you do to a certain extent mirror my own thoughts as I’m thinking there are going to be a mega number of casualties outside EA which will have a knock on effect. So, be alert, be safe and help save lives but also apply these points to your biz and put in to practice how you can help and benefit your clients in ways that your competitors will not and look forward to success. Just to be clear, I’m not in the position I have been in the past to move forward but that said, from what I see around me I am exceedingly tempted to jump with the right minded person at one of the many opportunities presenting themselves – do I want or need it? No. Will I will be able to resist? – that remains to be seen!
I wouldn’t get too excited. Presenters, gurus and trainers are PAID to be “upbeat”.
I can totally understand branches/offices remaining closed, as 90% of the admin work can be done remotely from home, however viewings and valuations cannot be done from home so the new guidance of encouraging us to “Return to the workplace if you cannot work from home” seems to apply here providing you are not facilitating contact between unrelated people.
So if the property is empty then it seems we should be “encouraged” to do viewings as this is work that cannot be done from home, yet the majority of people in the Industry and indeed NAEA/Propertymark are saying we should “sit on our hands” and not do any viewings whatsoever!
Seems a total contradiction to me.
So how do you make sure no one contaminates surfaces door handles, along with complying with other social distancing rules etc etc etc…..other than loss of income…..what actual difference does it make to you or business if someone moves now or in four weeks time. There is no benefit in Gov re-opening the housing market whilst it is still paying 6million plus wages (i.e. mortgages or rent)
Woodhen, “other than loss of income…..what actual difference does it make to you or business” .loss of income = loss of business and loss of jobs surely? The money will run out eventually and then there may be no business left at all. Regarding contamination of surfaces, door handles etc, do you shop at all? Or if not get deliveries? I presume you wear gloves and then disinfect the surfaces after touching and finally wash your hands…just the same for shopping or viewing empty houses really. Social distancing doesnt apply, the viewer walks into the EMPTY house by themselves, Agent observes from a safe distance.
I’m most frustrated by the ban on surveyors valuing empty properties, or even worse, plots of vacant land! Where’s the rational behind that? My own self build mortgage is being held up solely by the ban on valuations at a time when my buliders are allowed to work but have nothing to work on. It’s crazy.
Keep calm and carry on staying safe everyone.
Don’t worry about the trolls or those that are reckless.
Do what is best for your families, your staff and your business for the longer term.
Well, Chestertons must be happy, as they’re doing so well based on their own admission… jk
Confusing and contentious when we are now being told we can have a domestic cleaner in our home but not go back to work! Surely having a cleaner come into our houses is high risk?? Boris…clarity please!
Everyone has reason for opinion. Mostly ‘what about poor me’. What we don’t know is what the government knows in full detail.
Frustrating as it seems, talk to a member of your team who’s daughter is a specialist nurse in intensive care working directly with Covid 19. You might think differently.
Our frustration is explaining to viewers that they can go on the waiting list to view and they drive out and knock on said client’s door. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for ‘private sales’.
Has anyone considered their vulnerable vendors. They have been told to lock down 12 weeks. As agents we must put welfare of humans above a sale and I guess June 1st is perfectly sensible to protect this sector – assuming we all have vendors over the age of 70 and many with underlying health conditions that were not declared to us at point of instruction!
Apologies if I am sounding annoyed/dismayed, but please look at the bigger picture. We will be back soon and we will be busy and everything will be ok. If anyone has learned anything from lockdown it must be to realise that human lives, health and welfare come first.
“What we don’t know is what the government knows in full detail.”
You can find most of the information the government knows if you search hard enough. Alternative Sage committee, NERVTAG, worldometer, the lancet and new scientist are good sources. The real problem is the government doesn’t know enough, because right from the start we have not done enough community testing and monitoring. Rememember the WHO advice…..test,test,test. Real problem is when governments make decisions based on maintaining approval and popularity ratings, rather than decisions that might prove extremely unpopular.
I believe the government’s confused messages is because they don’t really know how to release from lockdown safely. They are being pushed into it by economical pressures and sentiment, but we still have an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people currently Infected with COVID-19 throughout the country. That is a lot of people, and far more than were possibly infected when we went into lockdown!
We also do not yet have all the track and trace measures needed in place, to stop pockets of high infection rates reigniting. Releasing restrictions now is a risk. Up to 5,000,0000 people have probably had the infection over the last few weeks, but that still leaves 60,000,000 plus who haven’t…and all of those are still susceptible.
Sign this and share it
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/310695
Be prepared to be told you all went back to work yesterday, unless you didn’t in which case you shouldn’t but if you can go back in time you absolutely should.
The calibre of politicians is abysmal. The calibre of civil servants is even worse.
Boris with his bumbling faux Churchillian presentation is increasingly looking like a comedy show caricature of himself leaving us to try to interpret his waffle in an attempt to save our companies. It really is frustrating to have a PM who is so short on content and so full of spin.
I was impressed by him.
Either he/gov prep or Jenrick is guilty of buffoonery with the housing market.
Unforgivable. Yesterday saw many employed within and around the moving market start prep to return.
And many members of public considered it a green light to restart their chains etc.
Agreed. A pathetic toff dilettante. We deserve far better.
“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu‘elle mérite.” [Every nation gets the government it deserves.]
Joseph De Maistre 1753-1821.
#StayAlert hmmm I’ve subscribed for email alerts on the Housing Gov page for any amendments on Home Moving… is that what they mean?
No, no,
‘go back to work if you can’t work from home’
Or not,
Possibly.
Umm
Err
Wow,
So now despite being told ‘go back to work if you can’t work from home’….
Apparently this isn’t the case?
Housing market cannot restart? Even though moving firms weren’t actually stopped in the first place?
Conveyancers could continue throughout from home. EA’s told to stop?
What a mess.
Boris on TV effectively said what could be interpreted as ‘crack on safely’. Then Jenrick says current ‘staying’ of housing market should continue. This though WELL after people have reacted.
Poor.
Very poor.
There is now another message saying there will be more tomorrow. How about ‘Estate Agents, being mostly sensible entrepreneurial types, are being trusted to use their common sense’. Most have elderly relatives they want to keep safe and are well aware of how to behave using PPE and Social Distancing. Gov’t has literally thousands of nuanced industries and businesses and can’t be expected to issue exact guidance for all of them. I’ve had tradespeople in my house during lockdown and all have been courteous, polite and socially distanced. If we can all agree on a simple set of rules [like they have in France for example] about leaving doors open, masks, PPE, wiping surfaces, 15 mins inside during a 30 min period etc…surely this is a chance for Propertymark to step up – or someone at least – and show some leadership? I said it yesterday – we are better than this curtain twitching mentality.
Stay Alert 🙂
Stay alert to industry rats scoring cheap marketing tricks throughout this.
As I forecast. The sun got hold of this and has been exposing idiot agents .
Not congratulating them on cutting corners.