New rules to help get the housing market moving
Home moves and more housebuilding can now take place in the latest relaxation of the lockdown restrictions.
House sales and viewings can now be done if they follow the government guidance.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the latest Downing Street briefing that 450,000 buyers had to put their move on hold and the pressure for some was acute, with serious implications.
He said: “These people have been stuck in limbo, now they can carry on with their house moves.”
estate agents can open, with viewings permitted and other essential parts of the sales and lettings process is restarted with immediate effect, he says.
The viewings should take place virtually in the first instance, according to the guidance, he said.
Building sites will also now be allowed to operate until 9pm monday to Saturday in residential areas and beyond that in non-residential areas as part of the government’s efforts to restart the economy.
mr Jenrick said the housing market had been key to economic recovery in the past.
He said the government was planning a ‘first homes programme’ for later this year which will offer a 30 per cent discount for key workers.
Deputy Chief medical officer for england, Jenny Harries, said transport usage was down by 50 per cent across all types.
on testing, she said the total capacity was still considerably above the number of daily tests.
She said this extra headroom would be used to increase tests in hotspots such as care homes and hospitals.
A total of 87,063 coronavirus tests were carried out on Tuesday, far short of the 100,000 daily target.
mr Jenrick said: “Testing has been going on for some time. I am sure that there is more that we can do.
“But we have now brought capacity for testing nationally up to 110,000 and we need to ensure it is focused on the people who need it the most, including care home workers.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson earlier announced a £600m package for coronavirus infection control in care homes as he admitted that the number of deaths among residents had been ‘too high’.