Property market gets go-ahead to reopen for business

MPS HAVE shared concerns about safety after the Housing Secretary declared the home-selling sector is “back in business”.

Home-movers and agents are faced with perhaps the biggest ever transformation in how properties are marketed and viewed as England’s housing market reopens for business, according to an expert.

Property professionals said they are ready to help England’s housing market spring back into life, although they will need to take a cautious approach.

In a sign of pent-up market demand starting to be released, property website Rightmove reported a 45 per cent surge in online viewings yesterday.

Estate agents saw an upturn in inquiries although some customers were questioning why they should allow house hunters in their home when members of their own family were still unable to visit.

Experts also said house price corrections could be “brutal” in some parts of the country, as buyers sense the potential for discounts.

The experience of buying and selling a home will be different from “normal” times, meaning people will need to be flexible and prepared to alter plans if they cannot keep to social distancing rules.

Government guidelines indicate that more of the process will take place online and some, or all, moves may still need to be paused to limit the spread of coronavirus.

People wanting to sell their home are being advised to vacate their property while viewings take place and buyers and sellers should expect to delay moves if someone involved gets Covid-19. And they should not expect to move into any home where people have coronavirus or are selfisolating.

Its housing market expert, Miles Shipside, said: “Home-movers and estate agents are faced with perhaps the biggest ever change in the way that houses are marketed, viewed and surveyed. These guidelines are understandably stringent as they are there for everyone’s safety”.

He added: “All parties will have to be innovative to work within these guidelines where practical”.