Boris Johnson told MPs yesterday that there was “no alternative” but to introduce a lockdown in England – which is due to come into force on Thursday.
He outlined the new rules for the four-week period ahead of a Commons vote tomorrow.
The prime minister has already announced pubs, restaurants, gyms, non-essential shops and places of worship would be closed.
Back in March, the housing market was largely closed for almost two months, leading to significant delays and in some cases, transactions falling through entirely, but thankfully it looks like the housing market will remain open for busines on this occasion.
According to Paul Offley, compliance officer at The Guild of Property Professionals, the impending lockdown will not directly impact the property sector and people will still be able to continue with their plans to move home, provided it is done in a Covid-secure manner.
He also points out that while the new national restrictions do not specifically mention home moving, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has separately reported and confirmed that the home moving process is not impacted as the sector already has robust Covid-secure policies in place.
Offley commented: “Since the pandemic hit our shores and we were initially put into lockdown, the entire sector has rapidly evolved and adapted to working in a new and safe manner.
“The process of searching for a property and moving into a new home has quickly changed to reduce the risk from Covid-19. This fast adaption has been a key element to the sector being able to continue to remain open and trading while so many others can’t.
“As a sector we need to continue to ensure we are acting according to the prescribed health guidelines to help keep both clients and staff members safe during this second wave.”
Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, says that while people can continue to move, the rising infection rate may have many people concerned.
He said: “I believe that many of the Guild Members that are following the Guild’s six-point plan for safe working are among the safest agents in the UK. Now more than ever, it is crucial for estate and lettings agents to promote their Covid-secure-policies and display the measures they are taking to ensure the public’s safety.
“Given the current situation and the fact that the daily number of Covid cases is rapidly on the rise, people are going to be far more cautious with regard to the businesses they engage with. People will want to work with an agent that is following the guidelines and placing the health of their customers first.”
McKenzie adds that if people are concerned about their health, they will be less likely to move, which could potentially impact on transactions levels.
He continued: “There have been high volumes of property transactions since May and pipelines have looked very strong up to this point.
“Despite going into lockdown exchanges and completions should be okay, however, we might see it have an effect on net sales, which in turn will impact agent’s income in the first quarter of next year.”
Conveyancing firm O’Neill Patient (ONP) also believes that the second lockdown should not hamper the housing market this time around.
Commenting on the announcement of a second lockdown, ONP managing director Adam Forshaw, said: “It’s really business as usual for us because the housing market will remain open.
“We have all been working to Covid-safe principles for months, so we’re much better prepared to deal with the challenges of a second lockdown.
“Viewings can still take place and much of the conveyancing process is done remotely by making use of the latest technology to ensure it’s a safe process.
“Of course, there will be some uncertainty and house buyers will be working out what it means for them, but if they want to move we will be there for them to make it happen.”
Comments (9)
The impact of the lockdown will be two-fold, first it will again make many in real estate reassess their business model and if automation/digital transformation can remotely service clients in better ways. Second it may make some vendors not want viewings, may discourage new listings, and may add other problems. But, on the positive as Iain McKenzie has stated if property professionals adhere to sensible guidelines, then safety for all can be guaranteed and a more business as usual attitude can be adopted. The housing minister at least seems to have seen that the property still is a major engine of industry and that it needs to continue during lockdown. Regarding Best and Final your comment – maybe three things – 1 If anyone makes a comment they use their real name – this adds weight to any comment as it shows if there is a partisan view. 2- Eat Pie or The Neg will at anytime take comments/stories/news all you have to do is contact them. 3 – The very fact that you can post your comment shows that the publications operate a very open two-way policy. Interesting to see that Chris the sofa king Watkin recently did a full video nasty on Haters on PIE and why they felt the need and why they did not use their own names? He also defended their right to do so. So if you want a better debate – write it and or comment on it in an interesting way – just a thought.
Great you can buy a church, just don’t pray in it !!
So we can show people around a house. That’s a TICK so we don’t get fined £10,000. The ‘general public’ BY LAW must not mix with another household nor leave their homes and travel unnecessarily. They could get fined. Meanwhile agents are running around like headless chickens showing ‘bored people’ a house, not because they want to buy it – just because they want to get out of their house for the day? This has to be clarified. I have read it that the agents, surveyors and any professionals (such as Timber & damp report etc) can go in to a property to carry out their work. not viewers. Whatever the Industry Body boffs are saying – read the smallprint again please and then clarify my interpretation as correct or incorrect. And before you say it, of course we want to go about our business without disruption. But then again, we do need to play our part to help the NHS and the country get through this.
Historically, agents have never ‘worked together’. Some agents will always try and get the one upmanship and force the competition to do same.
Why do “…same names always getting a platform to spout the same recycled rhetoric.” ?
Because they have teams of PR people generating it on a daily basis. The real answer is write something yourself. PIE and Estate Agency Today would welcome being spoilt for choice as to what they publish. Why don’t the rest of us do it? Time, energy, doing business, keeping business etc etc.
You could invest in one of the independent copy writers, but I always think they don’t write with the same ‘voice’ as you. Tough one. but at least on industry platforms like this one it’s only cynical estate agents reading it, not Mr & Mrs Public! But of course they do deluge the public via national media with this stuff too.
Click it, scan read it, move on!
Corect me if I am wrong, but it would simple for PIE to pick up the phone and call an agent, any agent, any where and ask an opinion?
These larger organisations budget for teams to supply quotes and quips for us cynical (of which I am suoer) estate agents lap up and roll our eyes to, daily!
If the public could read some of the column inches we read within the industy, the embarresment for us agents would out reach all other emotions any pandemic could possibly dictate.
I agree Mr C. In my view Iain McKenzie and the rest of the Guild team have done an excellent job in promoting the industry and specifically in recent weeks advising on how to operate within Covid safety guidelines. The Guild’s compliance expert Paul Offley spent much of Sunday ( presumably on his day off ) advising us on how to interpret the latest intended restrictions.due to be implemented on Thursday. I say THANK YOU!
Is it me, or are some of these statements the most cringeworthy in the sector?
“By following a six point plan agents are the safest in the sector”. I imagine the sun is always shining in Cuckoo Land.
AlwaysAnAgent, come on now. You appear to be doing the likes of Mr McKenzie a dis-service. After all, I imagine he has personally visited every Guild member (monthly subscriptions apply) first hand and ensured that each wonderful compliant member is adhering to every one of the ground breaking (aka the blatantly bleeding obvious) six point plan they have administered.
I agree. The same names always getting a platform to spout the same recycled rhetoric.
Too many tails wagging the dogs in the Estate Agency Profession.
Subscribed to networks bossing agents, subscribed to portals bossing agents, panel managers bossing conveyancers…..
Its time for a revolution and for those who create the work to take back control…..the herd mentality has to end……