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Welsh housing market reopens as Scotland plans for next week

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
22/06/2020

The Welsh government has permitted a partial opening of the housing market in Wales as the nation continues its reopening from the coronavirus lockdown.

From today, people can move home if their sale or tenancy has been agreed but not yet completed and if the property they are moving to is unoccupied and has been empty for at least three days, or it has been deep cleaned. This includes new-build properties.

These moves do not involve different households being inside a property at the same time, so the risk of transmission of coronavirus is lower, the Welsh government said.

Valuations of occupied and unoccupied properties are permitted, but these must take place under safe working conditions.

The marketing of all properties can take place, but viewings are only permitted of unoccupied properties. Potential buyers or tenants cannot view the property in person if it is occupied.

Letting and estate agents can reopen their offices and the Welsh government’s five-mile coronavirus travel restrictions have also been lifted for the property sector.

Moves across the border into England are permitted, while those moving into Wales, should only move to properties that are unoccupied and have been empty for at least three days or have been deep cleaned.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Meanwhile the Scottish government has announced that Scotland will relax restrictions on house moves from 29 June.

Estate agents in Scotland have been told to continue preparing their businesses to reopen by looking at staffing levels and implementing social distancing measures in their offices.

Northern Ireland opened its property market last week with several lenders including Santander and NatWest resuming valuations there.