The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s has updated its guidance document setting out general advice and information for the housing industry. 

The guidance covers issues which may arise during the Covid-19 outbreak and includes the government’s latest guidance for employers and businesses on COVID-19 and safer working guidance.

Once again, the government encourages all property professionals to familiarise themselves with relevant government guidance and any supplementary guidance issued by their representative bodies.

To help minimise the spread of infection, agents are expected to consider how they can operate in a way which minimises the need for face to face contact.

“Back to back” viewings of properties should be avoided, with sufficient time allowed between each viewing for the necessary cleaning to take place.

The government has also confirmed that the estate agency offices can remain open to the public in all 4 tiers.

Estate agents should inform customers and their own staff about their Covid-19 procedures, so that they are safe throughout the sales process.

The government advises:

+ Agents should ask whether any party is showing symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate before going ahead with any viewing, or visits to offices.

+ Agents should inform visitors to their offices of the need to wear face coverings. Agents should ensure their offices are ‘Covid secure’ and that they take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease. See guidance on making the workplace secure. Agents should wear face coverings while in close face-to-face contact with visitors and where other protective measures are unlikely to be in place, such as in clients’ homes during a viewing.

+ Agents should strongly encourage clients to view properties virtually in the first instance and then only physically inspect properties which they have a strong interest in.

+ Where they do not accompany the visit, they should make sure that both buyers and sellers clearly understand how the viewing should be conducted safely.

+ Agents should avoid driving clients to appointments. Advise clients to find alternative means of travel including public transport, walking, cycling or using their own vehicle. If this is not possible, follow the latest guidance on travelling safely with others including the use of a face mask and cleaning the vehicle regularly.

+ All parties viewing a property should wash their hands with soap and water (or hand sanitiser if not available) immediately after entering the properties, with internal doors opened and surfaces having been wiped down before they enter. Separate towels or paper towels should be used if possible and washed or disposed of safely after use.

+ Agents should do what they can to promote flexibility when arranging move dates, for example advising clients to ensure contracts have explicit terms to manage the timing risks presented by coronavirus.

+ Agents should work with their clients and other agents to broker a new date to move where sales are due to complete and one of the parties falls ill with coronavirus or has to self-isolate.

+ Agents should ensure that any keys are appropriately cleaned before handover.

Agents should ask clients whether they have returned to the UK from one of the countries not on the exception list. If clients have returned from a country on the quarantine list, agents can continue to progress their home move virtually until the quarantine period is over. See guidance on returning to the UK.

You can read the full government advice on home moving during the coronavirus outbreak, which applies to people moving into homes in England, by clicking here.