National lockdown - moving??

grk1964

I’m sure many of us are worrying about this. We are hoping to complete and move before a Christmas. If a National Lockdown is announced, do you think the Government will extend the free stamp duty? Also, do you think we will still be able to move? I’m hoping it won’t be as strict as last time. We will be moving into rented so this is worrying me slightly. 

What happened back in April when people had exchanged and were due to complete during the lockdown? 

DCFC79

See if theres previous threads on what happened during the lockdown earlier on in the year.
I dont see why you shouldn't be able to move but its dependant on the movers I guess if they work during it 

davidmcn

grk1964 said:

What happened back in April when people had exchanged and were due to complete during the lockdown? 

They were allowed to complete. And moving house was allowed too. The difficulties were around whether everybody involved in the process was working as near-normal e.g. in Scotland the Land Register was shut for a while, which effectively stopped completions happening.

youth_leader

If you book your removal I believe it can go ahead during strict lockdown, with PPE and careful social distancing etc.  I hadn't booked mine in May as my completion date changed, and when I enquired, was told removal companies were not considered key workers.  I had to move myself into rented, and couldn't sell or donate the furniture I no longer wanted.  The house clearance companies wouldn't come either as it involved 'removing', luckily my buyer agreed to take it for free.

ic

Through all the latest guidance, house moving has been an allowed exemption to the rules on people mixing - so family and friends can assist a move even at tier 3.  I presume this is so that those that are moving can still arrange it themselves, without the need for professional assistance they might not be able to afford. 

However, the guidance always was that those that can't work from home could continue to do their work - trades could continue - builders, heating engineers, and of course movers.  It was only social visits that couldn't happen - professional movers moving you is not a social visit. 

If a company wasn't working during the lockdown, it was frankly through choice or the need of all their staff to self isolate.  Many misunderstood the rules, and went on furlough.  Furlough rules are different now, and only those companies that are compelled by law to close are eligible for furlough assistance.  I'm sure the government continue this rule and not open furlough to anybody if there was a repeat of a national lockdown, to ensure the shutdown of the economy doesn't happen again.