Moving in tier 4

moneysavinghero

My rough method of looking for houses is:

1. Browse Rightmove until i find something suitable
2. Visit the suitable house (without an appointment - externally only) so that i can see the house in its setting and get a feel for the area.
3. If still interested then book an actual viewing with the EA (most houses would have been ruled at step 2)

The question is does step 2 get covered by (ii) viewing residential properties to look for a property to buy or to rent;?
Or does this only cover official viewings booked through an Estate Agent?

SDLT_Geek

There is no further definition of "viewing" in the regulations.  My view is that "viewing" could include your type of external only viewing as well as an appointment to see inside.

lillypoo

I have just accepted an offer on my house in england with only one property below me, my buyers are selling to ftb. i am interested in a house which has no onward chain but is in wales, and as far as i  can make out , i cannot enter wales or view the property at the moment . ( my plan has always been to relocate to wales) i am grateful that most estate agents and solicitors ( at least in my town) are closing tomorrow and not reopening until 4 jan as i am feeling very pressured by my ( sales ) EA to get myself moving so that the ftbs at the bottom of the chain can complete before the stamp duty holiday ends. anyone got an empty caravan ? lol 

moneysavinghero

lillypoo said:

I have just accepted an offer on my house in england with only one property below me, my buyers are selling to ftb. i am interested in a house which has no onward chain but is in wales, and as far as i  can make out , i cannot enter wales or view the property at the moment . ( my plan has always been to relocate to wales) i am grateful that most estate agents and solicitors ( at least in my town) are closing tomorrow and not reopening until 4 jan as i am feeling very pressured by my ( sales ) EA to get myself moving so that the ftbs at the bottom of the chain can complete before the stamp duty holiday ends. anyone got an empty caravan ? lol 

From the Wales Gov official advice (https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions#section-58344):

We strongly advise that virtual viewings are used wherever possible, but viewings of properties can take place during alert level 4, however household mixing must be avoided during viewing. For more information please see our guidance on moving home during coronavirus. High street estate agencies are required to close to the public.

So they don't really want you to view in person currently, but legally you can do if you want to.

lillypoo

moneysavinghero said:

lillypoo said:

I have just accepted an offer on my house in england with only one property below me, my buyers are selling to ftb. i am interested in a house which has no onward chain but is in wales, and as far as i  can make out , i cannot enter wales or view the property at the moment . ( my plan has always been to relocate to wales) i am grateful that most estate agents and solicitors ( at least in my town) are closing tomorrow and not reopening until 4 jan as i am feeling very pressured by my ( sales ) EA to get myself moving so that the ftbs at the bottom of the chain can complete before the stamp duty holiday ends. anyone got an empty caravan ? lol 

From the Wales Gov official advice (https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions#section-58344):

We strongly advise that virtual viewings are used wherever possible, but viewings of properties can take place during alert level 4, however household mixing must be avoided during viewing. For more information please see our guidance on moving home during coronavirus. High street estate agencies are required to close to the public.

So they don't really want you to view in person currently, but legally you can do if you want to.

thank you for that! but estate agents are closed down as non essential! makes no sense to me lol

davidmcn

lillypoo said:

moneysavinghero said:

lillypoo said:

I have just accepted an offer on my house in england with only one property below me, my buyers are selling to ftb. i am interested in a house which has no onward chain but is in wales, and as far as i  can make out , i cannot enter wales or view the property at the moment . ( my plan has always been to relocate to wales) i am grateful that most estate agents and solicitors ( at least in my town) are closing tomorrow and not reopening until 4 jan as i am feeling very pressured by my ( sales ) EA to get myself moving so that the ftbs at the bottom of the chain can complete before the stamp duty holiday ends. anyone got an empty caravan ? lol 

From the Wales Gov official advice (https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions#section-58344):

We strongly advise that virtual viewings are used wherever possible, but viewings of properties can take place during alert level 4, however household mixing must be avoided during viewing. For more information please see our guidance on moving home during coronavirus. High street estate agencies are required to close to the public.

So they don't really want you to view in person currently, but legally you can do if you want to.

thank you for that! but estate agents are closed down as non essential! makes no sense to me lol

That just means you can't walk into their high street shops, not that they can't otherwise continue their business.

lillypoo

davidmcn said:

lillypoo said:

moneysavinghero said:

lillypoo said:

I have just accepted an offer on my house in england with only one property below me, my buyers are selling to ftb. i am interested in a house which has no onward chain but is in wales, and as far as i  can make out , i cannot enter wales or view the property at the moment . ( my plan has always been to relocate to wales) i am grateful that most estate agents and solicitors ( at least in my town) are closing tomorrow and not reopening until 4 jan as i am feeling very pressured by my ( sales ) EA to get myself moving so that the ftbs at the bottom of the chain can complete before the stamp duty holiday ends. anyone got an empty caravan ? lol 

From the Wales Gov official advice (https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions#section-58344):

We strongly advise that virtual viewings are used wherever possible, but viewings of properties can take place during alert level 4, however household mixing must be avoided during viewing. For more information please see our guidance on moving home during coronavirus. High street estate agencies are required to close to the public.

So they don't really want you to view in person currently, but legally you can do if you want to.

thank you for that! but estate agents are closed down as non essential! makes no sense to me lol

That just means you can't walk into their high street shops, not that they can't otherwise continue their business.

thanks!
ive just had a look at the welsh govt page and its all been updated today and guidance has changed. ... a lot! thank you ...youve given me my first christmas pressie

SDLT_Geek

Here is the Welsh Government guidance on moving home in Wales during their alert level 4: https://gov.wales/moving-home-during-coronavirus-pandemic  It was last updated on 22 December 2020.

SDLT_Geek

It has just been announced that more areas of England will become Tier 4 from Boxing Day.

MD201989

Things are getting crazier with a second new variant from Africa 

the future is even more uncertain