Is anyone moving now?

[GT89]

Ea have said at the moment they work from home making it ok, we self moved their stuff into storage.
One above put his stuff in storage yesterday as well but top of the chain have not

All received an email this morning saying movers can work still working within the 2m guidelines (personally this seems false to me)

[156651]

fesuvious said:

HA!
No they're not.
They're ignoring MHCLG 'house moves' shouldn't happen.

Wholly irresponsible. I would imagine potentially has insurance implications given they're not essential and shouldn't be out.

Not too mention, contagion. Both ways. All items being handled, breathed on, coughed near etc etc etc. Mattresses, sofas, cushions, it's a long list. Plus surfaces in both properties.

Utterly barmy

I think the risk of infections from items must be low. Online deliveries are allowed. We can buy food in supermarkets. Receive post. Go to work if necessary. Etc.

[sir humphrey appleby]

We exchanged 3 weeks ago. Completing Friday. I spoke to removal co today. They said they will still come in, but we need to keep away.
I have the contract in front of me, if I cancel tomorrow they will keep 90% of the fee I paid. I would hope in the light of cv, they will wave this.
If it was cancelled I would try to hire a van and do it myself, if I could.
If they wouldn't waive the fee then presumably go down the court route, but I can't imagine a company would risk their reputation in doing so.

[the cueball]

fesuvious said:

Point is this goes against all guidance and instruction.

I'm stunned public would want unknown individuals in their homes right now.

Not too mention the risks go the other way.

Sweaty palms, brows. And how do you as house holder know one of those guys doesn't have it?

Plus, those protective covers were in a different house yesterday.

The short period of lockdown should be respected. Or it will fk all of us up

Edited by fesuvious on Tuesday 24th March 22:06

Basically what I said to the MIL.

everyone wanting her move to go ahead is making money from her.

None of them will pay for her funeral / grieve for her if someone gives her the virus that she will not survive given her age and condition.

Edited by the cueball on Wednesday 25th March 09:09

[Kev_Mk3]

Chrisgr31 said:

Kev_Mk3 said:

Most valuations are remote now not sending people to the property. saves costs for lenders

You sure? One reason for having a valuation is to ensure the property actually exists, isnt falling down etc. How do you do that remotely?

Yes I have had 2 done within the last month and a half. 1 on the house we are buying and 2 on my house i'm drawing funds from.

I was actually shocked TBH but apparently its very common. This is for valuation BTW. Survey's different matter if you have one done.




Our agents closed and are working from home. Cancelled the viewings we had booked on our property and can see why, to be rebooked at a later date. No actual idea whats going on with our purchase as we are waiting on the vendor now. We are going to send her a message today to see if everything is ok but we cant really move in with everything as i cant move it all on my own.

[rdjohn]

The sister of a friend is moving to her new home today.

Another friend put his father’s bungalow on the market last week. Agent showed one round on Saturday, but now the agent is unable to show 2 other interested people around.

So, I guess things will complete, but new sales will dive.

[MrVert]

Blimey. Really feel for everyone on here with the current situation.

When I started this thread yesterday, it was only just coming into peoples thoughts that moves may not take place..and now..

Michael Gove now told people not to exchange...

[156651]

Spoke to my conveyancer today, her view is that as of right now completions are going ahead (with quite a few already happened this week and two more today), albeit they are no longer advising clients to exchange. She doesn't foresee an immediate problem, but is going to talk to the vendor's solicitors. If there is an issue, she suggested to complete and seek to agree a licence to occupy. Not particularly comfortable with that tbh - who knows how long this might last, and we would own a house we hadn't seen since last November and that someone else was living in - whilst house prices might be crashing around us!

She wasn't keen on discussing the risk of frustration, for obvious reasons. It is something that we need to think about if the vendors cannot complete and agreement cannot be reached.

Michael Gove seems to say don't exchange but if you have, you can complete.

Edited by 156651 on Wednesday 25th March 10:12

[156651]

156651 said:

Spoke to my conveyancer today, her view is that as of right now completions are going ahead (with quite a few already happened this week and two more today), albeit they are no longer advising clients to exchange. She doesn't foresee an immediate problem, but is going to talk to the vendor's solicitors. If there is an issue, she suggested to complete and seek to agree a licence to occupy. Not particularly comfortable with that tbh - who knows how long this might last, and we would own a house we hadn't seen since last November and that someone else was living in - whilst house prices might be crashing around us!

She wasn't keen on discussing the risk of frustration, for obvious reasons. It is something that we need to think about if the vendors cannot complete and agreement cannot be reached.

Michael Gove seems to say don't exchange but if you have, you can complete.

Edited by 156651 on Wednesday 25th March 10:12

Spoke to the agent: vendors (who are elderly and underlying health conditions) are in self-isolation and their family can therefore no longer help with the move. They have booked a removal company who are apparently able to do the move on 6 April. This seems very unlikely. Suggested we bring completion forward, but not sure how quickly solicitors can draw down funds and whether the developer of the new build they are buying can move as quickly too.

Difficult times.

[DanL]

156651 said:

Concern is not so much for us moving from rented, but our vendors moving from the house that we are to acquire on 6 April. If they don't move out on 6 April, they are in breach of contract, and (at least legally if not morally) liable in damages for losses we incur (e.g. rent) until we complete; or we would have the right to rescind the contract, have our deposit returned with interest, and sue them for losses suffered (rent until we were able to buy somewhere?). Not straightforward.

I moved Friday last week - all solicitors in the (short!) chain were on board with exchange and completion on the same day, to avoid risks of illness or lockdown preventing people from completing after exchange.

Caused some slight issues (exchanged on the place I was buying at 11:30, arrived at the new place 13:30 to find them still in situ as they hadn’t completed!), but all sorted and moved on the day. Extraordinary times mean some leeway should be expected and granted by both sides.

[156651]

DanL said:

moved Friday last week - all solicitors in the (short!) chain were on board with exchange and completion on the same day, to avoid risks of illness or lockdown preventing people from completing after exchange.

Caused some slight issues (exchanged on the place I was buying at 11:30, arrived at the new place 13:30 to find them still in situ as they hadn’t completed!), but all sorted and moved on the day. Extraordinary times mean some leeway should be expected and granted by both sides.

Indeed, and the last thing I want to do is put my elderly vendors risk! They are in a trickier situation than me, as we have some leeway on our lease and could just refuse to depart. Exceptional, extraordinary times.

[ecsrobin]

I note that Gove says some circumstances moves can still go ahead. I’m hopeful that as there is no chain and me and the Mrs can move house ourselves then we can go ahead our flat is boxed up and ready to go so need no additional help.

[selym]

ecsrobin said:

I note that Gove says some circumstances moves can still go ahead. I’m hopeful that as there is no chain and me and the Mrs can move house ourselves then we can go ahead our flat is boxed up and ready to go so need no additional help.

Are you using a removals firm? I wondered what their guidance is; I've not spoken to ours for a few days.

[Tumbler]

My daughters property purchase is on hold, FTB of an empty probate property.

Mortgage company won’t permit exchange and completion on the same day, her solicitor hasn’t been able to complete on a couple of other properties due to the other side’s solicitors being closed, so her advice is to sit tight.

[ecsrobin]

selym said:

Are you using a removals firm? I wondered what their guidance is; I've not spoken to ours for a few days.

Plan was to hire a large Luton/sprinter van but if they close have a VW transporter van so would just need a few more runs with just me and the Mrs.

[CambsBill]

My daughter completed and moved last Friday (in Scotland)

In the nick of time by the looks of it

[156651]

fesuvious said:

If you are subject to normal rules of completion there is no 'back and forth'.

You are required to provide vacant possession of your current home before you're thee owner of your new one.

Obviously there are many circumstances this doesn't apply to but as normal 'sell ours to buy the next', this is the position.

Let's hope the new home doesn't have the virus on any surfaces or handles etc

I think you're being a little alarmist. The evidence does not suggest the virus transmits mainly though touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching ones face. If it did we could all get it from deliveries, packages, buying food at the supermarket, etc. And you can disinfect when you move in if you are concerned.

It isn't the bubonic plague.

[MrVert]

156651 said:

I think you're being a little alarmist. The evidence does not suggest the virus transmits mainly though touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching ones face. If it did we could all get it from deliveries, packages, buying food at the supermarket, etc. And you can disinfect when you move in if you are concerned.

It isn't the bubonic plague.

That is exactly how it can be transmitted.

Have a read up, it could just save your, or someone else’s life.

[DanL]

fesuvious said:

Let's hope the new home doesn't have the virus on any surfaces or handles etc

A good point. First thing I did after moving in was to clean all handles, etc. with a 10% bleach solution... Best you can do really - anything you pick up from the supermarket or have delivered will have the same issue, after all. Wash your hands, hope for the best.

[156651]

MrVert said:

That is exactly how it can be transmitted.

Have a read up, it could just save your, or someone else’s life.

I suggest you do some more reading. The principal method of transmission is droplets in the air. It may transmit through surfaces, but exactly how commonly is unknown, and how long it stays in the surface and remains viable is unknown. It is lower risk hence why, for example, non-essential package deliveries are not banned. I never said it was no risk, but it is not something to be terrified of in a home that only had one family in it.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/...

Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

* Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
* Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
* These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Emphasis my own.