Where the property being moved into is vacant, then it is possible to continue with this transaction although you should follow the guidance from the Government on home removals.

Where the property is currently occupied, the Government is encouraging all parties to do all they can to amicably agree alternative dates to move, for a time when it is likely that stay-at-home measures against coronavirus will no longer be in place.

In the new emergency enforcement powers that the police have been given to respond to coronavirus, there is an exemption for critical home moves, if a new date cannot be agreed.

• Home buyers and renters should, where possible, delay moving to a new house while measures are in place to fight coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Government advice is that if you have already exchanged contracts and the property is currently occupied then all parties should work together to agree a delay or another way to resolve this matter.
• If moving is unavoidable for contractual reasons and the parties are unable to reach an agreement to delay, people must follow advice on staying away from others to minimise the spread of the virus.
• In line with Government advice, anyone with symptoms, self-isolating or shielding from the virus, should follow medical advice which will mean not moving to a new house for the time being, if possible. All parties should prioritise agreeing amicable arrangements to change move dates for individuals in this group, or where someone in a chain is in this group.

UK Finance have confirmed that, to support customers who have already exchanged contracts for house purchases and set dates for completion, all mortgage lenders are working to find ways to enable customers who have exchanged contracts to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months to enable them to move at a later date.

Click here to see the official announcement.

If your property is already on the market, you can continue to advertise it as being for sale, but you should not allow people inside to view your property.

Putting your property on the market would be more challenging than usual since you should not have any visitors to your home. This would preclude agents from visiting to carry out an appraisal or to take pictures, and energy assessors will not be able to issue the necessary energy performance certificate.

However, if you do want to move, now could be a good time to make sure your property will be market-ready when the current crisis is over. This could mean carrying out those repair and maintenance jobs you are able to do yourself or ensuring there are no title or legal issues that could jeopardize a future sale.

Once you have exchanged contracts, you have entered into a legal agreement to purchase that home.

If the property you are purchasing is unoccupied you can continue with the transaction.

If the property you are purchasing is currently occupied, we recommend that all parties should work together to either delay the exchange of contracts until after the stay-at-home measures to fight coronavirus have been lifted.

The Government published ‘COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities’ on 28 March 2020.

Read our blog here.

Full details of the Government announcement can be found here.

Conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property from one individual owner or entity to another. The process involves a solicitor or conveyancer who acts on behalf of the buyer or seller and ensures the property is transferred correctly to the new owner. Conveyancing also encompasses re-mortgages and transfer of equity.

The legal costs of buying and/or selling your home can be split into two parts: the legal fees the conveyancer or solicitor charges for carrying out the work, and the disbursements which are third party payments the solicitor will make on your behalf to others. Disbursements include costs such as Land Registry fees and stamp duty land tax. The legal fees for conveyancing will vary depending on a number of factors. Our fees start from £600 plus VAT and disbursements based on the sale of a freehold property up to £200,000 in value. Contact us to discuss your requirements or use our instant online conveyancing calculator for a detailed estimate.

Generally, your Solicitor will provide a quote to include their legal fee and disbursement payments to third parties (for example, search fees and stamp duty land tax). The quote would include all of the standard work involved such as reviewing title documentation, liaising with Estate Agents and search providers and the seller or purchaser’s conveyancer.

We are frequently asked “how long will it take?” We will always strive to complete the conveyancing process as quickly as possible. Our general advice is that a simple transaction can take around 8-12 weeks. However, it is sometimes possible to complete in a shorter timeframe than this and likewise, this timeframe cannot always be achieved. The conveyancing process is dependent on many parties and factors and this impacts on our ability to control the speed of matters. The illustration below represents the complete conveyancing process.

We would advise that the answer to this question should be yes! Although it is sometimes possible for an unqualified individual to deal with the conveyancing themselves, this usually leads to additional legal fees being incurred by the other party who is instructing a solicitor. In our experience it also invariably leads to delays in the process. The matter can also become more complex when mortgages are secured on the property and also when considering anti-money laundering procedures which must be adhered to.