Can I move house if my local area goes into lockdown?
The government recently introduced a three-tier coronavirus alert system for England. Under the new guidelines, local areas will be placed under varying degrees of ‘lockdown’ – so how does this affect the house moving process?
Can I buy or sell a house under Tier 3 restrictions?
Yes. The government has confirmed house moves can still take place under Tier 3 (very high alert) restrictions. This means moves can also take place if your local area is in Tier 1 (medium alert) and Tier 2 (high alert).
You can still contact your local estate agent for a valuation and continue to view properties.
Emsleys is carrying out the conveyancing for my property. Can I still exchange contracts and complete my property purchase/sale?
Yes. Regardless of which tier you are in, your move will progress as normal. Please be mindful that there may be delays caused by external factors, such as longer processing times for mortgage offers, surveys, searches and reports. Please check your mortgage offer expiry date, as this may affect your ability to exchange or complete in the future.
Can I save Stamp Duty on my house purchase?
The government’s Stamp Duty (SDLT) holiday will apply until 31st March 2021. At present, properties under the value of £500,000 are not subject to SDLT. Visit our blog for more details.
If you’d like any further information or advice on moving during the pandemic, please contact our team on 0113 264 4414 or email conveyancing@emsleys.co.uk.
