A senior civil servant at Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) this morning, provided guidance for the sector to Propertymark.
The civil servant stated that agents are not “essential businesses” under the new rules and therefore their view is that agents should close their offices immediately.
Furthermore, they stated that there should not be any in-person viewings, routine inspections or house moves.
MHCLG is still looking into property maintenance tasks such as gas safety checks and hopes to issue guidance on these points as soon as possible.
British Association of Removers
In a further development, British Association of Removers (BAR) has issued communications this morning instructing members that moves should only be completed if they are already underway, any move that has not yet started, should not go ahead.

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WHAT PROPERTYMARK IS DOING
Property agents are missing out on business rates relief measures announced by the Government in response to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Propertymark urges members to contact their MP about business rates relief
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