06, June, 2023

The three tiers of lockdown- Can I still sell my house?

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Three-tiers of lockdown- Can I still sell my house? 
The Prime Minister has introduced a new way to contain the virus and slow down infection rates, by dividing the country into tiers depending on the areas’ infection levels. These tiers have left homeowners wanting to know if they can move house- even in tier 3, homeowners can still sell their house and move if they are abiding by the social distancing regulations.

Throughout 2020, our lives have changed massively, and we have all had to adapt the way that we live. From the start of the lockdown resulting in months of working from home and restrictions of seeing loved ones, the pandemic has completely turned our lives upside down. Now, with the original lockdown over and the Prime Minister introducing the three tiers scale across the country to reduce infection rates, homeowners still have questions about what they can and can’t doWe Buy Any House are here to give you the answers.

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What do the tiers mean?

The country has been divided into three tiers, depending on the severity of the coronavirus outbreaks in the area.

Tier one has the lowest restrictions, being placed at medium risk. In these areas, businesses are able to stay open, as long as they are following the anti-coronavirus restrictions and doing everything they can to keep their staff and customers safe. There is a rule of 6 in place indoors and outdoors, and property viewings are able to go forward, providing everyone involved is wearing face coverings, washing their hands regularly and keeping socially distant throughout the viewing.

Tier two areas are at high risk, and need to follow the same rules as tier one as well as only meeting people in their household or support bubble to reduce contact. These areas are still able to move house and view properties, as long as the correct precautions are in place.

Tier three, labelled as at very high risk, are areas that have the tightest restrictions. Anywhere in tier three is seeing certain establishments shutting to reduce contact and risk of infection, but homeowners can still view properties and move house.

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These tiers have been put in place to try and control areas that are suffering from higher rates of infection, without putting the rest of the country under the same restrictions.

Will house viewing change again?

At the start of the lockdown, estate agents and property companies had to find ways around the lockdown to be able to continue working. It was at this point that virtual viewings became incredibly popular, allowing potential buyers to explore properties from the comfort of their own home. Although the property market faced a huge amount of pressure just like every other sector, these virtual viewings meant that homeowners could still put their house up for sale and look for other properties to buy. Currently, in the new tiers, there has been no ban put into place for physical viewings of properties, which means that the property market can continue. You may still find that some properties are offering video viewings for the first viewing, to narrow down traffic in the property and ensure anyone doing a physical viewing is fully interested in buying the house. This will limit the number of people going in and out of the property and help to keep everyone involved as safe as possible.

Can I move house if I live in tier three?

There are several areas across the country that have been placed in a very high alert zone, labelled tier three. If you’re in one of these areas, you may be wondering if you’re able to sell your house and move with the new restrictions. The Government hasn’t made any announcements regarding closing the property market, and estate agents and property companies are still open. This means that you can still put your house up for sale, view others, and move out, as long as you’re following the correct social distancing guidance and anti-coronavirus restrictions.

Is now the right time to sell?

With the restrictions changing the future is still very uncertain, especially as furlough comes to an end and the repossession halt is ended, which is making homeowners question whether now is the time for them to be selling and buying another house. Currently, the property market is having a strong growth after the effects of the lockdown, but this is not expected to last, with warnings of house prices due to drop at the end of this year and the first half of next year. This has encouraged homeowners that were looking to sell in the next year to pull their plans forward and sell now, while the market is still in a better state to avoid the drops that are anticipated. This, along with the stamp duty pause that has been put into place until March 2021, has further encouraged homeowners to act now and sell.

Will I be able to sell?

The property market has made a strong comeback since the start of the lockdown, but the open market can still be difficult for homeowners who are wanting to sell quickly. The average house sale can take over 6 months, and this can be too long to wait for those who are looking to sell before the expected drops and the end of the stamp duty holiday. A lot of homeowners are looking for a faster way to be able to achieve their sale and be able to move elsewhere. That’s where we can help you.

We Buy Any House can buy your house in as little as 7 days, or to a timescale to suit you, to give you a hassle-free sale. Get in touch with us today for your free cash offer and see how you can sell your house and get a fresh start somewhere else.

How do I sell my house fast?

No matter what reason you’re looking to sell your house, if you can do it in a faster and easier way than the traditional house sale, who wouldn’t? We Buy Any House can offer you exactly that – a quick, hassle-free sale that relieves you from the stresses of the property market and lets you focus on the other things that are important in your life. Get in touch with us today for your free cash offer and see how quickly you can achieve your sale!

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