Yesterday evening, the UK Government announced the introduction of tighter COVID-19 restrictions across England over the festive period, as the rate of COVID infections continues to rise in certain regions.
Following this announcement, we have reviewed the guidance and liaised with the RICS to determine the impact of the latest restrictions on our ability to carry out physical valuations and surveys.
Tier 4 areas in England
As of today, Sunday 20 December, we have concluded that the new Tier 4 restrictions in England do not prohibit our surveyors from carrying out physical property inspections where it is deemed safe to do so, and with appropriate safety precautions in place.
This guidance also applies to properties in Tiers 1-3 in England.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
We will also continue to carry about physical property inspections in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales (see below), with the necessary safety measures in place, until otherwise advised.
Estate agency closures in Wales
We understand that restrictions in Wales require all estate agents to close until further notice. Unless alternative access arrangements can be made, this situation will impact our ability to conduct property inspection if access requires the surveyor to collect a key from the agent.
An evolving situation
Clearly, this is a rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to monitor the guidance in the coming days, and we will update our Coronavirus Information Hub, as necessary.
Your mortgage application
Finally, we understand how frustrating it is to be stuck in the mortgage application process during this period of uncertainty. If you’re wondering what will happen with your mortgage application, please speak to your mortgage lender or broker as each case will be different.