Housing market restarted after seven-week freeze

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has unveiled plans to restart the housing market, encouraging estate agents, housebuilders and local councils to return to business. Jenrick said estate agents’ offices and showrooms were able to reopen, with viewings permitted and other essential parts of the sales process restarted with immediate effect. The industry had been expecting the restrictions to be lifted in June at the earliest. In a statement this morning (13 May), he said the measures would allow people to move home providing they followed social distancing advice. It comes after 450,000 people were prevented from moving home during the pandemic, as the government called for a halt on all but critical moves. Jenrick has also agreed flexible construction site working hours with local councils; for example, staggering builders’ arrival times to ease pressure on public transport. The government has worked with the Home Builders Federation to launch a new charter to help construction sites reopen. He said local councils and developers should publicise planning applications through social media to “help unblock the service”. The ministry has also allowed smaller developers to defer payments to local councils, to help support cashflow. Jenrick said: “Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process from viewings to removals. “This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so.” Savills’ head of residential research Lucian Cook, said the “acid test”, would now be whether those who have been stuck in frozen chains choose to renegotiate their offers or continue at agreed prices.   To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette