Viewing a property and moving home during Covid 19

This applies to England

On 21 May 2020 the guidance for people moving home was amended. People are now free to move home, however, they will need to adapt to the processes and procedures to help reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

An initial viewing should initially be carried out virtually wherever possible, any physical viewing should be limited to a minimum of people from the same household and who absolutely need to attend, whilst social distancing and where possible people keep at least 2 meters apart from people who are not members of your household.  They should avoid touching surfaces, doors, door handles, light switches and must take their own hand sanitiser. If the property is occupied the occupier should ensure all surfaces including door handles should be wiped down after each viewing and any internal doors and windows to be open.

If a tenant is self-isolating or shielding then the they do have the right to refuse any access.

If you wish to carry out a viewing for a room only let that is a HMO, you would need to ensure that all the residents are aware of when an viewing is going take place.  As the other tenants do not have exclusive rights to the entirety of the property, the access to the communal areas and vacant room cannot be denied by the other tenants.

This applies to Wales

On 06 July 2020, The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 were amended and people are now free to move home. A landlord or agent may now carryout viewings for an unoccupied residential property that has been vacant for a minimum of 72 hours or has been deep cleaned.

As the same as England Initially an online viewing should be carried out before a physical viewing. However, a physical viewing cannot be carried out if the property is occupied.

If the property is unoccupied the landlord or agent must either wait for the property to be vacant for a minimum of 72 hours or a deep clean has been carried out earlier. When a physical viewing is taking place, you should avoid touching any surfaces, door handles, light switches, taps, wash your hands frequently, ideally have your own hand sanitiser so you do not need to touch taps and if possible, stay at least 2 meters apart from people who are not in their household. Once a viewing has been completed it is the responsibility of the landlord or agent to wipe the surfaces including door handles with standard household cleaning products.

Viewings for a vacant room in an HMO cannot be carried out, however moving into a HMO is permitted as long as the person moving into the property or any of the other tenants are not self-isolating or shielding.