mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
Developers and new build sales
Developers can continue with sales during this period but should ensure that
their sales teams follow the government’s safer working
guidance. Developers should inform consumers and their own staff about their
procedures, so that they are safe throughout the sales process.

Where possible, developers should promote virtual viewings.
Where physical viewings do take place, including visits to show homes, these should be by appointment with one household visiting one property at a time.
Developers should clean surfaces between viewings.
For new reservations and contracts, developers should work with conveyancers to ensure contracts take account of the risks posed by coronavirus, including building in flexibility in case move dates need to change as a result of someone falling ill with coronavirus or needing to self-isolate.
Developers should do what they can to support anyone with coronavirus symptoms or self-isolating, and those they are in chain with, to agree a new date.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
Tradespeople
Moving home is often a time when people want to undertake work to improve
their new home or prepare their old home for sale. This work can involve
fitting new kitchens, redecorating, and other home improvement work. This work
is also important when people aren’t moving home. It is a key way for
households and landlords to improve the home environment and address poor
quality accommodation while also providing important work for tradespeople
who’s businesses have been affected by the virus.
Tradespeople should follow the follow the government’s safer working guidance.
Companies should ensure employees understand how to operate safely and
communicate this to customers.

Tradespeople should contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If they are, works should be delayed.
No work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
Tradespeople should wash their hands on entering the property using separate towels of paper towels which need to be washed or disposed of safely after use.
Tradespeople should seek to minimise contact with homeowners and remain 2 metres apart from householders at all times.
Tradespeople should implement a buddy system and ensure that the same people work together where this is needed.
Tradespeople should bring their own refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
2. Viewings
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
People should use virtual viewings before visiting properties in person where
possible, in order to minimise public health risks. If any member of either
the household being viewed, or the household undertaking a viewing is showing
symptoms of coronavirus or is self-isolating, then a physical viewing should
be delayed. All viewings should take place by appointment and only involve
members of a single household.

We encourage people to do their property searching online wherever possible. Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and physical viewings should only be conducted where buyers are seriously considering making an offer on a property.
To support this, agents may ask home occupiers to conduct virtual viewings. This will help reduce the number of properties people need to visit before finding their future home.
Viewings should be conducted by appointment only and no open house viewings should take place.
If your property is being viewed, you should open all the internal doors prior to the viewing, and allow access to handwashing facilities and ideally separate towels/paper towels.
As most people choose to do, we encourage that you vacate your property whilst viewings are taking place in order to minimise your contact with those not in your household.
When viewing a property, all parties should wash their hands and avoid touching surfaces where possible. Agents will ask you to restrict the number of people who accompany you on a viewing so that social distancing can be practised, and only those in your immediate household should be there.
We expect agents to accompany clients on a viewing but follow social distancing rules wherever possible. Where viewings are unaccompanied, agents should make sure viewers and homeowners understand how they should conduct themselves.
Once the viewing has taken place, the homeowner should ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned with standard household cleaning products and towels disposed of safely or washed as appropriate.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
New Build Home Warranty Assessments and claims against the warranty
Inspectors can carry out warranty assessments on new build properties
including self and custom build. Inspectors should follow public health
guidance on social
distancing and guidance for
working in other people’s homes. Companies should ensure employees
understand how to operate safely and communicate this to customers.

New build warranty providers can continue to provide a normal service to homebuilders and consumers, including site visits and inspections.
No work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild or anyone who has been asked to self-isolate.
Inspectors should contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If they are, works should be delayed.
Where residents are making a claim against their new build warranty, in the first instance they should speak with the warranty provider. Where possible the warranty providers should investigate claims remotely using video or photo evidence. If this is not possible and an inspector needs to visit an occupied property, this should be done by appointment and measures put in place to ensure physical contact is minimised, for example with residents staying in another room during the visit.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
What does this mean for my property move or purchase which is scheduled whilst measures to fight coronavirus apply?
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
People are free to move home, however the process of finding and moving into a
new home is likely to be different, as those involved in the process will need
to adapt practices and procedures to ensure that the risk of spread of
coronavirus is reduced as far as possible. It is vital that everyone stays
alert and safe.

Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and property agents should help you to do this.
All physical viewings should be limited to members of the same household and open house viewings should not take place.
When physically viewing properties, where possible, you should avoid touching surfaces, wash your hands regularly, and bring your own hand sanitiser. The number of people on a viewing should be minimised to those from your household that absolutely have to be there. If you need to be accompanied by small children, you should try to keep them from touching surfaces and ensure they wash their hands regularly.
If people are being shown around your current home, you should open all internal doors and ensure surfaces, such as door handles, are cleaned after each viewing with standard household cleaning products.
As most people choose to, we recommend that you vacate your property whilst viewings are taking place in order to minimise your contact with those not in your household.
Anyone involved in any aspect of the home moving process should practice social distancing in line with public health advice.
When moving between properties, you and those in your household should try to do as much of the packing yourself as you can. Where this is not possible, you should speak to removal firms in advance. There is further advice about this below.
If you are particularly worried about the risk of infection, then speak to the professionals involved, your landlord, estate agent or removers as they may be able to put in place extra measures.

Everyone involved in the moving process must follow social
distancing to minimise the
spread of the virus.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
Conveyancers
Conveyancers can open for business and can take on new instructions. They
should make sure their clients are aware of the differences in completing
transactions during this period.

Conveyancers should aim to conduct as much of their business remotely as possible.
Where client meetings need to take place, measures should be put in place to ensure appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures.
Conveyancers should do what they can to promote flexibility making provisions for the risks presented by coronavirus, for example when advising their clients who are ready to move not to exchange contracts on an occupied property unless they have made explicit provision for the risks presented by the virus.
Conveyancers should prioritise support for anyone who is clinically vulnerable or shielding, or with symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating to agree a new date to move.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
People self-isolating or having tested positive for coronavirus
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
Moving home is not appropriate whilst you pose a direct risk of transmitting
coronavirus. People who have coronavirus or are self-isolating with their
family member should not leave their home to either move home, or undertake
property viewings.
If you are contractually committed to move home, you should delay your move
until all members of your household have come to the end of their self-
isolation period. All parties involved in home buying and selling should
prioritise agreeing amicable arrangements to change move dates for
individuals, or where someone in a chain or their family member is self-
isolating or has tested positive for coronavirus.
Should a move be essential for people in this category, for instance due to an
urgent health and safety risk, please contact Public Health England/local
public health teams for advice.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Social landlords
Allocation by local housing authorities is governed by Part 6 of the Housing
Act 1996 and
authorities must have regard to statutory guidance. Registered providers of
social housing should refer to the relevant regulatory
standards
set out by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Landlords will need to consider how to carry out their activities in line with
the government’s advice on social distancing in the
workplace). Practices should also be altered in line with this wider
guidance, including:

property inspections for vacating tenants
collecting returned keys
conducting viewings
conducting tenancy sign-ups
preparing homes to be re-let

Some applicants and tenants may be anxious about moving at this time. It will
be important to ensure that they are not put under undue pressure to move, if
they are not ready or able to do so.
It will also be important to discuss with applicants and tenants their state
of health, level of vulnerability and their arrangements for moving (including
any assistance required) before proceeding with the move.
Landlords should avoid moving tenants who are showing symptoms of coronavirus
or self-isolating. There may be exceptions to this (e.g. safety reasons) and
in these scenarios landlords should speak to the local Public Health team
about appropriate infection control measures before taking any action.
Landlords should also avoid moving residents who are shielding because they
have been notified they are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group. If a
home move is required, the landlord should speak to the local Public Health
team for advice on appropriate measures to protect the resident.
Tenants seeking mutual exchange should be directed to the Advice to the public
section above.
Right to Buy
The Right to Buy is governed by Part 5 of the Housing Act
1985 which sets out the
right of eligible social tenants to purchase the home they currently rent and
occupy; and the timescales for doing this.
Tenants have the right to purchase their home within the provisions of the
legislation. The government recognises that the measures put in place to
combat coronavirus are likely to make it difficult for councils to process
Right to Buy applications within the statutory timescales.
Landlords will want to consider how best they can manage the application
process to ensure tenants are able to take up their Right to Buy within a
reasonable timescale, while acting in accordance with government guidelines on
social distancing.
This could include options around:

valuations of properties
fraud prevention measures
the issuing of documentation
using the discretion provided to them within the legislation
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
Vulnerable people or those shielding
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
We recognise people who are shielding or otherwise vulnerable may also have
pressing needs to move home; however, this should be balanced with the
increased risks presented by coronavirus.
In line with government’s advice, those who are shielding or otherwise
clinically vulnerable should ensure they are aware of the medical
advice, including on
staying at home and avoiding unnecessary contacts over this period, if at all
possible. All parties involved in home buying and selling should prioritise
agreeing amicable arrangements to change move dates for individuals in this
group, or where someone in a chain is in this group.
Clinically vulnerable and shielded individuals (ie those who have received a
letter advising they are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group) will
need to carefully consider their personal situation and the circumstances of
their own move and may wish to seek medical advice before deciding whether to
commit to or go ahead with a move. Some moves are likely to be lower risk -
for instance if the home is empty, all travel can take place in their own
transport and they can avoid contact with others.
We would encourage everyone in these categories who does intend to move, to
make clear their status to all of the professionals involved in the process.
They may be able to implement additional precautionary measures to further
protect you.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
5. Agreeing to move
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
Once you have agreed to move home by exchanging contracts or signing a tenancy
agreement, you have entered into a legal agreement to move. We encourage all
parties to be as flexible as possible over this period and be prepared to
delay moves if needed, for example if someone becomes ill with coronavirus
during the moving process or has to self-isolate. You should not expect to
move into any home where people are ill or self-isolating.

Your legal adviser should be able to help you to ensure that any contract you enter into has sufficient flexibility to allow the purchase to be delayed in the event that an individual in one of the parties contracts coronavirus or has to self-isolate.
We encourage you to be as flexible as possible if you are asked to delay your move, and in turn, you can speak to your legal advisor about this.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
3. Making offers or reservations
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
You are free to make or accept an offer or reserve a property as normal.

There is a greater risk that parties may need to delay their move because someone is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. Where needed your legal adviser should advise you and help make sure that any contracts or agreements are as flexible as possible to accommodate this risk.
Prospective purchasers may wish to visit a property again once they have agreed a sale, for example to measure up. Where this has been agreed to, the above advice on prioritising virtual visits, hygiene measures, maintaining social distancing at all times and mitigating contact where possible should be followed.
Purchasers may also want to send in tradespeople to carry out inspections. Where possible these should be scheduled with one person visiting the property at any time. No tradespeople should enter a property where a member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. Where a tradesperson is visiting the property, the occupier should maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and minimise contact as far as possible, for example by staying in another room. These visits should be carried out in line with government safer working guidance.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
1. Preparing to buy, sell or move home
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
You can put your home on the market and start to look for properties you want
to move into. If any member of the household being viewed is showing symptoms
or is self-isolating then estate agents should not physically visit the
property.

You can begin to market your home and estate agents are able to visit in order to take photos/videos of the property.
To help prevent the spread of infection, we encourage people to do the majority of their property searching online; for example only physically viewing those properties which you believe you are most likely to want to move into.
As usual, you can also start to bring together the documentation necessary to sell your property (more information on these documents is available in the government’s guidance on how to sell homes).
If you wish to buy a new build property you should make contact with the developer in the usual way. You should be able to view the show home or visit the particular plot you are interested in purchasing, although there will be appointment systems in place.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
All businesses should follow the government’s latest guidance for employers
and businesses on coronavirus and safer working
guidance.
As well as government guidance, we encourage all professionals to speak to
their representative bodies and familiarise themselves with the guidance that
these bodies have prepared for their specific sectors.
It is important that all businesses work together to ensure we stay alert and
safe to minimise the
spread of infection and we expect all sectors to consider how they can operate
in a way which minimises the need for face to face contact.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to the public
6. Moving your belongings
More detail on progressing the individual elements of the home buying and
selling or rental process and how this applies to different groups is set out
in the next section.
Removal firms are able to operate, although they may need to adjust usual
procedures in order to ensure moves happen as safely as possible.

We encourage you to contact removal firms as early as possible in advance of your move.
You and your household should also try and do as much of the packing yourself as possible. However, where you are using a removals firm, you may wish to talk to them in advance to discuss packing and in particular, the arrangements for packing fragile items.
We ask that, where possible, you clean your belongings, with standard domestic cleaning products before they are handled by others, including removal firms.
Whilst the removers are in your home, you should ensure any internal doors are open and seek to minimise your contact with the crew, maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres where possible.
All parties should wash their hands and avoid touching surfaces where possible to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus.
You should not provide refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards.
Guidance Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Advice to industry
Estate agents
Estate agents can open for business but should consider how and when to reopen
their premises given government guidance on safer
working. Estate agents should inform customers and their own staff about
their procedures, so that they are safe throughout the sales process.

Agents should ask whether any party is showing symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate before going ahead with any viewing, or visits to offices.
Agents should operate using an appointment system for visits to their offices and when conducting viewings.
Agents should not carry out any open house viewings.
Agents should strongly encourage clients to view properties virtually in the first instance and then only physically inspect properties which they have a strong interest in.
Agents can accompany physical viewings and seek to maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from others wherever possible. Where social distancing is not possible and the visit is within an enclosed space, they should consider wearing a face covering in line with government guidance.
Where they do not accompany the visit, they should make sure that both buyers and sellers clearly understand how the viewing should be conducted safely.
Agents should not drive clients to appointments.
All parties viewing a property should wash their hands with soap and water (or hand sanitiser if not available) immediately after entering the properties, with internal doors opened and surfaces having been wiped down before they enter. Separate towels or paper towels should be used if possible and washed or disposed of safely after use.
Agents should do what they can to promote flexibility when arranging move dates, for example advising clients to ensure contracts have explicit terms to manage the timing risks presented by coronavirus.
Agents should work with their clients and other agents to broker a new date to move where sales are due to complete and one of the parties falls ill with coronavirus or has to self-isolate.
Agents should ensure that any keys are appropriately cleaned before handover.