Estate agents welcome reopening news that aims to re-start housing market

The government has said estate agents can reopen

Joanna Hodgson13 May 2020

Estates agents that shut branches and saw the housing market effectively put on hold during the coronavirus lockdown, on Wednesday cheered plans by the government to boost the industry, including the reopening of offices.

The government last night gave estate agents and housebuilders a flurry of updates. They were told estate agents’ offices can open, viewings are permitted, show homes can open, and that removal companies and the other essential parts of the sales and letting process were re-started with immediate effect.

Dominic Agace, chief executive of AIM-listed Winkworth, which has around 100 branches, said: "This is great news. We have a socially distanced work environment plan to manage the business and can implement it quickly to ensure that we can go back to full operations. This will enable our customers to move on to the next stage in their lives, releasing the anxieties caused by the lockdown."

Jonathan Hopper, chief executive of Garrington Property Finders, said: “The eleventh-hour firing of the starting gun for estate agents will re-energise the property industry.”

Zoopla’s boss Charlie Bryant said: "Opening up the housing market is not just great news for home hunters and estate agents. As well as unlocking £82 billion of housing sales stalled in the pipeline, it will provide an all-important boost to the real economy, as housing sales trigger increased spending through builders, tradespeople, removal firms, solicitors and many more.”

Bryant added: “By taking these steps, the Government will give confidence to buyers, sellers and renters that Britain is reopening for business and they can do their bit to get the economy moving again."

Ana Bajri, associate director at RICS said: “We have contributed to current Government advice, and over the coming days we will publish further practical guidance to support RICS professionals who play a critical role in the housing sector, specifically on physical inspections for mortgage valuations and home surveys.”

Buyers and renters were first told in March by the Government they should, where possible, delay moving while measures are in place to fight coronavirus.

Physical viewings were off the cards.

Allowing people to move with immediate effect, in line with social distancing advice, came on top of further new measures to help builders, such as letting them have more flexible construction site working hours with their local council.

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