Home viewings after lockdown: new measures being drawn up for in-person visits to properties once market reopens

Video viewings are expected to continue, and new protocols are being drawn up for physical visits to properties once the market reopens. 
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Home buyers and renters will have to wear gloves and face masks during viewings once the property market opens again after the coronavirus lockdown.

The professional body for estate agencies is drawing up a series of “protocols” for the industry once physical visits to properties are allowed again — due to be issued by the end of next week.

As well as donning compulsory personal protective equipment, buyers will have to go to meet agents alone, or at most with their partner.

Children and other family members are unlikely to be allowed to join them.

All doors in the property will have to be left open to reduce the risk of infection and prospective buyers or renters will be told not to touch any surfaces.

Agents, who will be armed with sanitisers and wipes, will be able to refuse entry to anyone turning up with a cough.

One of the most difficult challenges is how to organise viewings of homes occupied by elderly or “vulnerable” residents, according to Mark Hayward, chief executive of industry body NAEA Propertymark, which is drawing up the protocol.

Buyers and vendors will be asked to stay in separate parts of the property where possible to maintain two metres of social distancing.

Sellers or tenants in smaller flats and studios are likely to be asked to wait outside during the viewing.

But Mr Hayward said: “What do we do with sellers if it’s pouring with rain? We can’t ask them to stand in the garden.”

So called “open house” viewings when a number of buyers visit at the same time will be banned.

Another issue being looked at is who will be responsible for cleaning and disinfecting shared areas such as corridors and entrance halls in blocks of flats or converted houses.

Estate agencies are likely to be among the first businesses allowed to reopen as the lockdown is relaxed.

However, buyers will be discouraged from visiting branches and old fashioned paper particulars or brochures will not be handed out, according to north London agent Jeremy Leaf.

Giles Milner, of Chestertons, said: “Once lockdown restrictions are lifted, we expect people to still be very cautious about leaving their homes and social distancing so we are expecting to continue using video viewings.”

Tens of thousands of sales were frozen when the lockdown came in.

Deals likely to be prioritised are those that had exchanged and are ready to complete.