• moving home conveyancing

Moving Home and your Conveyancing

The government issued updated guidance on 13 May 2020 on moving home during the Covid-19 outbreak, effectively restarting the housing market.

The new guidance states that people can move home who wish to do so, but they must do so safely.

A link to the current government guidelines set out in full is here: www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Our Conveyancing Team will actively support you and progress matters on your behalf during this period. We will consider cross-industry guidance in our approach to enable us to complete your house move whilst advising you to maintain safe social distancing measures. To summarise:

  • We will act in a transparent and professional manner with all parties involved, and we will be clear with our clients about our service and any restrictions to the service as a result of COVID-19.
  • We will ensure the obligations in relation to client confidentiality and safe storage of client information will continue to apply even though some or all of our staff are working remotely. We will also ensure this is in line with GDPR legislation.
  • We will avoid physical contact with clients continuing to make full use of digital technology, including e-mail, video conferencing platforms and telephone.
  • ID checks will be carried out using electronic verification methods where possible to avoid the need for physical presence.
  • Where a document requires witnessing of a signature in person, social distancing measures must be maintained. Each signatory should observe Public Health guidelines. Use your own pen which you should not share with another signatory and wear gloves to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus.
  • We will encourage electronic signatures where possible rather than wet ink signatures with the very important exception of documents that need to be supplied to Land Registry for registration, for example a Mortgage Deed.
  • Our terms and conditions of services offered to clients will be varied to allow for potential problems or restrictions arising from COVID-19.
  • Where using an electronic signature is not possible, paperwork should be posted to our office address.

Our regulator, the CLC, has endorsed cross-industry guidance on ensuring a safe home moving process. The details in full can be found by following this link: www.clc-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FINAL-Consumer-Coronavirus-Guide.pdf

How We Can Help You

We know that no house move is the same, and we are here to support you through the process. Please keep in regular contact during the course of your transaction. We can help you delay the process if you need to and explain your reasons to all parties.

Our award-winning conveyancing team are working tirelessly from home making full use of our excellent cloud-based case management system, VoIP telephone communication, email and video conferencing. We are in touch with one another other daily, sharing information and ideas and ultimately ensuring your matter can progress to completion.

Managing Director Lee Gaddes said:

“We welcome the latest government announcement to re-open the housing market. Our team is here to assist in the conveyancing process, but more importantly ensure that home moves can happen, whilst following public health requirements. We will monitor the situation closely and provide you with any updates as soon as we can.”

Please call Gaddes Noble Property Lawyers on 01484 451066 or email mail@gaddesnoble.co.uk with any queries or for anything that we can help you with.