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A Guide to Moving House During Lockdown

Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The UK is finally emerging slowly from lockdown, which means you’re permitted to venture further from your house, and enjoy activities that you weren’t previously allowed to do.

This is especially good news for people moving house during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a guide, detailing how to stay as safe as possible while you move.

Is it legal to move home?

The government never made it illegal to move into a new property. However, their previous restrictions made it difficult to do so (for safety’s sake); and some of these have now been lifted.

The official recommendations are that you should:

-          Consider delaying the moving date where possible. To arrange this, speak to all the estate agents involved in the process.

-          Be flexible. For example, if a removals company worker starts to experience COVID symptoms, you may need to wait until they have completed a period of self-isolation.

-          Assess the risks. Some properties present very little risk – for example, new-builds or vacant homes. However, if someone lived there recently, it’s wise to take precautions while you move in, and afterwards. For example, thoroughly cleaning your new home may be a wise move.

Staying safe while moving

If you’re working with a removals company, it’s important to ensure that they adhere to certain safety practices. For example:

-          Washing their hands regularly

-          Bringing their own drinks and food (for their own protection)

-          Remaining as distanced from you and your family as possible. The current recommendation is a minimum of two metres at all times.

Here are a few things you can do too:

-          Pack your belongings yourself. While it’s tempting to ask the removal company to do it for you, this means they will be touching more of your things, which increases the risk of spreading the virus.

-          Clean your belongings, both before and after the move. Cleaning them before will keep the removal-workers protected, and cleaning afterwards will remove germs from the surfaces.

-          Provide the removal-workers with hand-washing facilities or hand sanitiser. Use paper towels rather than your own fabric towels – if this isn’t an option, make sure your towels are thoroughly washed afterwards.

FAQs about moving house during the pandemic

-          Will I get into trouble for moving?

Absolutely not. It’s legal to move home, and you won’t be breaking any laws. However, it’s important to follow the safety recommendations above.

 

-          What if I show symptoms?

If you or a family member has COVID-19 symptoms, you must immediately inform the removal company, plus your estate agent. The government requires you to enter a period of self-isolation, and as a result, your move-date will need to be delayed. While this can be frustrating, it’s vital to keep everyone as safe as possible.

 

-          I’d like my family and friends to help me move, is this permitted?

The current guidelines state that only those in your household may be present during the move, plus any professionals associated with the process (.e.g agents and removal-workers).