Useful information from the Scottish Government for people buying or selling private residential homes during #Covid19 (Part two)
31 March 2020

If you must move

If you must move and the following both apply, then you may proceed to do so:

• you are able to complete the move safely, i.e. you and anyone else involved in the move can maintain all the social distancing requirements
• the property into which you are moving is empty or can also be safely vacated.

What if an extension goes beyond the terms of a mortgage agreement?

UK Finance have confirmed that, to support customers who have already set dates for completion, mortgage lenders are working to find ways to enable customers to extend their mortgage offer for up to three months to enable them to move at a later date.

If a customer’s circumstances change during this three month period or the terms of the house purchase change significantly and continuing with the mortgage would cause house buyers to face financial hardship, lenders will work with customers to help them manage their finances as a matter of urgency.

If your home is not yet on the market

You may find getting your home onto the market more challenging than usual during this period. There should be no visitors to your home.

If you are thinking about selling, you can use this time to start gathering together all of the information you will need to provide to potential purchasers.

Advice for people to stay at home and away from others means you should not invite unnecessary visitors into your home, including people involved in marketing your home.

Viewings

If your property is already on the market, you can continue to advertise it being for sale but you should not allow people in to view your property.

There should not be any visitors into your home, and you should not therefore let people visit your property for viewings. Your agent may be able to conduct virtual viewings and you could speak to them about this possibility.

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