You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Repairs work to continue and housing market to stay open as England enters lockdown
Construction sites and the housing market will remain open and tradespeople will continue to be allowed to enter homes as England enters a seven-week national lockdown.
Guidance published by the government yesterday revealed that much of the work being carried out by the housing sector will be allowed to continue as it was during the tier system.
Under the new rules, which were announced last night and are already in force across England, people are being ordered to stay at home until at least 15 February.
People in England will only be allowed to leave home for a number of reasons, such as exercise once per day and essential shopping.
Leaving the home to work is permitted if it is absolutely not possible to work from home, for example work in the construction sector.
READ MORE
Tradespeople will continue to be allowed to enter peoples homes as long as they are able to do so safely.
The housing market will remain open and households will be allowed to move home but should not get help with moving unless absolutely necessary.
Estate agents and removal firms can continue to work and those looking to move home can still attend property viewings.
The rules differ from the ones implemented during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March when construction sites were shut temporarily and the housing market was frozen.
The latest lockdown follows the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus which, the prime minister told the country last night, is between 50% and 70% more infectious.
Boris Johnson’s announcement followed a similar move from the Scottish government, which announced a national lockdown yesterday afternoon.
Like in England, construction sites and the housing market will remain open in Scotland, however tradespeople have been ordered to carry out essential repairs work only.
