More than a quarter of UK homeowners and renters have claimed that their property priorities have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously highly-sought after and high-value property features have dropped down the priority list for home buyers and tenants, as they now seek different factors when looking for a property that meets their needs and lifestyles.

Easy commutes to work, proximity to local shops and restaurants, and local public transport links are no longer as desirable as they once were.

Instead, we have noticed a significant increase in those searching for more space, whereby those searching are willing to compromise on location or local amenities in return for larger bedrooms and a 'work from home' zone.

Having access to a private garden or nearby green space has also become one of the top preferences for homebuyers and renters, especially in light of reduced travel options this summer.

If you need more space, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678 to see how we can help.

This article was extracted from Rightmove for informational purposes

The government has announced that the temporary stamp duty holiday in England and Northern Ireland has been extended until the end of June.

The news will hopefully come as a relief to those buyers and sellers who have been desperately trying to get their sale completed in time to meet the previous deadline of 31st March.

What is the temporary stamp duty holiday? 

The temporary stamp duty holiday, first announced by the government on 8th July last year, means that if you are buying a home up to the value of £500,000 you will not pay any stamp duty.

The extension means you now have until 30th June to complete on the purchase to make the stamp duty saving.

Then, to smooth the transition back to normal, the nil rate band will be £250,000, double its standard level, until the end of September.

It will return to the usual threshold of £125,000 on 1st October.

There hasn’t been any further update from Scotland on any extension to the Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) holiday, which is currently due to end on 31st March 2021.

In Wales, temporary Land Transaction Tax reductions are also set to end on 31st March, but we’ll let you know if this changes.

Are there delays in the home-moving process right now? 

When the announcement was first made in July we recorded our busiest ever day on Rightmove, as people rushed to see if they could move home and make use of the savings, leading to a huge increase in the usual number of sales that would be going through the legal process.

We estimate that there are currently 628,000 sales going through, and this massive number, coupled with the challenges of conveyancers, solicitors and councils working from home, has led to delays in the home-buying process.

Our latest data shows that it is taking an average of 65 days from the time a seller has a property listed by an agent on Rightmove until they get an offer accepted, and a further 126 days to get through to legal completion, which is almost seven months.

But remember these are averages, and other factors such as if you are a cash buyer or if council searches in your area take longer will affected how long it takes.

What do the experts say?

Our resident property data expert Tim Bannister explained that the stamp duty holiday extension should give tens of thousands of home-movers the chance to complete before the new deadline.

He said: “This three-month extension will come as a huge relief for those people who have been going through the sales process since last year and were always expecting to make use of the stamp duty savings.

“Our recent data shows one in five sales that were agreed in the same month the stamp duty holiday was first announced in July last year still haven’t completed, so this additional time will make a big difference to help those stuck in the logjam complete their purchase in time before the new end of June deadline.

“Buyers who have recently agreed a sale now have a race on their hands to see if they can also make use of the stamp duty savings, but many with purchases over £250,000 will find that time is too tight to complete before the end of June and so shouldn’t be factoring this into their purchase.

“It’s worth remembering that the average savings vary massively around England, and first-time buyers will still be exempt if they’re buying for £300,000 or less. There are also many other reasons people are choosing to move, evidenced by the strong buyer demand Rightmove has already seen in the first two months of the year.”

The following information is extracted from Rightmove

A mortgage guarantee scheme aimed at helping first-time buyers and existing homeowners is set to be unveiled by the government in this week’s Spring Budget announcement. 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to reveal the specifics of the scheme on Wednesday (3rd March). In the meantime, we can share what we know so far.  

What do we know about the mortgage guarantee scheme? 

Under the new scheme, which is expected to launch in April, we anticipate that buyers will be able to purchase homes worth up to £600,000 with a deposit of just 5%. 

And this means that the majority of buyers should be eligible for the scheme, as our data analysts have found that 86% of properties currently listed for sale on our site have an asking price of £600,000 or less. 

However, please note that with an average asking price of £621,886, many properties across Greater London will be priced above the scheme’s proposed threshold of £600,000 (see below). 

What impact could the mortgage guarantee scheme have regionally? 

What are some of the key statistics? 

• The national average asking price for all properties is currently £318,580, which is 3.0% higher than February 2020  
• The national average asking price of a first-time buyer property is £200,692, which is 3.6% higher than February 2020
• Since the 2013 Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme was first launched, national asking prices have increased by 29% from £246,748 in October 2013 to £318,580 in February 2021 
• Since the 2013 Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme was first launched, national asking prices for first-time buyer properties have increased by 36% from £147,464 in October 2013 to £200,692 in February 2021

The rent or buy debate is a pretty controversial topic with no simple answer, but we want to put paid to the ever-present myth that buying is always better than renting.

But renting doesn’t mean you are throwing away money in the same way that buying a home isn’t always the right decision at certain times in your life. So we’ve come up with a list of 12 reasons why renting might just be the better option for you.

1.No maintenance costs or repair bills

When renting a property, your landlord is usually responsible for all maintenance and repair costs, ensuring you don’t have the financial responsibility to get these things fixed.

2. No large down-payment

Renters have the better financial deal upon signing as a house with a mortgage requires a sizable down payment compared to the usual deposit for renting a property.

3. There’s a fixed rent amount

Rent amounts are certain for the span of the lease agreement – so long as it’s a fixed-term contract – making it easier to budget your money so you know exactly how much you’re required to pay.

4. You can keep things flexible!

When you buy a house you are tied down to living in that location for at least a few years usually, whereas if you’re renting a property you have the flexibility to move around if something changes in your life or outlook.

5. You have the options for housemates

Housemates are many things – from being someone to split the bills with to potentially becoming some of the best friendships you may ever have.

6. Invest money on your own terms

Choosing not to buy a home – at least for the moment – opens up other possibilities for saving and investing so you can choose exactly where your hard-earned money is going.

7. Generally lower utility costs

Rental properties typically have a more compact floor plan, therefore renters can often expect to face lower utility costs – another money saver.

8. Enjoy being mortgage-free

By renting you can put away as much (or more) savings as a homeowner, but without the debt that comes along with owning a property.

9. Urban living at a cheaper price

Depending on where you want to live, trendy areas, such as major cities, and beach communities, are typically more renter friendly.

10. Decreasing property value

Property values go up and down over the years depending on the area you live, and, while this may affect homeowners in a big way, it affects renters substantially less so, if at all.

11. Excuse yourself from costly updates

As a renter, there is freedom in knowing you couldn’t remodel your home even if you wanted to, so this a way of saving money.

12. Insurance is cheaper

Renter’s insurance is significantly cheaper than the insurance home owners have to pay.

So there you have it. It’s likely you already have your own opinion about whether renting or buying is right for you now – or in the future – but hopefully this article has given you a few reasons to show that renting can be seriously advantageous for many of us.

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

Under the current lockdown rules, home moves can still take place providing everyone follows the government’s safety guidance.

This means that you you’re free to contact estate agents, view homes in person, get your home valued, and do just about everything that home-moving involves, as long as you stick to the government’s latest advice.

If you’re unsure about what all these guidelines are, we’ve summarised them for you below.

But before we get into the details, the government maintains that the three most important rules continue to be:

• Wash your hands – with soap, regularly, and for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your face – especially when in an enclosed space with people you don’t usually meet with, and where socially distancing is difficult.
• Maintain social distancing – stay two meters apart as much as possible.

Also remember that if you or anyone in your household is experiencing any flu symptoms or tested positive for coronavirus, you must pause your plans to move until you’re better. You shouldn’t view properties in person or allow people to come view yours until your period of self-isolation is over.

Viewings

Try to do a virtual viewing first, if it’s an option. It’ll reduce the number of viewings agents do, which also minimises the spread of germs.

It could also save you time, because you’ll have a better idea of whether a house is worth seeing or not.

When viewing a property in person, this should only be done by appointment. Make sure you wear a face mask, avoid touching surfaces, and wash your hands or use sanitiser before and after.

There shouldn’t be more than two households within the property at any one time, and viewings should only be arranged by appointment, so ‘open houses’ shouldn’t be happening at the moment.

If you’re selling your home and are having interested buyers come around to have a look, open all the inside doors beforehand so they don’t have to touch the door handles. You may also want to have some hand sanitiser available to them in case they forget theirs.

It’s recommended that you’re not in the property during the viewing, and that you disinfect all surfaces after.

Offers through to completion

You’re free to make or accept an offer or reserve a property as normal.

Bear in mind that in some areas the conveyancing process will be slower than usual, as some solicitors and agents may be operating at limited capacity, or are very busy working through deals that have stacked up over the last few months.

If you are about to enter into a legally binding contract, you should discuss the possible implications of one of the parties being affected by having to self-isolate or quarantine.  Ask your legal representative if they can include provisions to manage these risks in the contracts.

If someone in your household – or the other party’s – began to show any flu symptoms just as you’re about to complete, you’ll probably need to postpone things by a few weeks.

The government says we should all remain flexible in this sort of scenario, so it would be ideal if your contracts can reflect that.

Moving

Removal firms are able to carry out work, as long as all the usual procedures that ensure everyone’s safety are in place.

Try to do most of your packing yourself, if possible. And if you can, give your belongings a quick spray or wipe-down with a disinfectant before they’re handled by someone else.

When the removals’ team is around, do your best to maintain distance and wash your hands regularly.

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

Where our homes seemed bright and spacious during the summer while enjoying the sunshine outside, things can suddenly seem a whole lot more cramped when the colder weather forces us back inside, leading to the inevitable conclusion that we desperately need more space.

The idea of looking for a bigger home with more space often gives people concerns about how much it will cost to take on a larger property and whether the benefits outweigh this. While a higher cost is naturally unavoidable when beginning this house-hunting journey, it really can make a huge difference to you and your family’s lives, giving you all that little bit more room to grow.

Needing more room for family and friends to stay (and to escape them when needed)

Often one of the triggers that most often inspires the desire to move somewhere bigger is having guests come to stay for a visit, especially the in-laws. Suddenly, a home that once felt spacious seems that little bit too overcrowded when it has an extra person or two taking up space.

Wanting more space to create your individual ‘forever home’

Each of us have different priorities and visions when it comes to creating our true dream home. For some of us it’s a simple as wanting more storage at home while others dream of having a beautiful garden to enjoy or an extra bedroom. Often the trigger for wanting a bigger property is about giving yourself a fresh canvas to start creating that dream home for yourself.

Desiring flexible space at home that can suit every need

Having that extra bedroom is probably the most common motivation people have for deciding to upsize, mainly because of the flexibility it allows. The room can simply be left as a spare bedroom for guests or a new flatmate, but equally it could also become storage space, a room to workout in or even a dressing room.

Dreaming of a home that can grow alongside you and your family

Sometimes needing more room to grow isn’t always about moving to a ‘bigger’ house in the literal sense. It’s also about choosing a property that has the potential to grow and change as and when you need it to, whether that’s being able to extend and build onto the existing home or converting rooms to fill a different function as and when your life changes.

Is it time for you to upsize?

It’s likely that all of us, at some point or another, will start to have that niggling feeling that we are running out of space and it’s time to look for something new. While moving home isn’t a decision to be taken lightly, it’s always worth focussing on the positives and not just the worries and concerns we all have when taking that next step. 

While everyone’s motivations can be different, if some of these triggers sound familiar to you, it may be time to start thinking about whether now is the time to look for a place with a little more room to grow.

The following information is taken from Rightmove...

"The property market has experienced a mini boom in 2020, and the big question many of you want answered is: will prices continue to rise in 2021?

Whilst we don’t have a crystal ball, we do have the biggest home-hunting audience in the UK, as well as unique insight into future demand for property.

So armed with all that data, we’ve produced a forecast of what we think will happen to property prices in 2021.

Our main prediction is that the recent surge in average asking prices will continue into next year, as the nation’s housing needs are likely to outweigh any economic uncertainty.

Specifically, we forecast a robust 4% national average house price growth in 2021. However, we think that the price rises will be at a slower pace than this year, which finished 6.6% up on 2019.

What can we expect from the property market in 2021?
It will be a busy start to 2021. The New Year is typically a time for resolutions for the year ahead, and many will see it as an opportunity to draw a line under 2020, which may well include a fresh start in a new home for those who have not already acted.

Many of you have already done so this year, and many more are continuing to do so despite the seasonally quieter run-up to the Christmas period and the declining chance of completing a purchase before the stamp duty deadline in March.

Despite the clock ticking, around 130,000 sales were agreed over the last month, up by a remarkable 44% on the same period in 2019.

However, there remains a processing logjam and some completions are already projected to be delayed until April next year, especially where there are search delays, legal issues or complex mortgage applications.

What will happen when the stamp duty holiday ends?
It will be a slower second quarter once the stamp duty holiday is over, though even with the average price in Britain up by 6.6% this year, cheap mortgage rates that are available for some leave scope for further modest price growth – despite the loss of the tax saving.

What do the experts say?
Rightmove's resident property data expert Tim Bannister explained that it may be quieter in the market in the spring.

He said: “2021 has a lot of variables, and so is not an easy one to call, but with Rightmove’s unique leading indicators of buyer and seller behaviour we are confident that the housing market will continue to outperform general expectations next year as it did this.

“Our 2021 forecast of a 4% price rise is more conservative than the unsustainable 6.6% national average seen this year. There’s likely to be a lull in quarter two unless the stamp duty holiday is extended, but for many buyers its removal will not be make or break, though may lead them to reduce their offers to a degree to compensate for the higher tax, and indeed many sellers may be prepared to help to mitigate their buyer’s financial loss.

“First-time buyers will remain largely exempt, so in most cases will be no worse off. The maximum savings of £2,450 in Wales or £2,100 in Scotland are considerably less decisive than the £15,000 available in England for a house costing £500,000 or more, which does however only apply to a small part of the market.”

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

Traditionally, spring and autumn are the most popular times to sell your house. But this year has been anything but ordinary and with the stamp duty deadline looming, many sellers have put their house on the market already.

If you are selling your home over the coming winter months, here are some tips to help make sure your property stands out.
 

• Make your home a cosy refuge from the cold. Put the heating on ahead of viewings and, if you have one, light the fire. Check all your light bulbs, make sure the lights are on throughout the house and consider placing lamps to brighten up any dark corners. For viewings in the late afternoons and evenings, ensure outside lights are on before anyone arrives.
   
• As ever, promote your home’s best features. With strong demand for home working spaces, showcase how your property fits the bill – whether it’s a separate office or a dedicated desk for home schooling in the playroom. By all means tidy up but don’t feel the need to tidy work away, as it will show off how the space can be used.   
   
• Don’t forget the garden. Outside space is at the top of many buyers’ wish lists so ensure yours is presented in its best light, despite the gloomy winter weather. Make sure it looks cared for by raking up leaves, clearing guttering, mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs, clearing moss from paths and tidying plant pots, removing any weeds. Don’t forget to cut back plants growing around windows so they’re not blocking the light. Put away garden furniture unless it’s a dry, sunny day when you could get it out for viewings.
   
• As is the case with selling at any other time of the year, make sure your home is clean, decluttered and tidy, and finish off any odd jobs around the house that need doing. Tidy up paintwork and fix damp patches, superficial cracks or stains on ceilings or walls left by previous leaks. This sort of upkeep is typically inexpensive to sort out but can be off-putting on a viewing.
   
• First impressions count. The front door can get dusty and dirty at this time of year, especially if you live in a town. Keep it washed down and polish any brass door furniture. A collection of pots full of winter flowers by the front door is a welcoming touch and will brighten things up.

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

As we come to the end of the second lockdown, the government has announced a few changes to the three-tier system that was in place previously in England.

This means that there could be different sets of restrictions that apply depending on where you live.

You may be planning on moving home soon, or perhaps are right in the middle of a move, and would like to know if or how you can still carry on with your plans.

Read on for the latest lowdown, but the short version is that the housing market remains open across all of the UK. 

How do local tiers affect my move?

The good news is that the housing market is open and operating irrespective of what tier you’re in.

This means you’re totally free to move homes if you want to – as long as you’re not self-isolating or quarantining.

There are some guidelines for home-moving that apply everyone across the country. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most important ones to keep in mind:

Viewings

Try to do a virtual viewing first, if it’s an option. It’ll reduce the number of viewings agents do, which also minimises the spread of germs.

It could also save you time, because you’ll have a better idea of whether a house is worth seeing or not.

When viewing a property in person, make sure you wear a face mask, avoid touching surfaces, and wash your hands or use sanitiser before and after.

There shouldn’t be more than two households within the property at any one time, and viewings should only be arranged by appointment, so ‘open houses’ aren’t happening at the moment.

If you’re selling your home and are having interested buyers come around to have a look, open all the inside doors beforehand so they don’t have to touch the door handles.

It’s recommended that you’re not in the property during the viewing, and that you disinfect all surfaces after.

Offers through to completion

You’re free to make or accept an offer or reserve a property as normal.

But it’s possible that in some areas the conveyancing process will be slower than usual, as some solicitors and agents may be operating at limited capacity, or are very busy working through deals that have stacked up since earlier in the year.

If you are about to enter into a legally binding contract, you should discuss the possible implications of one of the parties being affected by having to self-isolate or quarantine.  Ask your legal representative if they can include provisions to manage these risks in the contracts.

If someone in your household – or the other party’s – began to show any flu symptoms just as you’re about to complete, you’ll probably need to postpone things by a few weeks.

The government says we should all remain flexible in this sort of scenario, so it would be ideal if your contracts can reflect that.

Moving

Removal firms are able to carry out work, as long as all the usual procedures that ensure everyone’s safety are in place.

Try to do most of your packing yourself, if possible. And if you can, give your belongings a quick spray or wipe-down with a disinfectant before they’re handled by someone else.

When the removals’ team is around, do your best to maintain distance and wash your hands regularly.

We also recommend that you book your removals company as early as possible. In many areas they are very busy and if may be a challenge for you to find one available at a short notice.

There are more details within the guidance, but the government has said that the three most important rules, irrespective of what tier you’re in, continue to be:

• Wash your hands – with soap, regularly, and for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your face – especially when in an enclosed space with people you don’t usually meet with, and where socially distancing is difficult.
• Social distancing – stay two metres apart as much as possible.

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

The government has announced that the new Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme in England, which is due to begin in April 2021, will be open to new applications from the 16th of December.

This may come as good news for first-time buyers struggling to save up for a deposit of more than 10%, at a time when mortgages with a loan-to-value higher than 85% are hard to find.

The new scheme, which is replacing the current one, is set to run for two years, until March 2023.

Here’s a quick overview of what it is, and who it’s for.

What is the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme?

Back in 2013, as a way to help more people get on to the property ladder, the government launched a scheme which makes it possible for buyers to buy a home with as little as a 5% deposit.

Close to 300,000 new homes were bought using the scheme in the seven years since its launch, and as it comes to an end, the government has created a new, and similar, one to replace it.

If you’re eligible for the scheme, and can prove you have enough saved to cover a 5% deposit, the government will provide a low-interest loan of 20% of the house price (or up to 40%, if you’re in London), and the mortgage provider will lend the remaining balance.

The government loan is interest-free for the first five years. After that, a monthly interest fee of 1.75% will apply, and will increase each year in April in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), plus 2%.

Who’s eligible for it?

The new scheme is only available if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You’re a first-time buyer. You – and your partner, if you’re married or in a civil partnership – must not own, or have previously owned, any property or residential land in the UK or abroad.
• You are purchasing a newly built home. And you’ll have to make sure you’re buying the property off an approved developer who is registered with the scheme.
• The property must be your only property and your permanent residence.
• You can demonstrate you have a minimum deposit of 5% of the property’s purchase price, and that you have the means to keep up with the monthly mortgage and Equity Loan repayments.

Is there a limit to the price of the property I can buy using the scheme?

Yes, the government has introduced price caps for each region in England, so the maximum property price will depend on where you are buying.

There are the new regional price caps:

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

The asking prices of property coming on to Rightmove increased in our last two monthly reports, but this month they’ve seen a dip of around £1,500.

Is this something for sellers to worry about? We don’t think so, as there are a few reasons for the slight drop.

Firstly, the stamp duty holiday on homes up to £500,000 is due to end on 31st March, and so sellers putting their property up for sale now are perhaps pricing a bit more realistically so that they have a better chance of a quick sale.

Secondly, asking prices usually drop at this time of year, and this month’s drop is actually lower than we’ve seen over the past few years.

The good news if you’re a new seller is that buyer demand is staying strong despite the second national lockdown in England. We saw an initial, temporary dip after the new restrictions were first announced, but demand was still up by 28% on the same days last year during the three days between the announcement and the lockdown.

The first six days of lockdown saw demand jump back up to being 49% higher than this time last year, as the market is still open and agents can still operate.

The temporary stamp duty savings that can be made vary a lot depending on the price of the property you’re buying.

We had a look andfound that demand and activity compared with October last year are strongest in the price bands and regions where buyers are set to make the biggest stamp duty savings.

For example, the number of sales being agreed for properties priced between £100,000 and £200,000 is up by only 16% on this time last year.

Whereas the number of sales being agreed in the £400,000 to £500,000 price band has more than doubled (+106%).

In terms of how quickly homes are finding a buyer, the national average is now at a record low of 49 days.

However, homes priced between £400,000 and £500,000 have seen a big drop of 23 days to secure a buyer, compared to the £100,000 to £200,000 band seeing a drop of just eight days.

Regionally, the south is performing best relative to last year for the number of sales being agreed, up by 72% in the East of England, and up by 69% in the South East.

But we now estimate that there are around 650,000 sales going through, which is up by a massive 67% on the same time in 2019, and we know there are delays in the process so communication is key for people trying to get their sale over the line.

What are the headline figures?

• Average price of property coming to market dips by 0.5% (-£1,505) from last month
• The number of sellers coming to market last month was up 35% on the same time last year
• National sales agreed are up 50% on October last year, and we estimate there’s 650,000 sales going through the buying and selling process, 67% more than at the same time in 2019
• There’s been a 106% uplift in sales agreed and a drop of 23 days in time to secure a buyer in £400,000-£500,000 band
• Buyers who were temporarily uncertain in run-up to the new lockdown in England have jumped back into action, with the first six days of the second lockdown seeing demand up by 49% on this time last year, as the housing market remains open

What do the experts say?

Our resident property data expert Tim Bannister explained that sellers are much more likely to find a buyer if their first asking price is realistic, rather than setting the bar too high to begin with and having to reduce the asking price at a later date.

He said: “Given the ongoing mini-boom, prices might have been expected to rise again this month, but instead we have a slight dip which could be a result of some new sellers pricing more realistically to have a better chance of agreeing a sale in time to benefit from the stamp duty savings on their onward purchase.

“We know from a recent Rightmove study that sellers are twice as likely to sell if they agree a sale based on the first price at which their property goes on the market, something that’s even more important now as we move towards the end of March and the end of the stamp duty holiday. 

“If your initial asking price is too high then you’re less likely to get an offer even after you’ve cut your price back to a more realistic level. Our revised prediction of a 7% annual increase in prices in 2020 looks to be on track, since the annual rate has jumped to 6.3% with a month to go.”

What are estate agents seeing?

Bruce King, Director of Cheffins in Saffron Walden, said: “Sellers are taking a realistic view on pricing in the current market. By competitively pricing their homes they’re looking to entice buyers and agree a deal ahead of the stamp duty deadline, whilst also being able to benefit from stamp duty savings on their onward purchase.

“Transaction levels have gone through the roof in comparison to the past couple of years due to the monumental backlog of people looking to move. Political uncertainty, Brexit and the first lockdown period caused many who were considering moving to sit on the fence, however the announcement of the stamp duty holiday was the trigger for many of these to bite the bullet and get on with moving house.

“This, coupled with the change in lifestyle which has been caused by the coronavirus outbreak, has created a pressure cooker in the market which has resulted in activity which couldn’t have been foreseen around a year ago. The market in the £400,000 – £500,000 bracket is certainly the most busy, mainly made up of second-steppers and upsizers.

“First-time buyers are continuing to struggle, as the level of deposit needed has increased and this, combined with a lack of job security for many, has meant that mortgage agreements have been harder to come by as banks change their lending criteria.  Demand has remained strong in lockdown 2.0. Mid-November usually brings with it the pre-Christmas slowdown in the market; however, this doesn’t appear to be the case this year as buyers still look to get a sale over the line before the stamp duty deadline.”

Andy Shepherd, CEO of Dexters, added: “London remains a huge draw for investment and city living, and we currently have over 100,000 people registered looking for a new home or investment property, up 25% compared with this time last year.

“The recent reductions in stamp duty have coincided with a busy property market and they are motivational to buyers. However a stamp duty holiday isn’t the main reason for people buying property in the capital.

“Sellers and buyers will most likely share the extra tax burden when it returns next year and although the amounts are not insignificant, we don’t expect them to impact on the market greatly in 2021, arriving as they will in the spring which is the start of the busiest time of the year for moving home. Additionally the potential roll out of a vaccine in the new year could see a greater number of overseas buyers, increasing demand in prime central London especially.”

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678

“Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the property market is a positive beacon and a sign that people are finding ways to get on with their lives.”

Lockdown part 2 will not include a second lockdown of the UK housing market.

Within hours of the announcement by the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government; Robert Jenrick confirmed that renters and homeowners will be able to move; removal firms and estate agents can operate; construction sites can and should continue; and tradespeople will be able to enter homes.

RICS also confirmed that, where appropriate, professional surveying services can continue, in a safe and secure manner, and that all activities must be done in accordance with existing government guidelines. In short, it’s business as usual!

When the property market reopened in May after the first lockdown, RICS provided detailed guidance for surveyors carrying out property inspections. I was involved in helping to draft the guidance, which was based on practical first-hand knowledge of what would be required. The full details are available here: https://www.rics.org/…/covid-19-guide—rics-physical-inspe…, but the main points require surveyors to wear appropriate PPE, maintain distance from any occupiers of the property, aim for minimal amount of contact with surfaces and sanitize equipment. In the heightened atmosphere of a second lockdown, there will clearly be greater emphasis on surveyors exercising caution, but the detail of this guidance remains.

Today’s business as usual is, of course, very different to standard trading environments we have known in the past. The property market has been turbo-charged since the easing of the first lockdown and announcement of the stamp duty holiday and it has exhibited some very particular trends.

The second lockdown is likely to entrench those trends of people looking for houses with more space, both inside and outdoors, and will most probably encourage even more people to move out of large cities and suburban areas. I recently spoke to someone from a removal firm who said they are used to providing 160 quotes a month. At the moment they are averaging more than 300 quotes a month and most of these were for people leaving London and heading to the sea and countryside.

It will be interesting to see what stance the government takes regarding the end of the stamp duty holiday for properties valued up to £500,000, which is scheduled for the end of March. There are already delays in the system, leading to speculation that many current transactions may not complete in time to beat the deadline, and the property industry has called upon the government to take action to avoid a cliff edge. This second lockdown adds weight to those calls. It may well slow activity in the market, which could help to clear the backlog being experienced across the chain from mortgage lenders through to surveyors, conveyancers and local councils carrying out searches, but will also provide added considerations and potentially more delays.

It’s business as usual as it can be at the moment. People continue to be driven to move home, motivated by personal and lifestyle reasons and there is still no sign of this activity softening. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the property market is a positive beacon and a sign that people are finding ways to get on with their lives.

If you are considering selling or letting your property in Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Epsom, Bookham or the surrounding areas, call V&H Homes on 01372 221 678