Government announces reopening of housing market

By Gareth Jones, Newgate Public Affairs

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced government plans to reopen the housing market, by removing the freeze on home moving, as long as it could be done safely. Jenrick said that the Government wanted the housing market and construction industry to start up again with “immediate effect” and said that estate agent offices, removal companies, and associated professions could begin working again.

He stressed that these industries should still implement changes to limit exposure to and spread of coronavirus and adhere to new government guidance (published here). Jenrick noted that this would help unblock 450,000 transactions that were paused since March and he stressed the government was committed to do everything to protect that market, given its importance for the British economy. On construction, the government would bring in new measures to ensure safe housebuilding, with flexible working hours and working hours extensions to make social distancing easier.

In addition, Jenrick provided an update for how the planning system should be operating during the COVID-19 emergency, saying that the planning system should increase its use of digital technology, virtual events and digital documentation.

Elsewhere today, Boris Johnson announced an additional £600 million funding for care homes, as part of an ‘infection control fund’. This came after the Prime Minister was challenged by Labour Leader Keir Starmer at Prime Ministers Questions on inadequate government advice on care home infections and unexplained deaths in them.