COVID-19 is slowly gripping the residential housing market. We’re working hard to maintain full service levels to keep things going wherever possible and have a contingency plan in the likely event that our branches must temporarily close.

For the time being, we are:

• Continuing with all viewings – where agreed with the landlord, owner, tenant, viewer and estate agent. Care is being taken to avoid those with symptoms and maintain a high level of hygiene by minimising contact with doors handles, ensuring space is maintained between bodies and urging all parties to regularly wash their hands.
• Operating a locked door policy on our branches and limiting visitors to protect those staff who are continuing to work, thus leaving them healthy to take care of you and your property.
• We have successfully trialled all staff working from home, should that become necessary. Our systems are all online, so the impact on our work is minimal. All of our calls are routed via PCs and answerphone messages are immediately forwarded by email so can be dealt with without delay. Progressing agreed sales in similarity is able to be undertaken remotely.
• We’re working on a case-by-case basis to support tenants who are due to move but have been affected by self-isolation or travel restrictions. Across the industry, solicitors are hesitant to have any period of time between exchange and completion, for fear of a complete lock down. We’ll continue to assess each move on its own merits and where necessary, if agreed by both landlord and tenant, rental contracts will be extended.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time, we assure you that we will do everything to minimise the disruption to you.

Mike Cleary

Director, Sheldon Bosley Knight