Three-tier system after lockdown 2: what will the “tougher” coronavirus measures mean for the property market?

With the national lockdown in England lifting on 2 December, we explain what impact the government's strengthened tiered system could have if you’re trying to buy or sell a home.

Boris Johnson has announced plans for England to return to a three-tier system to combat the Covid-19 pandemic once national lockdown ends on 2 December.

Speaking to Parliament via video link on Monday, Johnson said: “We are going to go back to a regional tiered approach, applying the toughest measures where Covid is most prevalent.

“And while the previous local tiers did cut the R number, they were not quite enough to reduce it below 1, so the scientific advice, I am afraid, is that our tiers need to be made tougher.”

What the different tiers mean:

Tier 1 - medium alert

Tier 2 - high alert

Tier 3 - very high alert

The good news is that under the government’s new advice, the housing market remains open for business, whether you’re buying, selling, renting or letting.

Across the board, estate agents remain open and physical property viewings are allowed, with comprehensive advice on how to follow social distancing guidelines inside homes.

And others in the housing market, such as conveyancers, tradespeople, and professional movers, can continue to operate too.

It’s worth remembering that Zoopla, like other property portals, is open 24/7. That means you can do a lot of your property search online, from exploring our news, guides and insights, and checking out the prices of recently sold properties, to registering to get instant alerts for exactly your type of property - and save as many searches as you want.

Richard Donnell, our head of research and insight, said: “We’ve already seen how the first lockdown led to people carrying out a once-in-a-lifetime re-evaluation of their homes and lifestyles, with a focus on prioritising space. And the latest restrictions will continue to support this trend – particularly for those who are more financially secure.”

Meanwhile, the stamp duty holiday is continuing to act as an incentive for buyers to complete a purchase before the tax break ends on 31 March 2021.

However, with different regions in different tiers, it’s a good idea to find out how your local housing market is operating in a Covid-19-secure way.

Tier 1 - medium alert

In tier one areas, all businesses and venues can continue to operate in a Covid-secure way, other than those that are currently closed by law, such as nightclubs.

Schools, universities and places of worship can remain open, and indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place. People must not meet in groups of more than six either indoors or outdoors, other than where a legal exemption applies, such as for a wedding or funeral

Find full details and the latest government guidance here.

What does tier 1 mean for the property market? 

Tier one essentially means business as usual for the property market, but with as many safety restrictions in place as possible.

Can I view properties in a tier 1 area?

Yes.

Property viewings can continue to happen with Covid-secure measures in place.

Such measures include the wearing of face coverings, regular hand washing, keeping doors and windows open for good ventilation during the viewing, and only two prospective buyers from the same household entering the property at a time.

Sellers and estate agents may choose to wait outside the property or decide not to be present while viewings are undertaken.

Open house viewings are not allowed at this time.

If any member of either the household whose home is being viewed, or of the household viewing the property, shows symptoms of Covid-19 or is self-isolating, then an in-person viewing should be delayed.

The government is encouraging the use of virtual viewings before visiting properties in person in order to minimise public health risks.

Are estate agents in tier 1 open?

Yes.

However, the toughened tier system means more people are being encouraged to work from home where possible under tier one.

This might mean some agents may choose to work from home, continuing to work digitally and remaining open at branch-level by appointment only.

Can I move house under tier 1?

Yes.

Estate and lettings agents, removers, valuers and people in sales and lettings offices and show homes can continue to work under the tiered system as they did during the most recent national lockdown.

Meeting with people outside your household or bubble “to facilitate moving home” is listed as one of the government’s exemptions from gatherings limits across all tiers.

Advice from the government encourages everyone involved in a home move to be as flexible as possible and to be prepared to delay moves if, for example, one of those involved becomes ill with Covid-19 or has to self-isolate.

Which English regions are in tier 1?

South east

• Isle of Wight

South west

• Cornwall
• Isles of Scilly

Tier 2 - high alert

Tier two is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of Covid-19 infections.

Anyone living in a tier two area must follow all of the tier one rules, and also not meet with anybody outside of their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, including their home or a public building.

Meetings of up to six people from outside the same household or bubble can take place outside in public spaces and gardens.

Find full details and the latest government guidance here.

What does tier 2 mean for the property market? 

Under tier two, the majority of businesses can continue to operate as usual and this includes estate agents and other services related to moving house, such as conveyancers and removers.

Can I view properties in a tier 2 area?

Yes.

In-person property viewings can still take place, with appropriate precautions.

The same advice applies to tier two property viewings as it does in tier one.

This means property viewings can continue to take place with Covid-secure measures in place.

Such measures include the wearing of face coverings, regular hand washing, keeping doors and windows open for good ventilation during the viewing, and only two prospective buyers from the same household entering the property at a time. Sellers and the estate agent may choose to wait outside the property or decide not to be present while viewings are undertaken.

Open house viewings are not allowed at this time.

The government is encouraging the use of virtual viewings before visiting properties in person to minimise public health risks, and socially distant viewings.

If any member of either the household whose home is being viewed, or of the household viewing, shows symptoms of Covid-19 or is self-isolating, then in-person viewing should be delayed.

For the latest government advice in full check here.

Are estate agents in tier 2 open?

Yes.

However, as with tier one, the toughened tier system means more people are being encouraged to work from home where possible.

This might mean some agents choose to work from home, continuing to work digitally and opening their branch by appointment only.

Can I move house under tier 2?

Yes.

The government has been clear that the property market is staying open even as restrictions are toughened, and during the second national lockdown moving services continued with Covid-secure measures in place.

This means estate and lettings agents, removals, valuers and people in sales and lettings offices and show homes can to continue working under the tiered system.

Meeting with people outside your household or bubble “to facilitate moving home” is listed as one of the government’s exemptions from gatherings limits across all tiers.

Advice from the government encourages everyone involved in a home move to be as flexible as possible and to be prepared to delay moves, for example if one of those involved becomes ill with Covid-19 or has to self-isolate.

Which English regions are in tier 2?

North west

• Cumbria
• Liverpool City Region
• Warrington and Cheshire

Yorkshire

• York
• North Yorkshire

West Midlands

• Worcestershire
• Herefordshire
• Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

East Midlands

• Rutland
• Northamptonshire

East of England

• Suffolk
• Hertfordshire
• Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough
• Norfolk
• Essex, Thurrock and Southend on Sea
• Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes

London

• all 32 boroughs plus the City of London

South east

• East Sussex
• West Sussex
• Brighton and Hove
• Surrey
• Reading
• Wokingham
• Bracknell Forest
• Windsor and Maidenhead
• West Berkshire
• Hampshire (except the Isle of Wight), Portsmouth and Southampton
• Buckinghamshire
• Oxfordshire

South west

• South Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Mendip and Sedgemoor
• Bath and North East Somerset
• Dorset
• Bournemouth
• Christchurch
• Poole
• Gloucestershire
• Wiltshire and Swindon
• Devon

Tier 3 - very high alert

Tier three is reserved for areas in England where transmission rates of Covid-19 are causing the greatest concern.

People living in these areas are not allowed to meet anybody outside of their household or support bubble in an indoor or outdoor setting, apart from open public spaces such as parks and beaches, where the rule of six will still apply.

The public are also advised not to travel in and out of these areas, other than for work, education, accessing youth services or caring responsibilities.

What does tier 3 mean for the property market?

The government has been clear that the property market is staying open even as restrictions are toughened, and during the latest national lockdown moving services continued but with Covid-secure measures in place.

However, the government has called for flexibility among movers and sellers under the tightest coronavirus measures, should plans have to change due to any of the households involved contracting or being exposed to Covid-19.

Can I view properties in a tier 3 area?

Yes.

In-person viewings are still allowed under the highest Covid-19 tier.

However, some estate agents, sellers and buyers may decide to postpone viewings  while restrictions are in place.

That said, renewed lockdown measures may also heighten people’s desire to move if they are unhappy with their current accommodation.

Virtual viewings can continue to take place and are likely to be offered by estate agents in the first instance so that any in-person viewings are given to the most interested prospective buyers.

As in the lower tiers, Covid-secure measures should be firmly in place during in-person viewings.

Such measures include the wearing of face coverings, regular hand washing, keeping doors and windows open for good ventilation during the viewing, and only two prospective buyers from the same household entering the property at a time. Sellers and the estate agent may choose to wait outside the property or decide not to be present while viewings are undertaken.

Open house viewings are not allowed under tier three or any of the lower tiers.

If any member of either the household whose home is being viewed, or the household viewing, shows symptoms of Covid-19 or is self-isolating, then an in-person viewing should be delayed.

Are estate agents in tier 3 open?

Yes.

However, as with tiers one and two, the toughened tier system means people are being encouraged to work from home when possible.

This might mean some agents choose to work from home, continuing to work digitally and remaining open at branch-level by appointment only.

Can I move house under tier 3?

Yes.

Estate and lettings agents, removals, valuers and people in sales and lettings offices and show homes can to continue working under the tiered system.

Meeting with people outside your household or bubble “to facilitate moving home” is listed as one of the government’s exemptions from gatherings limits across all tiers.

Which English regions are in tier 3?

North east

• Hartlepool
• Middlesbrough
• Stockton-on-Tees
• Redcar and Cleveland
• Darlington
• Sunderland
• South Tyneside
• Gateshead
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• North Tyneside
• County Durham
• Northumberland

North west

• Greater Manchester
• Lancashire
• Blackpool
• Blackburn with Darwen

Yorkshire and The Humber

• The Humber
• West Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire

West Midlands

• Birmingham and Black Country
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
• Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull

East Midlands

• Derby and Derbyshire
• Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
• Leicester and Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire

South east

• Slough (remainder of Berkshire is tier 2: High alert)
• Kent and Medway

South west

• Bristol
• South Gloucestershire
• North Somerset.

What about Scotland?

Scotland’s government has imposed a five-level system of coronavirus measures.

Currently, there are 11 areas in west and central Scotland now in the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions, which go from zero (lowest) to four (very high risk).

Can I view properties in-person in Scotland?

Yes.

The Scottish government’s guidance on property viewings emphasises a virtual-first approach.

This means in-person property viewings are permitted, but it is recommended that you view properties virtually in the first instance if possible and only proceed to a physical viewing if you are interested in offering on the property.

Can I move house in Scotland?

Yes.

In Scotland, people can continue to move under all five levels, and to and from areas in different levels.

However, the government suggests people may wish to consider whether they can postpone a move and related activities in areas subject to level four.

You can read the latest guidance from the Scottish government on moving home here.

What about Wales?

Wales recently emerged from a four-week “firebreak lockdown” and no tier-based Covid-19 restrictions are currently in place.

This means the property market can continue to operate within coronavirus safety measures.

People living in Wales may:

• move home
• market a residential property for sale or rent and prepare a residential property for persons to move into
• visit estate or letting agents, developer sales offices or show homes for the purposes of the purchase, sale, letting or rental of residential property
• view a residential property.

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by Blackstones

The 20 UK locations where homes sell the fastest

Where do homes sell like hot cakes? Our latest research has the answer and also shows that three-bedroom houses sell faster than any other property type.

We’ve analysed our portal data to find the locations in Britain where homes sell most quickly. Our research identified 20 regions where properties sell in around 30 days or faster.

Falkirk in Scotland is the UK’s fastest-moving location with listings there taking an average of just 20 days to go from “for sale” to “sold subject to contract”.

Bridgend, Wales and Waltham Forest, East London were the joint second speediest markets, with offers being accepted on homes in both locations just 24 days after they were first listed.

The Midlands dominated our top 20, accounting for eight of the locations where homes sell in the shortest time frame.

By contrast, the South of England hardly featured on the list, with only three regions (just one of which was in London) earning a spot among the top 20.

What’s driving fast sales?

Pent up demand following the first Covid-19 lockdown has led to a surge in the UK property sales pipeline which is 50% bigger than this time last year

Tom Parker, our consumer spokesperson, said: “With a potential saving of up to £15,000, the rush from buyers to benefit from the stamp duty holiday is very much on.

“Of course there is still a significant amount of work to be done once a property is under offer, but properties being snapped up quickly by eager buyers is the first hurdle to leap if you want to make that saving.

“We’d urge buyers to act quickly and decisively in their hunt for a perfect property. Any delay can not only mean you miss out on your dream home but could hit you in the pocket too.”

UK locations where homes sell the fastest

Falkirk, Waltham Forest and Bridgend are the three fastest-moving locations.

The top five is completed by Liverpool and Salford, Greater Manchester where homes take an average of 25 days and 26 days to sell respectively.

Sheffield is the fastest-moving market in Yorkshire and the Humber, with homes typically listed for 27 days before they are sold.

* Days on the market rounded to the nearest whole number. Calculated as a rolling six months average from 1st May to 31st October.

Midlands dominates with majority of speediest markets

Markets in the East and West Midlands featured heavily on the list, particularly towns within a 40-minute drive of Birmingham.

Redditch, Worcestershire came in seventh place, with properties there taking an average of just 27 days to sell, followed by Bromsgrove and Walsall, both in the West Midlands, and Stoke-on-Trent in the East Midlands all at 28 days.

Also in the East Midlands, properties in Nottingham spent an average 30 days on the market before finding a buyer, while those in Gedling and Mansfield are on the market for an average of 31 days each.

The fastest-selling borough in London

Only one London borough features in our list of fastest-moving markets, Waltham Forest in East London.

Properties in this borough, which spans Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Highams Park and Chingford, typically sell in 24 days.

In line with London house prices, the fastest moving price band here is £400,000-£450,000, noticeably higher than the other fastest-moving markets in our top 20.

What about the rest of the South?

The South of England hardly features on our list of fastest-moving markets with only two regions outside London ranking.

Bristol is the only location in the South West to feature. It is in 12th place with properties taking an average of 29 days to sell. A two-bedroom terraced house is the fastest moving property type, while when it comes to price band, the speediest is £150,000-£200,000.

Meanwhile, Dartford in Kent is the only South East location to feature (apart from Waltham Forest). Dartford is a firm favourite with London commuters and comes in joint 13th place with average properties taking 30 days to sell. A three-bed terraced house is the fastest moving property type in this region and the fastest moving price band here is higher, coming in at a £250,000-£300,000

What are the fastest-selling property types?

Three-bedroom semi-detached homes were the quickest to sell in 12 of the top 20 fastest-moving markets, followed by two-bedroom terraced homes in five locations and one-bedroom flats in two places.

Cheaper properties also found buyers more quickly, with homes in the £100,000 to £150,000 price bracket leading the way in 11 markets, followed by those in the £150,000 to £200,000 range in five markets.

Waltham Forest and Dartford had the highest price bands for fast sales, followed by Trafford at £200,000 to £250,000.

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by Blackstones

Revealed: the top 10 search terms most used by homehunters in 2020

Our research reveals gardens and garages topped our "Top 10 most-searched terms" lists this year, as coronavirus impacted on what buyers and renters want from their homes.

A garden is what buyers and renters want most in 2020, perhaps reflecting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns.

Analysis of our property search tool over the past 12 months showed that “garden” was the top feature both buyers and renters were looking for in their new home this year.

“Detached”, “rural” and “secluded” all also made it into the top 10 keywords prospective buyers entered into our search tool in 2020.

Meanwhile, renters were keen to find a property with a “balcony” (fourth on the list), and many were up for finding a rental in the countryside with “rural” featuring in ninth place.

Britons’ preoccupation with their cars was also reflected in our top 10 search terms, with “garage” and “parking” making it into the top three for both buyers and renters.

What are buyers looking for?

The most-searched-for terms give sellers an interesting insight into what potential buyers are really looking for.

“Garden” was the most-searched-for term among those looking to purchase a home, followed by “garage” and “parking”.

“Detached”, “rural” and “secluded” occupied the next three slots, as people looked for properties that would help them to social distance, while balcony took eighth place, as homehunters prioritised having access to outdoor space.

The once unfashionable “bungalow” made it into the top 10 most-searched-for terms for the second year running, coming in seventh place.

An “annexe” was the ninth most-searched-for property feature, possibly reflecting a desire among homehunters to have elderly parents move in with them as a result of the pandemic.

“Freehold” completed the top 10.

What are renters looking for?

For renters, “garden” also took the top spot, while “balcony” was in fourth place and “rural” came ninth.

“Parking” was the second-most-important thing renters looked for in a potential home, followed by a “garage”. “Pets” completed the top five, perhaps reflecting the recent surge in renters who want to find pet-friendly homes.

Having the right flooring was also a priority for renters, as was rent that included household bills and having an ensuite bathroom.

The top 10 also reflected the demand for rental properties among those at university, with “student” the tenth most-searched-for term.

Why is this happening?

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a once in a lifetime reassessment of what people want from their homes.

Lockdowns and social distancing have caused people to put a high premium on having access to outdoor space.

Also, with more of us working from home, living in cities or close to good transport links has become less important. As a result, many homehunters are looking towards more rural locations.

This reassessment, combined with the government’s stamp duty holiday, has triggered a mini-housing market boom, with the sales pipeline currently 50% bigger than it was this time last year.

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Tenants’ charter: social housing residents to be given greater voice to demand safety standards from landlords

Reforms announced by the government will make social housing landlords more accountable and speed up the complaints procedure.

Social housing is set to be reformed to make landlords more accountable and to give tenants a greater voice, according to proposals published by the government.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans for a new charter setting out the standards tenants in the sector can demand from their landlords.

“We’re levelling up this country, making it fairer for everyone – and that includes making sure social housing tenants are treated with the respect they deserve,” he wrote in the Social Housing White Paper 2020.

Such standards include living in a property that meets safety standards and is in good repair, and giving tenants the chance to have their voice heard through regular meetings and scrutiny panels with landlords.

In a bid to increase accountability, tenants will also have a right to know how their landlord is performing against a set of tenant satisfaction measures in areas such as repairs, complaints and safety, as well as how money is being spent.

The government also announced plans to speed up the complaints procedure for residents and to strengthen the Regulator of Social Housing and Housing Ombudsman to help drive the cultural change required and ensure complaints are dealt with promptly and fairly.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I want to see social housing tenants empowered by a regulatory regime and a culture of transparency, accountability, decency and service befitting of the best intentions and deep roots of social housing in this country.”

Why is this happening?

The plans are in response to a Conservative party manifesto pledge to provide social housing tenants with greater redress, better regulation and to improve the quality of their homes.

The government is also delivering on a promise it made to the Grenfell community that the voice of tenants would never go unheard again.

A total of 72 people died due to a fire at the Grenfell Tower block in west London in June 2017. The tragedy prompted the government to have a "fundamental rethink" on social housing.

Who does it affect?

Around 4m people live in social housing in England but the safety standards for the sector fall below those required for the private rental sector.

In the past, social housing tenants have also had to wait for several months in order to get complaints resolved, while the regulator has not conducted proactive investigations or inspections but only acted once things have gone wrong.

The new measures should not only increase the safety of social housing, but should also give tenants more opportunities to provide input on the state of their accommodation.

What’s the background?

The government is launching a consultation on making it mandatory to have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all rental homes to bring the social housing sector in line with the private rental one.

The government also reaffirmed its commitment to helping social tenants who want to become homeowners to do so through the Right to Buy initiative and its new Right to Shared Ownership scheme for housing association tenants in new grant-funded homes.

Top three takeaways

• Social housing is set to be reformed with a new charter to make landlords more accountable and to give tenants a greater voice

• Under the new standards information will be published showing how landlords are performing in areas such as repairs, complaints and safety to increase accountability

• The government also announced plans to speed up the complaints procedure for residents and strengthen the Regulator of Social Housing and Housing Ombudsman.

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by Blackstones