Housing market reopens in Wales: New rules on viewings

Landlords in Wales can now hold viewings in occupied properties, providing social distancing is maintained at all times and tenants are not self-isolating or showing symptoms of coronavirus.

It comes as the housing market in Wales reopened fully on Monday 27^th July, with new guidance issued by the Welsh Government.

The guidance is clear that initial viewings should be done virtually, and physical viewings should be by appointment only.

When the housing market partially reopened in Wales last month, house moves could take place once again, but viewings in occupied properties such as HMOs were banned.

Now, the rules have been relaxed, allowing for such viewings to take place, providing that:

• wherever possible, all residents who live in the accommodation should agree a time for the property viewing to take place
• where feasible, it should be agreed for the other residents to avoid being in shared spaces e.g. kitchens, bathrooms, living areas etc. whilst the property viewing is taking place
• if the occupants of the property have been advised to self-isolate, viewings should not take place until the period of self-isolation is complete for all of the occupants

The guidance also states moves into HMOs can not take place if any of the current tenants -or the person moving in- has symptoms of coronavirus, or if they are self-isolating.

Physical viewings of all properties should be limited to members of the same household. As well as this:

• any work in someone’s home should be carried out in line with Keep Wales Safe – at work in other people’s homes guidance
• the agent or landlord can accompany the viewing
• social distancing measures must be adhered to at all times
• no open house viewings should take place
• whilst viewings are taking place we recommend those living at the property vacate it, to minimise their contact with those not in their household who are viewing the property. If the current occupiers of the property remain on the grounds of the property, i.e. in the garden premises, they should maintain social distancing whilst other people are shown around the property
• whilst viewings are taking place where the current occupiers of the property cannot vacate the property, even for a short time, they should make efforts to minimise contact with those viewing the property, for example, by being in a different room from these individuals and maintaining social distancing at all times
• the agent or landlord must travel to the property separately from the household viewing the property; car sharing is to be avoided
• when physically viewing vacant properties you should still avoid touching surfaces, wash your hands at the earliest opportunity following the visit and bring and use your own hand sanitiser

• To read the guidance in full, click here.

Last week, the Welsh Government announced that as of Friday 24th July, landlords in Wales are now required to give tenants six-months’ notice when repossessing homes. This does not apply to grounds of anti-social behaviour, which remains at three months notice. The new rules were announced in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The NRLA expressed disappointment with the plans, and is calling for the Welsh Government to offer interest free loans to tenants to cover unpaid rent. You can read more about our key asks here, and use our tool and template letter, to write to your Member of the Senedd.