The Law Society has published revised guidance on the effect of COVID-19 on residential conveyancing transactions.
The Law Society has published revised guidance on the effect of COVID-19 on residential conveyancing transactions.
The guidance confirms that parties that have exchanged contracts and have a completion date within the next few days can proceed if there is nothing preventing them from doing so and subject to compliance with the following guidelines in respect of public health:
Properties not being occupied with cases (or suspected cases) of COVID-19.
Occupants not being in a state of isolation.
All parties abiding by social distancing requirements.
This is a very high bar and it may not be possible to comply. The guidance acknowledges that in practice there are likely to be significant difficulties in completing and offers a summary of which legal issues are likely to arise in a common conveyancing chain, and possible approaches that can be taken in relation to them.