Monday
New guidance was issued this morning – a Variation Agreement to cover those who have already exchanged contracts and are now unable to complete due to the Government restrictions. It is so stressful for people moving house at the best of times but in these uncertain times, it is important to be aware of all the guidance – my advice to my clients is do not move unless you absolutely have to, although if the house is empty, then it is possible to complete.
I am acting for a lady who is selling her late parents’ house. It looks as if we will be able to complete at the end of the week. I needed her to sign the Transfer deed. She needed to have it witnessed but was struggling to find a witness and just asked me if I could watch through the office window as she signed it. That was a new one!
There is another sale of an empty property where the owners are in a care home together. When I was first instructed, I thought I would visit them to sign the documents but that is not going to happen. However, it is difficult to get their documents witnessed and I am really hoping that the care home manager will relax her rules to witness the documents so that the sale can proceed.
Most conveyancers are now working from home. It is a strange new world. Does it mean that when life gets back to normal (whatever normal will be in the future), more people will work from home? it is easier now to work from home with email, case management systems and I have learnt about Zoom in the last week. Had never heard of it before, and if anyone had asked me about it, I would have just quipped that it was a song by the Fat Larry Band!
We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities – Oscar Wilde
This is written by a real high street conveyancer who wishes to remain anonymous.
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