Lockdown means moving house is 'almost logistically impossible'

That's according to Morgans, the Dunfermline solicitors and estate agent based on East Port, who said the market had ground to a halt and there's no indication when it can re-start.

The Law Society of Scotland has issued specific guidance, declaring the buying and selling of flats and houses to be 'non-essential', while property transactions cannot be registered.

Caroline Potter, of Morgans, explained: "In addition to the legal challenges, house moves are now almost logistically impossible due to removal firms closing.

"Anyone involved in a house move during this time is putting themselves, their families and all professionals involved at risk.

"Unfortunately, this means that in almost every purchase and sale transaction, we must advise that settlement is postponed until the restrictions are lifted."

She added: "We appreciate that moving house is a stressful time and more so in the current circumstances.

"However, the guidance must be followed to ensure the safety of staff and clients alike. We are not an exception.

"The Law Society views the sale and purchase of houses during the current lockdown period to be unnecessary contact between and among individuals and that we are obliged, wherever possible, to postpone or defer entry dates and the settlement of sales and purchases."

Even for those who do wish to push ahead with a property deal, there's another obstacle.

Mrs Potter explained: "The Registers of Scotland has currently closed the registers to applications, meaning that most transactions cannot be completed regardless of whether the buyer and seller are happy to proceed.

"Although interim measures have been put in place to allow a very limited number of transactions to take place, the strong recommendation remains that parties should reschedule rather than settle during the closure of the application record."

She added that only cases where the failure to settle would result in “severe financial or personal consequences”, such as homelessness or severe financial hardship, should efforts be made to complete a transaction rather than postpone.

Mrs Potter concluded: "We are committed to do all that we can to progress transactions just as soon as we are able to do so.

"As it seems that lockdown will continue for some time, there is no definitive answer on when transactions will be able to be completed, but as the restrictions apply to all of us equally, we hope that common sense will prevail between solicitors, the solicitor acting for the other party and all clients involved.

"Staff and client safety is of absolute priority and so we ask all clients to have patience and bear with us as we work tirelessly from behind our laptops from home to keep working in all service areas in these unforeseen circumstances."

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