Covid-19 Advice & FAQs

For added peace of mind, we thought we’d put together some advice and FAQs which might help to answer your queries or concerns at this difficult time.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU MOVE HOME

The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced in a Housing Market update that “the sales and rental markets remain open in all tiers.  All associated activities can continue as before”.  This guidance applies across the UK, including the new Tier 4 areas of England.             

Our Conveyancing team continue to work hard to help our customers move home whilst maintaining a focus on the safeguarding of our people.

We have developed a robust and agile working to adapt to the new normal, ensuring that we keep our customers moving whilst observing Government guidelines.

The latest Government guidelines for moving in England can be found here.  For latest guidelines on moving in Wales, please click on this link. We continue to monitor the guidance for moving in England and Wales, to include the enforcement of local lockdowns.

We understand that customer contact is paramount at this time. We have particular focus on increasing customer contact, to ensure you can reach us, when you need us.  You can contact us by e-mail, via our Conveyancing Connect portal and importantly by phone.

Your assigned lawyer will give you their direct dial and e-mail address. If you do not have your Lawyer’s contact details to hand, please call our legal team who are available on the following number:

Cardiff - 02920 442 100

Manchester – 0161 200 8200

For any new business queries please contact newbusiness@cwpl.com or call 0161 200 8250.

We are also working hard to ensure we contact our customers with progress updates in relation to the legal work on live transactions, ensuring you are kept informed every step of the way.

HELP US HELP YOU

With our implementation of home working, and to mitigate the risk posed by the Pandemic, we will be sending all correspondence where possible by e-mail. If you need to send correspondence to us, please send hard copies only where it is necessary – for example original signed documentation.

Should you require assistance or have any concerns, please click on the link to contact us

HEIGHTENED RISK OF FRAUD

We know fraudsters try to take advantage during times of disruption.

PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE, WHEN MAKING PAYMENTS TO OR RECEIVING FUNDS FROM US.  WE ASK YOU TO BE PARTICULARLY VIGILANT AND TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • We will NEVER amend our bank account details mid-transaction
     
  • Always confirm money transactions verbally with us, and never rely exclusively on email communication
     
  • Treat any communications from new or unrecognised sources, particularly any communications that express urgency or require you to move quickly, with extreme caution. Always check with us first.

MOVING SAFELY DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC   

Although the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced in a Housing Market update that “the sales market remains open in all tiers and that associated activities can continue as before” the Government advice on moving safely is updated from time to time. For this reason, we will be writing to you before exchange of contracts to make sure you are aware of any risks before you instruct us to commit you to a completion date. Once you have exchanged contracts, you are contractually bound to complete your sale or purchase on the agreed completion date. If you are unable to do so, whatever the reason, you will be in breach of contract (which was of course the case even before any Covid-19 complications.)

Subject to that, it is business as usual for us and we aim to get your transaction completed as quickly as you want to move. If you do experience any problems with your transaction, our experienced lawyers will be able to give you specific advice and guidance.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF EXCHANGING AND COMPLETING ON THE SAME DAY?

We are quite used to dealing with simultaneous exchanges and completions, but it does require the co-operation of all parties involved in the transaction and there are risks.

  • It will be necessary for you to make all the practical arrangements in advance of the proposed completion date, some of which could incur costs in advance even though until contracts have been exchanged, you cannot be certain that the transaction will actually take place. 
  • All parties involved, particularly in a chain of transactions, will have to make the same preparations and if any one of them cannot make those arrangements in time, or their own circumstances change, the arrangement may collapse at the last minute.

If a proposed simultaneous exchange of contracts and completion is not successfully achieved, then all the preparations would have to be repeated in time for an alternative date and you would inevitably incur additional costs (e.g. removals cancellation fee, interest payable on your new mortgage funds ordered in advance, etc.).

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your patience during this time

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