With lockdown measures easing substantially from the 19th of July, here at Orchards, there are some regulations that will remain, and some that we have phased out as the world reopens.
During 2020, and into 2021, our staff were set up to work from home. We can confirm that the team are now office-based again, poised and ready to greet you (socially distanced of course).
Regarding masks, these are to persist for our staff, although we are happy for vendors to use their discretion when undertaking viewings themselves. When we are undertaking the viewings ourselves, we no longer require owners to leave the property to reduce how many people are in attendance.
We do, however, kindly request that anyone showing symptoms does not attend the office, or any viewings, and isolates as per the Government’s guidance.
We continue to present video tours, offering buyers as much information as possible about a property. As well as online viewing and offer forms to make the method quick and easy. Video call valuations carry on too, providing flexibility and convenience to our potential vendors.
The maintenance, lettings, and sales portals introduced in early 2021 extend up-to-date information and statistics to clients, including landlords, sellers, tenants, and purchasers alike.
For our tenants, self-service inspections are still an option, but our inspectors are now able to visit. Also staying are digitised application forms, instant online debit card holding fees, online payments, and e-signatures – keeping the process of letting a property safe, and convenient.
Digital Right to Rent will continue, yet there are some minor changes due to Brexit. From the 1st of July, applicants from EEA countries (except Ireland) can no longer use their passport or national ID card to prove Right to Rent status in England. Instead, they will need to demonstrate their status by either:
• Using the Home Office online service to confirm their Settled/Pre-Settled status. This webpage will generate a ‘sharecode’, allowing Right to Rent status to be confirmed via this webpage.
• Providing their residence card, visa, or Home Office application number, if they have applied for/confirmed residency in this way.
• Supplying a copy of their passport, and evidence of travel to the UK (airline ticket/boarding pass, etc.) if they have arrived to the UK within the last six months, did not require a visa, and do not have Settled/Pre-Settled status.
For more information about any of the changes to Right to Rent, or how we can help you with a safe move in Bedfordshire, contact us on 01525 40 22 66 or email ampthill@orchards.co.uk.
