Following today’s announcement by the First Minister that Wales is to go into its third lockdown from December 28th, Shadow Housing Minister and North Wales MS, Mark Isherwood, has called on the Welsh Government to provide the scientific evidence to justify the planned closure of the housing market.
Raising the matter with the Housing Minister in this afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said today’s news has come as a major blow to Estate Agents, particularly those in towns on the Wales/England border, as well as buyers and sellers who are keen to secure completion before the end of the Land Transaction Tax (LTT) holiday at the end of March 2021.
During Spokesperson’s Questions to the Minister, he said:
“If I may now finish by moving to the housing market more broadly, reflecting concern raised with me by Estate Agency businesses in Wales working in our cross-border regions, following today's announcement that Wales will go into a level 4 lockdown, the highest possible, from 28th December, with non-essential shops in Wales to close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve.
“As they state, the housing market itself is buoyant, consumers are anxious to secure completion before the end of the Land Transaction Tax holiday on 31st March, yet Estate Agents in Wales operating in the border towns will once again be disadvantaged, with competitor Agents in England being open.
“As they also state, Estate Agents are COVID-secure, and the housing market has remained open next door in England throughout lockdowns and Tier 3 restrictions there.
“So, they need to know: what scientific evidence to close the housing market does the Welsh Government have that England doesn't?”
Instead of responding to Mr. Isherwood’s question, the Minister said although her “heart goes out to anyone who is trying to move in these circumstances ….we must put the public health first.”
She added:
“I will, however, be working with the industry to try and keep as much of it open as possible. For obvious reasons, we would not want people to be viewing houses where somebody is in residence and so on, but I'm sure we will be able to work with the industry to make sure that at least some parts of the market stay open.”