Property market as busy as ever despite pandemic

The property market around Warrington and Cheshire is as busy as ever despite the pandemic, according to a conveyancing solicitor at a leading law firm.

Chris Illingworth, conveyancing solicitor with Watsons Solicitors says Cheshire is experiencing the same trends seen at a national level when it comes to the types of property people are looking for.

According to Zoopla, more people have been searching property websites using keywords such as ‘annexe’ ‘detached’, ‘rural’ more often than previously.

With both internal and external space becoming ever more important to people, particularly those with children having to be schooled from home, there are signs that fewer people are choosing to purchase flats and are instead opting for houses with greater outdoor space, or trading up for a new house with scope for an extra bedroom to be converted to an office.

Mortgage approval rates recently hit a 13-year high according to the Bank of England, showing that those house moves put off during 2020 and lockdown periods are now being brought forward.

And in a change compared with the first lockdown in March 2020 when sales dropped significantly, in-person viewings of houses are currently permitted.

The housing market has been further stimulated with stamp duty for homes in England sold up to £500,000 suspended until the end of March, saving buyers up to £15,000.

Chris, who has more than 20 years’ conveyancing experience in the Warrington and Cheshire area, said: “In terms of the volume of quotes that we are giving out for conveyancing work, we are as busy as ever. 

“We are definitely seeing fewer people buying flats at the minute, but then with that sort of property not making up a large part of the housing stock of Warrington, this is hard to judge as natural fluctuations can have a big effect.

“We know that mortgage approval rates are through the roof, so there is definitely demand for buying as well as remortgaging, which is all working its way through the system now.”

Watsons Solicitors, which has been established for more than 60 years, specialises in family law, employment law, wills and probate, personal injury and conveyancing.

The team of experienced solicitors each hold various accreditations and memberships of professional bodies relevant to their expertise, while the firm’s partners oversee all areas of work.

For more information, visit www.watsonssolicitors.com