Following the statement made on 4 January by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 10) Regulations 2021 came into force on 5 January, allowing persons to only leave home for a reasonable excuse.

These rules will apply across the Scottish mainland until at least the end of January and will be kept under review. Island areas will remain in tier three, it has been said that they would be monitored carefully.

The regulations contain details of reasonable excuses including:

Moving home or undertaking activities in connection with the maintenance, purchase, sale, letting, or rental of residential property that the person owns or is otherwise responsible for.

The property market is, therefore, permitted to continue however, there is an emphasis that wherever anyone can, they should be working from home until the end of January at the very earliest.

"The Scottish government will do everything we can to speed up distribution of the vaccine. But all of us must do everything we can to slow down the spread of the virus.

We can already see - by looking at infection rates in the south of England - some of what could happen here in Scotland. To prevent that, we need to act immediately and firmly.

For Government, that means introducing tough measures - as we have done today. And for all of us, it means sticking to the rules."

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister

PROPERTYMARK GUIDANCE

As the property sector remains open, Propertymark continues to review the relevant guidance and has created overlaying best practice guidance to support you in working safely and effectively.