"DOWN but not out." That's the buoyant message from one of Thurrock's leading estate agents as his industry got the green light to reopen their premises and pick up a business that has barely been ticking over during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thurrock Nub news had already arranged to speak to Glenn Kempster today (Wednesday, 13 May) to discuss how estate agencies were coping during lockdown and not being able to open their premises.

But overnight the situation changed when Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced yesterday that estate agencies could reopen as one of the government's changes to guidelines.

For Kempster's that turned a quiet Wednesday into a very busy day as sellers and buyers, landlords and tenants all picked up on the news and got in touch.

Glenn, a Thurrock man born and bred who celebrated 30 years in the business in February, says he was coping during lockdown, but not without difficulty.

"I have obviously lost a lot of money because people haven't been buying, selling or renting houses, which is our bread and butter, but we have been prudent and we have a business and so far no-one has lost their jobs," he says.

"Because of the government scheme I was able to furlough all but a couple of the staff and I have made up their wages, so hopefully they will be alright and as we go forward and the businesses picks up they will be back in work.

"Certainly the office has been buzzing today and that is a good sign.

"I think that there will be a little surge now and then obviously things may quieten down as the economy reacts to what has happened but I am hopefully that we will be alright.

"We are set now to go and look at houses that people want to self, the strange thing is I can go in but family members can't, and clearly there are things that will need to be worked out.

"For much of today I have been looking at all the health and safety guidelines and recommendations to make sure that we can operate in safety, for my staff, for the householders and for the people who are buyers of looking to move."

The impact on the private and letting housing market is yet to be assessed but Glenn believes it may not be as bad as some people anticipate.

"We have been pretty fortunate"

And he is optimistic that tenants may not suffer to the degree that some people had anticipated.

"We have been pretty fortunate," he added." We manage a lot of properties and I would say that only around ten per cent have had to either ask the landlord for a delay or to pay less. But I can say our landlords have also been generally supportive. Everyone knows this is an unprecedented situation.

"Of course things may change, and if there is a big dip in the economy and people start to lose their jobs it may be different but we will have to wait and see.

"And it will be interesting to see how people view their homes after this.

"I suspect after being locked up in them for many weeks some people will realise how much they love them and now wouldn't move in a million years – but for others, they may feel they can't wait to see the back of the place and get out.

"There are, and have been, interesting times."

You find out more about Kempsters and local property market here.

And you can check out Thurrock Nub News' property listings https://thurrock.nub.news/property