Leading employment law firm warns estate agencies to come clean, or risk arrest, over staff who were furloughed but asked to carry on working during lockdown.

Agents have dodged another COVID bullet as trade association says government sources have confirmed housing market can continue in affected areas of Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

Annual house price growth recovers to 1.5% in July, according to latest Nationwide house price index, with prices up 1.7% on June.

Figures from letting-agent comparison site Rentround show 21% increase in landlord searches for agents.

Covid-19 lockdown has caused a major transformation in society as family connections become more important.

Agents have been told masks do not have to be worn by branch staff unless there is a member of public inside, who must also be asked to wear a mask.

As masks become mandatory in shops but not offices the Guild says if negotiators can't be separated by more than two metres, then coverings should be worn.

48-branch independent says its business is getting back to normal after a 90% reduction in sales instructions during the darkest days.