NI council says it is not ‘gung-ho’ it becomes first to allow house viewings

The leader of the DUP grouping on Mid and East Antrim Council has insisted the council is not taking a “gung-ho” approach to ending the coronavirus lockdown.

Councillor Gregg McKeen was speaking after his council became the first in Northern Ireland to permit estate agents to undertake house viewings.

This is just weeks after the council became the first in Northern Ireland to re-open recycling centres — before it was given the formal go-ahead to do so from Stormont.

The latest step means house viewings can now go ahead under certain strict conditions — the properties must be vacant, and the viewings must be held with public health measures in place.

Mr McKeen told the News Letter: “It’s not carte blanche — it’s around properties that might be a new build or properties that have been unoccupied.

“It’s a common sense approach to try and get things moving. We’re encouraging builders and developers and so on to get back to work - but are they going to get the properties done and built but then they can’t sell them?

“This is a very low risk element of visiting a property that has nobody in it to try and help kickstart the economy.”

He continued: “I don’t believe we have taken a gung-ho approach at all. I believe these are sensible measures.”

TUV councillor Timothy Gaston also supported the move.

“We need to learn to live with this virus,” he said.

“There are safety measures in place and this is a step forward to allow people to get back to work.”

A council spokesperson told the News Letter: “It was agreed that in order to support potential investors coming into the area that viewings be permitted under very strict guidelines and overseen by council’s enforcement officers.”