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In somewhat of a backflip, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) has now welcomed the Victorian government’s decision to reintroduce property inspections over the weekend.
On Saturday, 18 September, the Victorian chief health officer officially eased restrictions around real estate inspections, as had been reported would occur following the reaching of the 70 per cent first jab milestone.
The announcement led to a flurry of activity online from consumers looking to arrange inspection appointments with real estate agents across Victoria.
The REIV had previously – and publicly – argued that the easing of the restrictions “won’t be enough. Far from it.”
REIV CEO Gil King has now said it was “pleasing to see commonsense ultimately prevail through the removal of the onerous restrictions”.
“The sector worked hard to inform government on how the harsh shutdown of real estate services achieved nothing positive; in fact, it caused substantial damage at all levels of property market participation and paralysed those with a desperate need to find accommodation or realise their assets,” he outlined.
“It’s now important that our members lead sellers, buyers, and renters through COVID-safe measures and help ensure the sector returns safely back to its buoyant best,” the CEO continued.
“The REIV is ready to support all members through precise execution of the new restrictions.”
Despite the positivity around the return to real estate inspections, Mr King still holds concerns around the Victorian government’s COVID roadmap in the medium term.
Having reviewed the sections of relevance to the industry, the CEO said that the REIV is now seeking more information from the government, “mainly because there is a lack of detail that’s creating substantial confusion and uncertainty”.
“The roadmap is long and ambiguous which is making it very difficult for businesses to plan and prepare,” he continued.
“The recently announced processes regarding property inspections for sale, end of lease or settlement in restricted areas remains a guessing game with many aspects and advice ignored and questions unanswered.”
The REIV has provided its own summary of the processes for property inspections in locked-down areas of Victoria, which REB has reproduced below:
Property inspections for sale, end of lease or settlement in restricted areas
• Inspections by appointment only
- Inspection times should NOT be advertised to avoid the risk of people arriving at the property without your prior knowledge. Inspections should be by private appointment only.
• One household in the property at one time
• No occupants can be present in the property at the time of the inspection
- Occupants should leave the property during an inspection for one of the permitted reasons.
• The people required to facilitate an inspection should remain outside the premises during the inspection
• A potential buyer/renter may travel outside the 10 kilometre radius to attend a pre-arranged inspection appointment
• Residents of regional Victoria are permitted to attend an inspection in a restricted area, adhering to the rules applicable in the restricted area.
• Agents must ensure detailed records are kept of all individuals attending the appointment
• Health and safety recommendations for an inspection appointment include:
- Potential buyers/renters should complete a declaration form prior to the appointment, sent electronically.
- Face masks must be worn unless an exemption applies.
- Agent should open doors and windows of the property to assist with ventilation.
- Allow time for disinfection and cleaning before and after an inspection appointment.
- Attendees should be discouraged from touching any surfaces during the inspection.
REIV members are being advised to contact the institute if they do have any queries or require assistance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.
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