Coronavirus real estate: travelling to inspect vacant homes still OK
Restrictions around physically inspecting properties in the age of COVID-19 have become more stringent in Victoria, but the state government and police have now cleared up a big grey area.
People travelling to privately inspect homes are wrongly being pulled over by police and turned around, Victoria’s real estate industry says, despite the activity being given the green light.
All physical inspections of occupied properties have now been banned in an effort to curb the coronavirus spread, and can only be conducted virtually.
But inspecting vacant properties — including for settlement purposes — is still allowed by appointment, provided prospective buyers and tenants comply with strict social distancing and hygiene measures.
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The Victorian Government confirmed driving to permitted inspections was sanctioned, as long as those doing so followed the state’s travel guidelines, including avoiding carrying multiple passengers and passengers who aren’t in your household.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said this had been a grey area for many property market participants. A real estate agent had even contacted the REIV on Thursday to report a purchaser being pulled over while travelling to Bonnie Doon to complete a pre-settlement inspection of a property they’d be moving into.
“The agent phoned us (to say) the police pulled them over, turned them around and, I believe, fined them,” she said.
Leading Senior Constable Melissa Seach said Victoria Police was “aware this activity is permitted under the Chief Health Officer’s directives”.
She was unable to confirm if that particular infringement notice was issued, but noted anyone wanting to dispute a notice could apply to have the matter reviewed and ultimately elect to have it heard in court, if required.
Master Builders Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson said she’d also been informed of a property owner being pulled over by police and sent home last weekend, while travelling to a display home.
“They’ve got a block of land and need to build a house on it, so they made an appointment with a builder to view the display home privately. But they were told to turn back home,” Ms Casson said.
“Delay in committing to a builder could have serious financial repercussion for clients, (who are) still permitted to attend private appointments with their builders and consultants to make decisions, such as colours and fit-out details, if they adhere to social distancing and hygiene measures.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison initially suspended open for inspections late last month.
The Victorian Government then escalated this on Good Friday eve to also outlaw private inspections of occupied properties — a move slammed by the real estate industry as “overkill”.
Ms Calnan said the move would be devastating for Victoria's property industry, economy and the mental health of agents.
“People want to see what they’re buying,” she said.
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Originally published as Coronavirus real estate: travelling to inspect vacant homes still OK