Victoria reverses ban on open inspections of occupied properties

The decision to ban inspections of occupied properties was overturned after just four days.

The initial decision to ban open homes of occupied properties in Victoria was passed late last Thursday ahead of the Good Friday long weekend. Picture: Britta Campion

Victoria’s Department of Consumer Affairs has overturned its decision to ban open inspections of occupied properties after uproar from the property industry that claimed it would stall the local market.

After discussions with the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, the department and the Premier's Office, the decision to ban inspections of occupied properties was reversed after just four days.

REIV president Leah Calnan welcomed the decision and called for clearer communications in the future.

“Once we were able to explain the practical processes that agents had in place in order to ensure the occupier, the agent and the consumer were being protected, I think that made a lot more sense,” Ms Calnan said.

“If there was some clearer communication with the team at Consumer Affairs, we probably would have prevented the angst and unhappiness the industry experienced over those four days.”

The initial decision to ban open homes of occupied properties was passed late last Thursday ahead of the Good Friday long weekend to little fanfare on the direction of the state’s chief medical officer. Real estate leaders slammed the decision which was made with little input from the industry.

Private inspections of occupied properties can now go ahead with two people while following strict hygiene practices. Social distancing restrictions put in place by the federal government to ban general open homes and public auctions are still in place.