New rules now in force for buying, selling, renting homes

Update: A three-day lockdown begins 6pm. Strict new rules are already in force from today for buying, selling and renting homes, which will ramp up further on July 9 as part of the Covid-19 crackdown. Here’s everything you need to know.

Scenes like these from earlier this year will now be repeated across all real estate transactions in SEQ with masks now mandatory indoors. Picture: Annette Dew.

Update: A three-day lockdown begins 6pm. Strict new rules are already in force from today for buying, selling and renting homes, which will ramp up further on July 9 as part of the Covid-19 crackdown.

The Queensland government has announced a lockdown for parts of the state including South East Queensland, Townsville (including Magnetic Island) and Palm Island – effective 6pm AEST Tuesday (June 29). More details will be given soon on whether any further restrictions will apply other than those that came into force Tuesday morning.

Strict new rules came into force 1am Tuesday for buying, selling and renting homes, which will ramp up further on July 9 as part of the Covid-19 crackdown.

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland on Monday issued an urgent notice to all members warning of strict new rules that became effective from 1am Tuesday (June 29) for 11 local government areas, holding the vast majority of the state’s population.

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Paul Curtain Auctioneer at an auction pre-restriction at 15 Blackall Tce. Social distancing will now be mandatory. Picture: Annette Dew

From 1am, anyone involved in real estate dealings in the LGAs of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Gold Coast will have to change the way they conduct and attend open homes, auctions and rental inspections. Townsville and Magnetic Island should also assume the strictest safety arrangements until an official announcement is made of any further restrictions from 6pm Tuesday.

Effective 1am June 29:

1. Everyone must wear a face mask indoors or anywhere they cannot social distance effectively. Every person must carry a mask with them.

2. No more than 30 people at private residential homes, inclusive of the agent.

3. Social distancing: The rule is for everyone to keep 1.5m apart and allow 4sq m space per person.

Only 30 people will be allowed indoors including the real estate agent. Auctions like this one earlier in Ascot will require strict social distancing. Picture: Annette Dew.

4. Good hygiene practises are mandatory: Do not touch anything during an inspection.

5. Contact information must be kept of anyone on site for contact tracing purposes for 56 days, including name, address and mobile phone number.

6. Potential buyers, tenants and staff must not to attend open homes, inspections or offices if they are feeling unwell.

Effective 1am July 9:

1. All open homes, auctions and rental inspections must use the ‘Check In QLD’ app. The REIQ has now clarified that all real estate agents should register their own QR code. “Anyone responsible for a listing/property should register for their own QR code,” according to a briefing this afternoon by REIQ head Antonia Mercorella.. “You do not need to get individual QR codes for each property.”

She said agents were not allowed to use their own apps for contact tracing post July 9. “Make sure you’re keeping really great records of open home/listing time and dates in case Queensland Health need to contact you.”

The only instance where individual QR codes would be needed for properties was with holiday rental properties.

For buyers and renters, this means that post July 9 they will have to have the ‘Check In QLD’ app downloaded to their phone and ready to use, though it’s understood that in special circumstances where this is not the case the agents will also take details down.

2. A new Covid-Safe Industry Checklist must be displayed at all auctions and open home inspections.

REIQ has been fielding queries from members in the wake of Monday’s announcement, and expects to provide further information on the Check In QLD app “over coming days to ensure everyone is well-informed by the 9 July”.

Auctioneer Sam Kelso at an outdoor auction earlier. We’re expected to see more of these occurring given strict indoor rules. Picture: Annette Dew

An REIQ statement to members said it was “best practice to offer all attendees of an open home, routine inspections or visitors to your office hand sanitiser”.

Rest of Queensland rules:

The rules for the rest of Queensland (that is, not in the 11 LGAs in South East QLD) are:

1. No more than one person per 2sq m indoors, no limits on density in outdoor spaces.

2. All social distancing and hygiene requirements remain in effect.

3. Contact information must be kept for 56 days of anyone coming on site including name, address, and mobile phone number to allow contact tracing.

According to Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young, anyone failing to comply with the health directive (without a reasonable excuse) could be subject to “100 penalty units or six months imprisonment”.

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Originally published as New rules now in force for buying, selling, renting homes