Victoria Ban on Inspections in Occupied Homes Lifted

Victoria has reversed its decision to ban property inspections in occupied homes following industry backlash amid rapidly changing coronavirus restrictions.

The change of rules comes only days after the real estate industry was shocked by the new state government rules, announced late Thursday evening and made prior to the Easter weekend, banning private inspections of occupied properties.

The Consumer Affairs Victoria office updated its website on Monday, regarding the latest regulations on property inspections.

“Private inspections of an occupied, tenanted residential property are permitted to be organsied,” it now reads.

President of the Real Estate Institute of Victora Leah Calnan said the association was pleased about the change.

“Agents can conduct private inspections of occupied premises as long as they’re following the hygiene, social distancing and one-on-one rules, so effectively going back to everything that they were doing prior to 5:30pm last Thursday,” she said.

The Consumer Affairs office informed agents late on Thursday night that they could “no longer conduct public or in-person private inspections of tenanted or occupied properties”.

Consumer Affairs Victoria, the regulator for the industry, had said private inspections of occupied properties were banned as “it would not be possible for agents, prospective owners or tenants, and existing tenants to each comply with their legal requirements”, in relation to social distancing measures required to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The ban was based on advice from the chief health officer of Victoria.

Prime minister Scott Morrison confirmed late last month that on site real estate auctions and public open home inspections were banned as of 25 March in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 following restrictions put in place from the national cabinet.

Related: ‘Make Use of Technology’: Auctions, Open Homes in Coronavirus Shut Down