Stage 3 and Stage 4 Restrictions Update

Settlement of contracts already in place
The restrictions permit agents to conduct work required to complete settlements in restricted areas, which includes final inspections with purchasers. Agents must carry a permit to do so.

Urgent maintenance
Agents are permitted to work outside their home in order to arrange urgent maintenance where required to do so. You should exhaust all other methods for arranging repairs, such as tenant providing access, before leaving home. Agents must carry a permit to do so.

End of tenancy services
Agents may work off-site to conduct activities required to finalise a tenancy, such as conduct a final inspection in order to release a bond. Agents must carry a permit to do so.

Working within offices
No team members are currently allowed to be working from a real estate office within metropolitan Melbourne. In extreme cases, access may be possible to obtain keys needed for the purposes of giving to a buyer for settlement, new tenant or for urgent maintenance. Agents must carry a permit to do so.

Open homes (leasing and sales)
Open homes are now banned across regional Victoria. Private inspections are allowed but are strictly limited to one person (more only if they reside in the same household). The current reading of regulations suggests that buyers from metropolitan Melbourne can still attend a private inspection in regional Victoria, however, this seems out of step with other restrictions so we ask you to please keep informed if this changes.

Occupiers of the property should be consulted prior to these private inspections to determine if they are self-isolating or feeling unwell, and all agents should follow government protocols, social distancing and face covering guidelines.

Working within offices
You should only be working from the office in regional Victoria if you can’t perform your role from home. While we would all like to be back in our office with our colleagues, unfortunately, the best way to avoid the risk of contracting or spreading the virus is by staying home to help protect yourselves, your family, your colleagues and the business.