Update: Tuesday, 12.30pm
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A state government spokesperson has clarified the regulations regarding property inspections.
"Inspections of properties are allowed, as long as it's through a private appointment," the spokesperson said.
An inspection is only permitted where an estate agent and one other person, the person for whom the inspection is organised by private appointment, are present at the premises.
An inspection where an estate agent, the prospective tenant/purchaser and a resident of the premises are all present is not permitted.
In this case, the resident of the premises will have to leave the premises, and should do so for a reason permitted under the Stay At Home Directive.
This includes to obtain necessary goods or services, for care and other compassionate reasons, to attend work or education or to exercise.
Monday, 4pm
The state government has reversed its decision to ban property inspections following industry backlash.
Tweed Sutherland First National director Matt Leonard says the reversal makes sense.
"In the last four or five days, there have been a lot of grey areas," Mr Leonard said.
"It was very positive to get news from Consumer Affairs Victoria stating the guidelines in which inspections can occur at properties."
Last Thursday evening, private inspections of occupied properties were banned because Consumer Affairs Victoria said it "will not be possible for agents, prospective owners or tenants, and existing tenants to each comply with their legal requirements" to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
On Monday morning, Consumer Affairs Victoria's website said that "private inspections of an occupied/tenanted residential property are permitted to be organised."
Mr Leonard says the impact of last week's changes wasn't noticeable across the Easter weekend, which is traditionally a quiet one for real estate, but says if the new guidelines were longstanding, the industry would have suffered.
"If we were to lose the ability to physically show a client through a property on a one-on-one basis then that would have had major implications for the real estate industry and the entire community," he said.
In late March, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that property auctions were to cease and property inspections would be permitted via appointment only.
Real Estate Institute Victoria president Leah Calnan says the government's changed stance is fantastic news for the real estate industry.
"The challenge for most members was that the announcement on Thursday came out of the blue," Ms Calnan said.
"The Consumer Affairs website was updated with very little consultation with the industry.
Ms Calnan said REIV is happy to have worked with Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz and the Premier's office in coming to a practical solution to enable the industry to operate.
"It shows the strong working relationship the REIV has with the Premier's office and the minister," Ms Calnan said.
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