Real estate inspections and in-person auctions will once again be permitted in regional Victoria when the lockdown in that area ends tomorrow evening.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both inspections and auctions will be subject to a strict 10 person limit, plus the agent in the case of an inspection.
The changes were announced as part of the lifting of the lockdown in regional areas, set to be enacted at 11:59pm tomorrow.
The changes apply in all areas outside of metropolitan Melbourne and Greater Shepparton.
Auctions and private inspections were previously banned throughout the state during the current lockdown.
Melbourne residents are still restricted from leaving the city to inspect or bid on a property under the new rules.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said that the changes were "welcome relief" for regional agents.
"They have been in desperate need to start showing properties," she said.
She added that she had been hearing countless stories of "hardship" from renters and buyers, as well as vendors, who don't feel comfortable inspecting or listing property virtually.
She urged the Victorian government to consider allowing one-on-one inspections of all properties, as is permitted in NSW during lockdown, in areas still subject to harsher restrictions.
"It's always surprising that government seems to miss the one-on-one inspections. We go from no inspections straight to 10 people at inspections," Ms Calnan said.
Premier Daniel Andrew's announced last week that one-on-one inspections of vacant properties in Melbourne would commence when the state reached a 70 per cent first-dose vaccine target, projected for September 23.
"It needs to be all properties," Ms Calnan said.