Many Victorians like Mark and Emma Nicholls, parents of 2 under 4 years, are struggling under the current Stage 4 restrictions which have tied the hands of the real estate industry.

"We sold our house a few months ago with a long settlement period and the expectation of buying soon," said Ms Nicholls.

"We support and respect the need to keep Victorians safe, but the extended restrictions make it impossible to inspect and purchase a home.

"Our sale settlement is coming up soon, and we have nowhere to go.

"As a family of 4 with a houseful of furniture, I can’t imagine how stressful and unsettling it’s going to be for everyone when we have nowhere appropriate to live.”

Ms Nicholls told WILLIAMS MEDIA she wanted to do something to help others who have been affected.

"I started a petition to try to get a few voices together of people who are affected," said Ms Nicholls.

The petition can be viewed here.

At a Glance:

• Both REIV and REIA request the reinstatment of one-on-one inspections on properties for sale and for lease
• Victoria is the second biggest residential property market with 30 per cent of Australian capital cities and 20 per cent of Australia's rental market and nearly 80,000 dwelling sales annually
• Real estate industry already has measures and protocols in place to ensure safety of all involved and has already done this during stage 3.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria is calling on Government to allow one-on-one inspections of properties to help save many Victorians from financial distress and homelessness.

“We understand that the larger gatherings at public auctions and open houses are a risk," said CEO REIV Gil King.

"That is not what we are asking for.  Private one on one inspections are absolutely safe.

“While online auctions can occur, they simply aren’t because people cannot see the house they want to buy.  

"The Victorian property market has come to a standstill with zero auctions over the weekend.

"This is about people, buyers, vendors and tenants alike.  

"Allowing private inspections means that the market will be ready for revival when the time is right.”

The REIV has the backing of its national industry body, the REIA who have written to the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, asking for a loosening of the restrictions to the real estate market.

“Victoria is critical to (economic growth in Australia) as our second biggest residential property market with 30 per cent of Australian capital cities and 20 per cent of Australia's rental market and nearly 80,000 dwelling sales annually," said REIA president, Adrian Kelly. 

“Across Australia the agency industry has been diligent in upholding public health protocols and social distancing since March 2020. 

“We are committed to working with all Australian governments to manage the risks presented by the global pandemic and have been praised in many jurisdictions for our collaborative approach."

When people sell, buy or rent a property, they are making some of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.

Often these decisions are made from necessity.

The REIV is seeing firsthand, like the Nicholls family, the financial devastation many people are facing when they cannot sell or buy their asset.

“We see everyday the impact this hard lockdown is having on our tenants and owners; we cannot expect people to lease or buy without seeing the property," said REIV president Leah Calnan

The REIV is calling on Government to allow one-on-one private inspections by appointment so that people can physically see the property before they commit to a considerable investment.

Without inspections, buying and leasing cannot proceed, keeping many people out of appropriate housing and pushing many vendors and investors to the brink.

One-on-one inspections with an agent will allow people to buy/ sell/ lease under COVID-Safe guidelines.

The REIA also calls for property access be provided to professionals, for the purposes of generating digital marketing materials, such as photos and videos, all in line with social distancing requirements.

“It is nonsensical that as an estate agent I will be permitted to take my pet pooch to the beauty parlour before I can show a prospective tenant or purchaser through a property in order for them to have a roof over their head," said Mr Kelly.

The real estate industry already has measures and protocols in place to ensure safety of all involved and has already done this during stage 3.

These measures include; only one person at a property with an agent to supervise and assist, disinfecting and cleaning before and after inspection, face coverings, no touching of surfaces during the inspection and importantly ease of contact tracing as contact details of every person inspecting the property are available with the agent.

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