Petition launched to open real estate up in Victoria
Joel RobinsonSeptember 20, 2020
A petition has been launched by citizens in Victoria to resume the real estate industry under Stage 4 lockdown.
"The requirement to find a home is unquestionably essential", the petition advisees.
"Agents and consumers would like to see the resumption of one-on-one private appointments which would be conducted safely according to COVID safe guidelines.
"We are asking the Andrews Government, along with the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, to re-open the real estate industry with the implementation of a COVID-19 Safe Plan.
"These practices may include a record of attendees at one-on-one appointments, open house permits, limited attendance of open house, temperature checks upon arrival, no-touch inspection, social distancing and sanitising of door handles and surfaces. Contact tracing data would be lodged with the Department of Health and Human Services."
The petition says that waiting until October 26 to reopen the industry will "cripple people financially", adding that waiting until November 23 for 'COVID normal' will leave people under "significant financial pressure".
"Those who have purchased and need to sell and those who’ve been evicted due to landlords returning to occupy and cannot inspect a new rental home have been burdened by the COVID-19 restrictions.
"Over the last 6 months, sacrifices have been made by everyone over a truly testing period. We must look forward and discuss our ability to offer a safe and considered service for those who require it.
The petition, which can be found here, will close October 10.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is a property journalist based in Sydney. Joel has been writing about the residential real estate market for the last five years, specializing in market trends and the economics and finance behind buying and selling real estate.