NSW COVID-19 – HOW RESTRICTIONS WILL AFFECT THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY (JULY 2021)

Current as at 14 July 2021, and subject to change by the NSW Government

In support of the announcement by the NSW State Government to limit the spread of Covid, we want to assure you we are proactively working to adhere to the restrictions in place by the NSW State Government so that together, we all play a part in helping control the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The below are in effect from 6pm June 26 2021 until 11:59pm 30th July 2021.

Detailed below is how we’re working during the current COVID-19 restrictions in NSW. For more general information about the Covid-19 restrictions, visit the NSW Covid-19 website.

‘Stay at home orders’ for Greater Sydney (including Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour)

If you reside in Greater Sydney, the NSW Government has introduced strict ‘stay at home orders’. This means residents, or people whose usual workplace of work is in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason. Given this;

• Open Homes for sale and rental properties will not be conducted.
• In person auctions will not be conducted.

We will be able to assist our clients during this time by offering:

• Private Inspections to single persons only. To organise an appointment for a private inspection, please contact the selling agent, or the property manager for rental properties.
• Online Auctions. To learn more on how you can attend and participate in an online auction, please contact the selling agent.
• Property Appraisals for Sale or Rent. We are able to attend your property to conduct a property appraisal. We will minimise contact points with you and your furniture as much as possible as we discuss your property. We will observe Covid Safety practices at all times.
• Rental Ingoing/Outgoing Inspections and Pre-Settlement Inspections are able to be conducted during this time. We will observe Covid Safety practices and will minimise contact points at all times.

If you have any questions regarding how we can provide services to you during this time, please contact your local Ray White real estate agent.

Remainder of New South Wales

The below advice is for people that are not affected by the above announcement and restrictions imposed on the areas of Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 across Regional New South Wales, the NSW Government has announced Covid-19 restrictions from 6pm 26th June 2021.

People in these areas who have been in Greater Sydney on or after June 21 should follow the stay at home orders for a period of 21 days after they left these areas.

Under NSW Public Health Orders, real estate agents must have a Covid-19 safety plan for auctions to protect the health of workers and buyers.

Property Inspections 

• Home inspections for buyers and renters are permitted across Regional NSW, but are subject to a density of maximum of one person per 4sqm, which includes children.
• Attendees are required to keep 1.5m away from other buyers  and renters.
• Masks will be mandatory at all inspections.
• Covid Safe protocol including hand sanitisers and recording keeping will be implemented by the real estate agents.
• Covid safety signage will be displayed outside Open Homes.

Property Auctions

• Live auctions can take place across the Regional NSW under the one person per 4sqm rule, which includes children.
• We would encourage only people that are interested in bidding to attend.
• Masks are mandatory at auctions taking place indoors or where social distancing is not possible.
• Covid safety signage will be displayed at auctions.

COVID support packages for tenants and landlords

These new, temporary measures will support both tenants and landlords. They will help reduce community movement and the potential spread of the virus during this phase of the pandemic.

This is general information only.

60 day freeze on evictions

Tenants who can’t pay their rent in full because they are impacted by the recent COVID-19 outbreak can’t be evicted between now and 11 September 2021.

Financial support for landlords

Up to $1500 per tenancy will be available for landlords who agree to reduce rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants.

More details coming soon

The announcement has just been made and the legislation to underpin the moratorium and application processes are currently under development.  More details will be made available soon.

More COVID-19 information

Go to the NSW Government website for all detailed COVID-19 information.

Our agents are here to assist

As always our agents are easily contactable via phone, email and social media or video conferencing. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about one our properties, the local real estate market, your own home or any property related advice you may be seeking during this period.

In the meantime we hope that you and your families stay safe and healthy.

This update is subject to change and we will do our best to keep this page updated as announcements are made that impact the NSW real estate market. To stay across the latest developments visit the NSW Covid-19 website.This information is provided subject to our Terms and Conditions.