Open homes where multiple people view a property are unfortunately not allowed during the Alert Level 3 but the individual rental viewings can now be organised with necessary precautions developed by the Real Estate Authority to minimise exposure to, and the spread of, COVID-19.
Important information about viewings:
It is recommended where possible to use virtual methods of inspections instead of visiting the property. The expectation is that viewings should be carried out remotely in most cases.
If the property is currently tenanted, landlords should seek approval from the tenants and viewings can only occur when the tenants are not on the property.
Viewings should be limited to two per day to minimise the impact on the tenants and to allow time to clean all surfaces between viewings.
You are also required to display a NZ COVID Tracer app QR code at your property where you are holding private viewings. Follow instructions on the Ministry of Health website on how to create your own QR code posters.
What you should do BEFORE organising a viewing:
As you're only allowed two in-person viewings per day, select people who are suitable and serious about the rental for the viewings.
Get permission from your current tenants to schedule the viewing.
Arrange for the time when they're not at the property to conduct it.
Pre-register prospective tenants for private viewings. They must supply full contact details for possible COVID-19 contact tracing.
Ask everyone attending a viewing as well tenants currently living at the property if they have been in contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case or feel unwell.
Ask for no more than two people (who must be from the same extended bubble) to attend the viewing.
Remember that prospective tenants cannot travel between regions with different Alert Levels for a private viewing.
- Spread out your viewings throughout the day to limit the possibility of people crossing paths and crowding at the property.
If you're planning to use professional services (for example, photographers, videographers or home stagers), you still must comply with the health requirements. If the property is tenanted, the tenants' approval is required. It is recommended that the tenants are not present when the professionals visit.
What you should do DURING a viewing:
Ask tenants to check-in using a NZ COVID Tracer app
Ask people not to touch things. Where necessary, open kitchen cupboards, laundry doors before the viewing to minimise the touching of surfaces. Only landlords should be touching doors and surfaces in the home.
Ask the viewers to remove shoes at the door.
Use hand sanitiser and ask people to use it before and after the viewing.
Don't shake hands
Ensure you keep a respectful distance from each other to maintain a required 2-metre physical distancing
Minimise your time at a property
What you should do AFTER a viewing:
Clean all surfaces with a disinfectant that you or anyone else came into contact with after each viewing.
Minimise the need to see potential tenants again, continue all future conversations by phone, email or video call. Remember to follow up verbal conversations in writing.
Leverage a variety of technology tools at your disposal to continue conducting business.
Here at myRent, you can handle tenant checks as well as tenant onboarding, tenancy agreements and bond lodgement forms creation and signing online without the need to see your tenants. This option is available for free to all the new users with our 2-month free trial.
Moving house
People can move homes at Alert Level 3.
Moving companies are allowed to operate and have to adhere to physical distancing rules and should keep records for contact tracing purposes. The movers may have limited availability.
Under Alert Level 3, it is recommended landlords use professional cleaners to clean a vacant rental property to get it ready for the new tenants. Using professional cleaners will help to ensure the relevant hygiene controls are being followed.
Remember that all these precautions should be in place to protect your health, your applicants and the wider public with respect to Covid-19.
In December 2021 NZ moved away from the alert level system to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights). Follow this link to the summary of real estate activities permitted under various traffic light settings
The information contained in this article is exclusively for promotional purposes. It does not in any way constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any legal action or contractual dealings. The information is not and does not attempt to be, a comprehensive account of the relevant law in New Zealand. If you require legal advice, you should seek independent legal counsel. myRent.co.nz does not accept any liability that may arise from the use of this information.
