Buyers who visit must obey health regulations

The property I live in is for sale, and someone in my household is considered to be a high-risk category for contracting COVID-19. Do I have to allow people in my home?

I am glad that you are asking questions to keep the health and safety of yourself, and others, top of mind.

If you currently own the property that is for sale, you decide if — or who — can have access to it, and when.

As always, health and safety are important considerations.

Brokerages and salespeople have been advised to follow the instruction and guidance from government medical authorities to establish safety protocols for property showings, and communicate them to buyers. The protocols put in place are established by the seller/property owner and their listing brokerage and salesperson. While protocols may differ from property to property, they all must adhere to requirements set by provincial authorities.

I recommend you speak with your salesperson early in the process if you or someone in your home has a compromised immune system, has recently returned from travelling, or is considered to be at high-risk of contracting COVID-19. Situations involving vulnerable persons require special care.

If you and your family are tenants of a rented property, be aware that showings are permitted provided that you are given notice in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. You should speak with the property manager or owner/seller as soon as possible to share your concerns, and provide them with any requests you would like considered as part of the showing protocols. When access to the property is required, there are some things that residents can do to help assist in keeping everyone safe. They include:

Opening all entrance and closet doors.

Turning on all lights in the home.

Providing hand sanitizer at the entrance to the home.

Wiping down all surfaces that are likely to be touched before and after each visit, i.e. doorknobs, handrails, light switch plates and countertops.

Providing disposable masks and gloves for visitors. This eliminates the risk of people visiting your home in personal protective equipment (PPE) that was previously worn.

Posting visitor-friendly signs to remind guests to wear the PPE provided and to not touch surfaces or objects in the home. Provide a safe place for visitors to dispose of the used PPE, or ask they take it with them and dispose of it responsibly.

Fortunately, many brokerages have ramped up their digital and online services to accommodate the need for physical distancing and offer more contactless marketing, to help reduce traffic to listed properties. By working together, effective measures can be established and implemented to help protect everyone involved in a transaction.

Consult public health information frequently

For the most up-to-date guidance and recommendations from authorities, consult your local public health unit.

If you have a question about the home buying or selling process, please email information@reco.on.ca.

Joe Richer is registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @RECOhelps