Buying and selling under red light rules
You can expect real estate agencies to be extra vigilant, but use of My Vaccine Pass is still the vendor’s decision. Colleen Hawkes reports.
Open homes and private viewings will continue under the red light rules for the entire country announced on Sunday, but you can expect real estate agents to be extra vigilant.
Whether you are viewing a property during an open home or a private inspection, you can expect to be asked to wear a mask and may need to present evidence of vaccination.
It is essential for agents to have a QR code displayed in a prominent place and to offer alternative measures for taking details of people viewing a property.
Guidelines prepared by the Real Estate Authority in consultation with the Real Estate Institute (Reinz), sector representatives and government officials state that vendor agencies can choose whether or not to use the My Vaccine Pass process, after discussions with the vendor.
If you are selling, the agency will document the safety plan and sales approach for your property. You will need to sign this at the time the agency agreement is signed.
The document will set out the health and safety controls to be used for the sales process, including whether My Vaccine Pass will be used, whether face masks are required to be worn, and the processes to be used for unvaccinated people.
It may include an acknowledgement or waiver if you refuse to allow unvaccinated people through your property. In this instance, buyers will need to refer to photographs or video tours to view the interior.
If the vaccine pass is required, agents must check this before viewers enter a house, and it is ‘‘strongly recommended’’ the passes are verified. If a viewer cannot present a pass, they will not be permitted to enter.
Agencies must display posters advertising if they require people entering to have a vaccine pass, and it is recommended that use of the My Vaccine Pass process be included in the listing details.
There may be properties where their agents can switch between using and not using My Vaccine Pass.
If this applies, strict rules are in place. There must be no mingling of groups; rooms should be well ventilated; and high-touch surfaces, such as door handles, should be cleaned between groups.
Workers and visitors must be told what the vaccine pass requirements are, including whether the activity is for people with My Vaccine Pass only, or a mix of people with or without My Vaccine Pass.
The red light rules for events apply to property auctions, which means the My Vaccine Pass process will be required, with capacity limits of up to 100 people, based on 1-metre physical distancing.