Private inspections of an occupied/tenanted residential property are permitted to be organised

PHOTO: The Consumer Affairs Victoria website was updated Monday morning to read: “Private inspections of an occupied/tenanted residential property are permitted to be organised.”

The Victorian government has backflipped on its property inspection ban following massive industry backlash and predictions of catastrophic consequences for the real estate industry.

On Thursday night, an update to the Consumer Affairs Victoria website revealed private inspections of occupied properties would be banned, which agents said would only let relatively few properties trade easily.

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The announcement caused immediate widespread outrage from real estate agents and concern from sellers.

But REIV president Leah Calnan said on Monday morning the ban would be lifted via an official announcement from the government later in the day.

“[The REIV has had] a direct conversation with the Consumer Affair Minister Marlene Kairouz and are looking forward to a formal announcement sometime today which will confirm that agents will be able to resume conducting inspections in occupied residences if they comply with the strict restrictions on social distancing, one-on-one inspections and hygiene processes,” she said.

The Consumer Affairs Victoria website was updated Monday morning to read: “Private inspections of an occupied/tenanted residential property are permitted to be organised.”