Covid-19 Advertising and viewings during Alert Level 3
Under Alert Level Three, you can now start showing prospective tenants through your property again however there are still restrictions. Read on to find out what you can and can’t do during Alert Level 3.
COVID-19: Advertising your property during Alert Level 3 lockdown
It is recommended that if you need to take new photos of the property for advertising that you only do so if the property is vacant and that you ensure:
- You have obtained consent from the current tenants.
- Physical distancing is maintained at all times when at the property (2 metres).
- Ask your tenants to open internal/external doors beforehand to minimise surface transmission and, where possible, wait outside the premises while you or your photographer take the photos.
- No photos should be taken at a property, vacant or occupied, where any person living there has been unwell or self-isolating in the 14 days prior.
Click here for tips and tricks on how to advertise your property for rent
COVID-19: Pre vetting and registering attendees for the viewing
No viewings are allowed in areas with clusters (check Ministry of Health website daily for updates).
It is recommended that all those wishing to attend complete a pre-application before viewing the property. This is because during Alert Level 3 you are only allowed to show through two people per day so by having a pre-viewing form to look at beforehand you can prioritise who you show through.
To receive this form click here and we will email you.
Prior to the viewing send the tenants that are going to view your property an email outlining key safety steps for the viewing. Every person that comes to view the property has to complete their details for contact tracing. Ensure information collected includes name(s), phone number(s) and email address or no viewing can occur. The COVID-19 Contact Tracing Form can be found here
Ask all those attending to arrive on time and wait in their car or on the street until their specific viewing time occurs, at which point they can approach the property entrance.
Ask all those attending that if anyone exhibits symptoms of flu or have returned from any overseas travel/ potential exposure to COVID-19 you may refuse entry.
Open viewings
Open viewings aren’t permitted during Alert Level 3, this means you aren’t able to show groups of people through at the same time. However private viewings by appointment can resume with necessary precautions to minimise exposure to, and the spread of, COVID-19.
Vacant Properties
- Individual viewings have to be by appointment only, no group viewings are allowed as only two private viewings per day are permitted
- Keep viewings as brief as possible
- A maximum of two people from any one ‘bubble’ can attend the viewing.
- Ensure physical distancing is maintained at all times (2 metres).
- No viewings at properties where a person previously living there has been unwell or self-isolating in the 14 days prior to the viewing.
Tenanted Properties
Viewings at a tenanted property can occur by following the guidelines above as well as:
- Written consent from all tenants must be provided.
- If a tenant does not provide prior written consent, a viewing cannot occur.
- All current tenants are not to be present at the property during a viewing.
- Attendees need to wait in the car until you let them know they can begin the viewing.
COVID-19: During the viewing
- Ensure physical distancing is maintained at all times (2 metres).
- Advise those feeling unwell or have travelled overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 that they aren’t able to enter the property.
- High-risk customers should not attend any viewing (those over 70 or with existing medical conditions).
- Ask attendees to remove their shoes at the entrance of the property (recommend socks stay on).
- Have hand sanitiser available and on display. Ask attendees to use it upon entry and exit.
- Have a safety kit that includes hand sanitiser, alcohol wipes, disposable gloves and face masks.
- Do not handout marketing material.
- Ask all attendees entering the property not to touch anything.
- Open internal/external doors beforehand to minimise surface transmission.
- Wash your hands with hand sanitiser between each private viewing.
- It’s recommended to clean any high traffic area both in between each viewing including door handles, railings and all hard surfaces and also after the final viewing.
- Leave enough time between your first and second viewing to reduce the risk of contact with the next people attending.
Routine Inspections
Under Covid-19 Alert Level 3 a routine property inspection is NOT permitted at tenanted properties.
A landlord is permitted to visit the property only to assess if emergency maintenance is required.
Ingoing and vacating inspections
Both ingoing and outgoing inspections can be undertaken when:
- The property is vacant.
- The inspection does not involve contact with current or new tenants
- If previous tenants have not been overseas recently, have not been self-isolating at the home or have not been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
- Key drop-offs and pick-ups must not involve contact with either your outgoing or incoming tenants.
Property Maintenance
All urgent and non-urgent maintenance (with tenants consent) can occur under Alert Level 3, however, consider the need vs risk of any non-urgent maintenance before organising. Click here to read the governments guidance on Alert Level 3.
Tradespeople attending a property must be instructed to:
- Adhere to physical distancing (2 metres).
- Not attend the property if they have been overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days,
- Limit number of persons at the property.
- Minimise their time at the property.
- Minimise in-person contact with tenants.
You should not attend the property with the tradesperson. It’s recommended you join by phone or videoconference if you wish to.
Record contact details of any tradesperson visiting the property and the date they attended, to assist with contact tracing.
Ask the tradesperson to sanitise areas they may have touched – or ask them to wear gloves which can be disposed of immediately after the visit.
