New safety protocols have been developed to allow the property sector to re-open during Phase 2 of the Government's roadmap out of the Covid-19 restrictions on June 8th.
The guidelines cover auctions, sales, lettings, valuations, and property management for both residential and commercial property.
The safety document advises that where possible, all viewings and auctions should be undertaken online, and where viewings take place in person, they should be pre-booked and there should be no more than two people in the viewing party and no under 16s should attend.
The protocol also recommends that all doors to small rooms such as utility and storage spaces should be removed, or internal door handles should be removed or covered to minimise contact points.
In arranging viewings of second-hand dwellings and commercial buildings professionals must confirm whether clients have returned from travel abroad or have had symptoms of Covid-19 over the previous 14 days. If so, the property service cannot be provided for a minimum of 14 days.
The document was jointly developed by the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV), the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI), and the Property Services Regulatory Authority, (PSRA) and was shared with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
While the property market is currently open for business online and remotely, the three bodies believe the document will provide reassurance to consumers and clients of property services providers and valuers that the sector can reopen on June 8th for safe business.
The key objective of this new protocol is to facilitate the safe reopening of the property market as this is critical to providing appropriate and essential accommodation for those impacted by the Covid-19 emergency and to address the housing issues which remain an ongoing concern for all.
The document also states that non-compliance with the new guidelines "by any party" must result in the cessation of the property service, and where the party concerned fails to further co-operate, An Garda Síochána "should be engaged."
