COVID-19 restrictions: what it means for real estate in each state

Restrictions continue to ease as vaccination rates soar across the country, although some restrictions remain in place. 

In-person auctions and open homes have resumed in New South Wales and Victoria. Picture: Getty.

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown of what real estate activity each government is currently permitting.

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory
• Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

The NSW Government has scaled back COVID-19 restrictions further as part of a staged approach to living with the virus.

Most premises are now open to everyone, regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated or not, however some restrictions remain.

From Friday 18 February density limits were scrapped with QR check-ins only required for nightclubs and music festivals with more than 1,000 people. The recommendation to work from home has been dropped and is now at an employer’s discretion.

Rules eased further on Friday 25 February, with masks no longer mandated for indoor settings, instead limited to certain settings, such as on public transport, planes and airports, hospitals and aged care facilities.

Auctions and open homes can take place under the following settings:

• There are no longer any density limits for how many people can attend an auction or inspect a home for sale or lease.
• There are no vaccination requirements for agents or buyers attending open homes, however some agents and owners may choose to require people to be fully vaccinated as a condition of entry.
• Masks are not mandatory but are strongly encouraged where you cannot socially distance.
• People no longer need to check-in when inspecting a home.

Lockdown restrictions have eased for fully vaccinated adults across NSW. Picture: Getty.

Victoria

From 6pm, Friday 18 February a number of restrictions and recommendations in place during the state’s Omicron surge were eased.

Density limits in hospitality and entertainment venues were removed, and QR check-in requirements scrapped in shops, schools and many workplaces.

From 11:59pm on Friday 25 February, further rules eased with face masks no longer mandatory in most indoor settings, while public health recommendations to work from home were also removed.

Auctions and open homes can take place under the following settings.

• There are no vaccination requirements for people attending real estate inspections, however real estate agents must be fully vaccinated (unless exempt).
• There are no density limits for open homes.
• Face masks are longer be mandatory.

In-person inspections can now take place across Greater Melbourne. Picture: Getty.

South Australia

Home inspections and live auctions are currently allowed to take place under the following guidelines:

• Open homes and inspections no longer have any density restrictions.
• Masks must be worn indoors.
• Real estate agents must have a COVID-safe plan in place, including an approved contact tracing system such as a QR code.
• Attendees must check in using the provided QR code (or an alternative record keeping method, where relevant)

Density limits no longer apply to open homes and auctions in South Australia. Picture: Getty.

Queensland

From Friday 4 March, face mask and density restrictions were eased in most settings.

Home inspections and live auctions are allowed to take place in Queensland under the following guidelines:

• Open homes and auctions are permitted and people do not need to be fully vaccinated to enter.
• Density rules no longer apply.
• Face masks are no longer mandatory in indoor settings, although they are recommended whenever you can’t social distance.

Auctions and house inspections are allowed to take place across Queensland. Picture: Getty.

Western Australia

Level two measures are currently in effect across all of WA.

Home inspections and auctions are allowed to take place under the following guidelines:

• Open homes and inspections can take place, with visitors encouraged to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from people who are not from their household.
• Face masks are required for people aged 8 years and over indoors.
• Real estate agents are also required to maintain a mandatory contact register for staff and visitors.

Western Australia remains in a State of Emergency. Picture: Getty.

Northern Territory

Home inspections and in-person auctions are allowed to take place under the following guidelines:

• In-person inspections and auctions are permitted.
• All people must check in using the Territory Check-In App, no matter how long they spend at the venue.
• Real estate agents must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place and provide hand sanitiser.
• People are encouraged to follow hygiene standards and physical distancing rules by keeping 1.5 metres from people they don’t live with.

Tasmania

Home inspections and in-person auctions are allowed to take place under the following guidelines:

• Up to 250 people are allowed to attend a home inspection or auction per undivided indoor space, or up to 1,000 people per undivided outdoor area, including staff and children. The total number of people at a premise cannot exceed one person per two square metres.
• All attendee names and contact details must be recorded for contact tracing purposes.
• Real estate businesses must implement measures to meet the minimum COVID-19 safety standards and record this in a COVID-19 Safety plan.

Australian Capital Territory

Home inspections and live auctions are currently allowed to take place under the following guidelines:

• Density rules no longer apply for auctions and open homes.
• Face masks are not mandatory in indoor settings, but strongly encouraged where it’s difficult to maintain physical distancing.
• Real estate agents must have a COVID Safety Plan in place.