Important Update from NSW Government - The Residential Tenancy Support Program and COVID Restrictions

Due to the current NSW pandemic lockdowns ,new temporary measures will support both tenants and landlords to prevent financially impacted residential tenants from being evicted and to assist landlords who agree to renegotiate rent. Up to $1500.00 support payment is available for landlords who fulfill their application criteria.

This is an update to let you know the website information on the Residential Tenancy Support Program has been updated.  The update just refines the information and addresses some of the frequently asked questions we are receiving.  The online application to claim a payment is progressing well and Fair Trading is expected to let us know very shortly when the application portal will go live.
 
Fair Trading are also about to issue the electronic newsletters, Property Matters and The Letterbox with some key facts about the Program and clarification on the COVID restrictions in relation to inspections, visits to residences, cleaning and commercial property.  Below is the COVID information that will appear in the newsletters and we trust this early advice will assist with enquiries you may have.

COVID Restrictions

All NSW is now the subject of Public Health Orders affecting what we can do and how we work. Information about these are available at nsw.gov.au

Restrictions on property inspections and cleaning in the Greater Sydney area have generated a lot of questions from landlords and tenants.

Inspection and entry to rental properties

Routine inspections and visits by third parties  that require access to a residential premises and which are not for urgent health and safety reasons should not be occurring in the Greater Sydney area during the lockdown period and delayed to a later date, unless the premises are unoccupied. We consider workers such as tradespersons and photographers fit with the intent of this provision.

Current Public Health Orders in force in the Greater Sydney area prohibit open houses and auctions that are conducted in person. Inspections by prospective purchasers or tenants are allowed on a pre-arranged basis with an agent or landlord showing the property to one person at a time.
 
Landlords and agents cannot compel a tenant to leave their home during an inspection.
 
Inspections that do take place at this time must be conducted in accordance with a COVID-19 Safety Plan for retail and auctions.

Cleaning of vacant properties after tenancies/sales

The Public Health Orders and the nsw.gov.au website have been updated to clarify that cleaning services for residential premises in the Greater Sydney area are allowed if urgently required to prepare an unoccupied place of residence for the purposes of the sale or lease of that place of residence.

Inspection of non-residential premises

The Public Health Orders do not currently include inspection of a commercial or non-residential premises as a ‘reasonable excuse’ for someone to leave their home. Schedule 1 permits someone to move a business to a new business premises but limits inspections to potential new places of residence.