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COVID-19 Guidance Updates
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, RECBC urges licensed real estate professionals to maintain high standards of professionalism and to take all recommended precautions in order to protect the health and safety of their clients, members of the public, and themselves.
You can find recommended best practices for real estate professionals in our Safer Showings During the COVID-19 Pandemic guidance. We’re highlighting three key areas to focus on in your efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Minimize In-Person Contact: No Open Houses
In order to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections, RECBC’s strong recommendation for real estate professionals remains that no open houses should be held.
Real estate professionals must follow all orders of the Provincial Health Officer and should continue to use virtual tools whenever possible to limit in-person interactions with clients and consumers. Any in-person scheduled showings should be restricted to a maximum of six people, subject to each person present being able to keep two metres apart from others present at all times.
For more recommendations from RECBC, the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), see Safer Showings During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
For more information about provincial restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in BC, see B.C.’s response to COVID-19.
Use Virtual Tools to Limit Travel
On April 23, 2021, restrictions on non-essential travel between regions of the province were put in place, until May 25. Essential travel, including travel required for work, is permitted.
RECBC continues to strongly recommend that real estate professionals use virtual tools as an alternative to in-person meetings with clients whenever possible, in order to limit travel and help stop the spread of COVID-19. For information on recommended safe showing practices to protect the health and safety of the public, see Safer Showings During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Further details on the current travel restrictions are available on the provincial government’s Travel and COVID-19 webpage.
Ensure Tenant Safety is a Priority
RECBC’s Professional Standards Advisors have seen an increase in calls from concerned consumers in tenant-occupied properties, regarding safe showing practices. RECBC reminds real estate professionals dealing with tenant-occupied properties to follow all public health orders and RECBC’s guidance to ensure the health and safety of those involved in the showing, including clients, tenants, the public and other real estate professionals.
Minimize risks for landlords and tenants and review the guidance provided by the Residential Tenancy Branch to understand tenant and landlord rights and obligations. When a rental unit is being shown to prospective buyers, the landlord or the landlord’s agent must be present.
We strongly recommend masks be worn by all individuals present at a showing, both inside the property and in all common areas for multi-tenanted properties. These practices are part of a suite of safety protocols and for more information on showing tenant occupied properties during the COVID-19 Pandemic, see:
More Information
To learn more about RECBC’s COVID-19 recommendations for real estate professionals and consumers, visit:
Questions?
RECBC’s Professional Standards Advisors are available to answer questions about real estate transactions and the services to expect of real estate professionals. You can contact them at [email protected].