No Changes to Real Estate Practice in Step 2 of Restart Plan

With vaccine numbers rising and infection rates continuing to fall, BC is on track to move to step 2 of BC's Restart Plan as of June 15 and all of us are eager for further easing of COVID-19 restrictions. However, REALTORS^® and consumers will have to be patient a little longer when it comes to changes to safety guidelines for the real estate sector.

No Changes to Real Estate Guidelines on June 15

If, as expected, BC moves into step 2 of our Restart Plan on June 15, we can look forward to the return of “indoor seated gatherings of up to 50 people” and the lifting of provincial travel restrictions. But it won’t be a return to business as usual for Realtors just yet. According to the Restart Plan, consultation for the next step on easing restrictions within different sectors will only begin on June 15. That means new guidelines for Realtors won’t be available for a few more weeks yet.

BCREA working to begin consultations

As soon as BC’s Restart Plan was announced, BCREA reached out to WorkSafeBC, the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) to prepare for the start of consultations. We have been told that new guidelines for real estate professionals likely won’t be available before July 1, which is the earliest date for step 3 to begin. We’re ready to consult on these new guidelines and will work hard to have them available as soon as we can. 

No open houses yet

While the Canadian Real Estate Association is once again allowing open house notifications on REALTOR.ca, the message from the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafeBC is clear: continue following all current safety protocols and guidelines until new guidelines are issued. That means it’s not yet time to return to hosting open houses. We ask all BC Realtors to continue to respect this safety protocol, as well as remain mindful of physical distancing, sanitizing procedures and the continued use of masks and virtual technologies in real estate transactions. Review the safety guidelines for Realtors and brokers.

Be kind, be calm – Be patient

BC is very close to returning to a more normal way of life where COVID-19 is not the same threat that it has been. We can accelerate this return by being patient just a little while longer, and understanding that these important consultations among BCREA, WorkSafeBC, RECBC and OSRE will take place soon and new guidelines will be made available as soon as possible.

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