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THE GOVERNMENT HAS said that people should only be viewing properties in person for sale or rental at a such point that parties are ready to sign an agreement.
As part of tougher Covid-19 restrictions announced yesterday, Cabinet agreed to the shutdown of most of the construction sector from 6pm tomorrow.
The decision means that all-but-essential construction works are to cease until at least the end of this month when the situation will be reviewed.
The Department of Housing last night issued guidance in relation to this closure with Minister Darragh O’Brien saying that it was a necessary response to the spread of Covid-19.
The department also provided guidance into the what it said should be a “limited functioning of the housing and residential tenancy market” during the current period of restrictions.
During the almost nine months of varying levels of Covid-19 restrictions online viewings have become more prevalent and it was also common for proof of mortgage approval to be required for people to view a property for sale.
The new guidelines go further, however, and the guidelines now state online viewings should be the “default approach” and that viewing in person should only take place when contracts are being considered.
“It has also been agreed that online viewings will be the default approach to viewing property for rental or sale, with a physical viewing only permissible at the point where a tenancy agreement is being entered into or where a contract for sale has been drawn up,” the guidance states.
“This approach balances the need to avoid social interaction with the need to provide a pathway to tenancy and home ownership for those who need it.”
According to figures released this week, last year saw the biggest increase in three years in the asking price for houses in Ireland. The report, from MyHome.ie, found that annual asking price inflation rose by 6.3% nationwide, by 4.8% in Dublin and by 7.2% elsewhere around the country.
Rental prices in four out of Ireland’s five major cities also increased last year compared to the previous year.
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So sign a contract to buy without actually seeing the inside of the property other than in a video? Yep, that’ll work well
@JedBartlett: no u get to view in real life just before signing the contract. So in essence after u have had an offer accepted a real life viewing can be set up.
@Cecilia Doyle: Who in their right mind would make an offer on something they have not seen in real life?
@Dave: You can withdraw your offer if you’re not happy after the in-person viewing…
@Cecilia Doyle: you would have to pay your solicitor to draw up the contracts before viewing. That could be expensive if you don’t like what you see when you finally get to view it.
Some of the houses /apartments for sale/rent ….really need a proper viewing…not a last minute look to satisfy some government whim…..
This has to be up there with the most ridiculous stuff they’ve come out with yet.
@Adam Conroy: while a bit mad alright, how many properties are bought from the drawings?
Is it just me or are the rules and restrictions getting crazier and more hysterical the closer we get to the end of this pandemic?
You’d get the sense they have no intention of a return to normal, no matter what happens.
@Barry C: the end?? Its only starting.
Ridiculous – understand why but to think someone can start contracts without ever having been physically in a property is just nonsensical.
@fintolini: buying off plan comes to mind.
@Mathew Gunning: TBF buying off plan means you are buying a new build, that must hit a minimum standard. Existing properties can be in an awful state without looking too bad, with uneven floors, no insulation, damp everywhere. These things are hard to get a sense of in an online viewing.
@Daniel Lehane: 100% agree on the new builds v existing properties. From the article I found this crazy, “The approach balances the need to avoid social interaction with the need to provide a pathway to tenancy and home ownership for those that need it”. Pure silly talk there. Everyone needs and home and its ludicrous to think the government thinks people should only view a property at contract stage.
Most sales are to investors anyway. We’ll be rent slaves in a generation. Back to the 1870s thanks to FFG. But then we had a war.
Is anyone surprised by the lack practicality?
What a sorry collection we have for a government
20% deposit means there is no need to bother with viewing anything other than daft
@Chris O’Sullivan: It’s only 10% for first time buyers…and as little as 5% if availing of the Help to Buy scheme.
Would you prefer a return to 100% mortgages or what is your point?
@Kevin Collins: his point is that 20% deposits are absolutely ridiculous and unattainable for most
@Denise Ní Cinnseala: and my point is that 20% deposits do NOT apply to most.
Unless you are a buying a second property in which case you can simply sell your first property to raise funds for the deposit. (Note that if you are in negative equity on the first property these rules do not apply)
I’m still not sure what the gripe here is as demand is clearly not the problem with our housing market – supply is. And lowering deposit requirements will simply increase demand, not supply, thereby driving prices up further.
@Kevin Collins: Yeah I’d be happy with a 100% mortgage because I know how to live within my means. Some people didn’t get the memo that you could actually cut up credit cards you were sent that you didn’t want or ignore emails offering loans.
@Fi Wyse: Anyone that wants a 100% mortgage because they have zero savings is not exactly “living within their means”. Lax underwriting standards of this nature DIRECTLY led to an unsustainable housing bubble during the Celtic Tiger years and exacerbated the financial crash that followed, with devastating consequences for society as well as the economy.
As per my previous comments, we do not need to stimulate demand for housing. The problems are entirely on the supply side.
Submitting your details before viewing a property really does take the biscuit in terms of a GDPR breach both for buyers and renters. What happens to your data if unsuccessful? How long will estate agents hold on to said information?
@Donal Rafferty: what is the issue from a personal data point of view? GDPR doesn’t prevent data processing as long as there is a lawful basis and that one can demonstrate compliance.
This will at least put a stop to the Saturday morning voyeurs :those with no intention of ever buying anything, but waste sellers’ and estate agents ‘ time by making appointments just to have a goo and bitch about the curtains.
@Liz O’Neill: I worked in auctioneering for over 10 years up until quite recently and those people are very, very few and far between in my experience
@Liz O’Neill: Rubbish – it hasn’t been that way for months now – appointment only viewings with proof of mortgage and only 2 at a time in the house. These new restrictions are making an already difficult buyers market next to impossible
Pig in a poke comes to mind…
Is there a link for this info? Can’t find it on the gov.ie site
But remember guys coffeeshops are essential…
Is this law, or a guidance? What happens if someone views the property before? Will they be fined or jailed?
@Claude Saulnier:
This is mental & I doubt the president will get up to sign this into law. It is guidance & not law as it goes selling a property myself this week. The first thing I will do is to ask the agent are they going to go along with this bulllogy & if so that’s fine I will sell it myself. Also like most of the stuff, they come out with can’t be policed. Really this one is nothing short of ludicrous. I mean where do they get these guys?
If anybody knows Darragh O’Brien please tell him I said he is a plonker. In fact sending him an email now hope he won’t take offence he he..
Where is this information not on gov.ie ?
Wanna have hot-lovin’ conversations? You’re on the right way! – chatie.club/xxx
@Anna Green: Bit busy tonight Anna but thanks for the offer.
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