RAHB Update for December 22, 2020
Provincewide Shutdown
On Saturday, December 26 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will enter a provincewide shutdown in a bid to curb climbing COVID-19 case numbers and mitigate the potential of overwhelming hospitals and their intensive care units. The restrictions will remain in effect until Saturday, January 23, 2021 for all 27 public health unit regions in Southern Ontario, which includes RAHB’s market areas.
Real Estate is still designated as an essential service. However, there are restrictions set out by the government and public health officials that must be followed by all members and brokerages in order for businesses to continue to operate.
The Government of Ontario has officially prohibited the hosting of in-person open houses (including pre-construction) in the province. Real estate brokerages, brokers and salespeople must cease hosting open houses. The (in-person) Open Houses feature in Matrix, which has been be disabled for all RAHB areas since 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 16, will continue to be inaccessible. Members can continue to submit virtual open houses for all RAHB areas through Matrix.
While private in-person showings are permitted by appointment only, they are not recommended and should be avoided as much as possible. Please continue to use online virtual showings. Members are also encouraged to sign documents electronically and work with their clients to do the same.
Additionally, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has advised that remote work should happen in all industries to the greatest extent possible, which may require Brokerage offices to temporarily shut down and move back to previously implemented virtual or work from home protocols.
If workplaces choose to remain open, they must screen any workers or essential visitors entering the work environment. Please click the button below for screening tools.
In addition, while indoors at a real estate brokerage or board office, all people MUST wear personal protective equipment that provides protection of the eyes, nose and mouth. PPE is required if a worker is required to come within two metres of another person who is not wearing a face covering and is not separated by a plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier. To see OREA’s guidance for brokerage and board offices, please click the button below.
Please note that all brokerage and board offices must limit capacity so that every member of the public is able to maintain two metres of physical distance from every other person and limit the people occupying any room that is open to the public to 50% capacity of that room.
OREA also states that short-term rentals (e.g. cottage, cabins) can only be provided to individuals who are in need of housing.
To read the full statement from OREA and what the Province-wide shutdown means for real estate, please click the below button.
To read more about the provincewide shutdown from the Government of Ontario, please click the below button.
Curb-Side Pick-up Only Available for RAHB Realty Shoppe
Effective Monday, December 21, the Realty Shoppe will only offer curbside pick-up.
With Hamilton moving into the COVID-19 grey zone, and as a result of the impending Provincewide Lockdown, the Realty Shoppe will be closed to all in-person shopping until further notice. Pre-arranged, curbside pick-up will be available 9 a.m. to noon and 1 – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To learn more about how to shop the Realty Shoppe, please click the below button.
RAHB Office Update
As is the case now, the RAHB office is operating virtually and is closed to members and the public. All operations will remain normal and staff will be fully accessible by phone and e-mail during regular office hours, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please note that the RAHB offices will be closed for the Holidays starting Thursday, December 24 at noon and will reopen virtually on Monday, January 4 at 8:30 a.m.