Can you show an apartment during the COVID-19 Pandemic? I have had several questions about this topic from landlords and tenants. As a landlord or property manager, it is your responsibility to keep vacancy low. This means if a tenant puts in their notice, you will need to gain access for showings.

Some of the larger property management groups have suspended all in person showings to occupied units for an undetermined amount of time. This might not be a practical solution for you.

This is the first pandemic in modern times, with that comes a lot of fear and uncertainty. As a property manager or landlord, you are considered to be the professional, so start by being sensitive and empathetic to your tenants. You will need to have a thoughtful plan. In my area (Nova Scotia , Canada) the government came out with specific guidelines around rental property viewings.

It is a best practice to check for guidelines in your area before you do any viewings. Also utilize technology like providing a video, lots of pictures, and services like Face Time. I feel like the Nova Scotia Public Health guidelines are great, the following is what they have provided (for more info click here):

Nova Scotia Public Health Recommended Guidelines and Protocols for Unit Showings:

COVID-19 Information for multi-unit residential buildings
When landlords are entering or accessing a unit, the visit must be conducted as safely as possible. Landlords
should provide information to their tenants ahead of these visits to reassure them of the actions being taken.
Below are actions that can be taken by the landlord, prospective clients and current tenants to minimize the
risk to all individuals during a showing.

What the landlord can do:

• Don’t show units where there are individuals in self-isolation (e.g. they have tested positive for
  COVID-19, they have travelled outside of Nova Scotia within the past 14 days, they have been
  directed by Public Health to isolate)
• Assess the prospective renter by asking questions to determine if they are supposed to be selfisolating. Do not show a unit to someone that is in self-isolation
• Ask the current tenants to leave cupboard doors and closets open to reduce the amount of items
  touched during the showing
• Wear a non-medical mask while showing the unit
• Ask the prospective clients to wear a non-medical mask during the showing
• Practice hand hygiene prior to showing the unit (e.g. use hand sanitizer and provide hand sanitizer to
  prospective clients)
• Practice cough etiquette (e.g. cough into your sleeve)
• Physically distancing by maintaining a 2 metre/6 foot distance between all individuals during the
  showing
• Disinfect areas that have been touched during the showing (e.g. with a disinfectant wipe) such as
  door handles
  What the prospective renters can do:
• Do not view a unit if you are in self-isolation
• Wear a non-medical mask during the viewing
• Perform hand hygiene prior to entering the unit (e.g. use hand sanitizer)
• Avoid touching items and surfaces in the unit
• Practice cough etiquette (e.g. cough into your sleeve)
• Physically distancing by maintaining a 2 metre/6 foot distance between all individuals during the
  viewing
  
• What tenants can do:
• Inform your landlord if you are in self-isolation
• Open cupboard doors and closets prior to the showing to reduce the amount of items touched
  during the showing
• If you are home during the showing, practice physical distancing by maintaining a 2 metre/6 foot
  distance
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your unit after the showing

I hope this helps if you have to do any viewings during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Until next time,

Design your landlord experience,

Michael P Currie

Landlord by Design

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