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Moving out of a rental is stressful enough, but with stage four COVID-19 restrictions in place in Melbourne, spanners you never knew existed have been thrown into the works.

I recently vacated my share house of three years in inner-city Melbourne during stage four lockdown, which was a challenge, to say the least.

Not only did the lockdown make the actual move more complicated,  but my (now former) housemates and I struggled to know how to proceed under the brand new pandemic restrictions.

My advice to those considering a move during stage four lockdowns is be prepared for additional stress unforeseen complications. The government is allowing pre-arranged moves to go ahead, if you can wait then it’s probably best to do so.

Here are some of the challenges I came up against during my move.

Waiting for clarity on stage four rules

When the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced stage four lockdown on Sunday, 2 August, there were unanswered questions about how the real estate industry would proceed with auctions and open for inspections, and whether people planning to move home would be able to do so.

24 hours later, Premier Andrews confirmed that Melburnians would be able to settle a property sale and move home if they had made arrangements prior to the lockdown and that all home inspections would be done digitally.

However, many tenants, landlords and property managers remained unclear about a number of things. These included rules around producing videos for digital inspections; whether or not tenants without prior arrangements could still move out; whether final inspections could take place; and, most importantly, whether people in unsafe circumstances would be able to relocate.

Luckily my housemates and I had given notice before the lockdown so we could continue our move as planned.

We were still unsure, however, whether our final inspection would take place to release our bond and whether we could actually move beyond the 5km radius so remained in constant contact with our property manager.

With the prospect of a $1,652 on-the-spot fine for breaking stage four rules, we wanted to get it right.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that he didn’t want to see people not being able to settle on their new home. Getty

Clarity came on 11 August with the government announcing tenants could move to a home outside the 5km radius provided it was done within curfew hours and, importantly, those in unsafe situations could commence a new lease.

It was also made clear that final end-of-lease inspections were allowed.

But the clarification of the rules was just the first obstacle.

The actual move

My reason for needing to vacate the house was due to my mother’s recent surgery. She needed a live-in primary carer at home as soon as possible and similarly, my two former housemates were also moving in with either their parents or partners.

Moving is a big task on a good day, but add strict lockdown measures to the equation as well as the need to care for an unwell parent and you’ve got yourself a very stressful and time-sensitive situation.

Here’s what we encountered on moving day:

1. Contactless removalists

I arranged for contactless removalists and I agreed to be the first housemate to leave to minimise the number of people in the house at one time.

Removalists and cleaners have gone contactless during stage four lockdown. Picture: Getty.

2. Everything needed a label, everyone wore a mask

We were required to label everything meticulously so no possessions were mixed up. We also had to sanitise every item being moved, as well as wear gloves and masks during the move.

I had to give very clear instructions to the removalists to ensure they found and properly locked the storage unit I had rented. Normally I would go with them, but I didn’t feel safe doing so.

3. Cleaners are allowed

We also engaged contactless end of lease cleaners, which we were originally unsure if we could proceed with as cleaners are currently not performing routine cleans of households, however, end of lease cleaning has been deemed an exception to stage four rules.

4. Returning the keys

Our property manager asked us to leave the keys on the kitchen bench and snib the door on the way out. Normally we would lock the door properly on the outside but at the moment there’s no other choice.

The one silver lining on moving day was that I didn’t have to lift a finger because we were asked to stand in another room or at least 1.5m apart.

Getting rid of unwanted furniture during COVID-19

The other issue we faced was disposing of our furniture. Given we were all moving back into established homes, we had no use for these items for the foreseeable future.

Normally we would list items on Facebook marketplace sites such as My Stuff = Your Stuff, or drop them off at a local op shop, but these options are temporarily unavailable during stage four lockdown.

I was forced to put so many things out for a hard rubbish collection, which was gut-wrenching because I hate throwing away perfectly good furniture.

Other items went into a storage unit, which I hope to be able to sell or donate once restrictions ease.

Is moving house during stage four restrictions worth it?

It’s tempting to want to start a new lease at the moment as there are so many high-quality rentals on the market, especially within inner-city Melbourne, but my experience left me feeling unsafe and more stressed than a normal move.

Now, back at home with my mum who is thankfully on the mend after major surgery, I can’t help but worry that in the process of moving I may have brought COVID-19 into her house.

It’s tempting to move into a dream rental at the moment, but is it worth it? Picture: realestate.com.au/rent

I think that during these unprecedented times, we need to not only follow the rules but also use our own judgement around what’s necessary.

Obviously, some will have no choice in needing to move house, including those that are in unsafe situations, but if there’s a way you can stay put then it’s definitely the better option, at least for now!

The post Moving house a new level of difficult under stage four lockdown appeared first on realestate.com.au.

An artist’s impression of the new Northern Beaches Business Park at the former Roche Pharmaceuticals headquarters at 100 South Creek Rd, Cromer.

The owners of the iconic former headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Roche on Sydney’s northern beaches have won council approval for a $44 million redevelopment of the site.

The project is set to be one of the biggest industrial developments the northern beaches has seen “for a long time”.

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Sydney-based real estate fund manager and developer EG who bought it through Perpetual Corporate Trust is hoping to start construction of the Northern Beaches Business Park later this year or early in 2021.

EG bought the 7.46ha site at 100 South Creek Rd, Cromer, from Roche in 2017 for $60.5 million.

An artist’s impression of the new Northern Beaches Business Park.

The site was owned by Roche Products Australia for more than half a century. The pharmaceutical and healthcare company first distributed its products from premises in central Sydney before moving to the Cromer site in 1964.

An artist’s impression of the new Northern Beaches Business Park.

Roche has since relocated its headquarters to the Sydney CBD, on the edge of the city’s waterfront precinct of Barangaroo.

EG’s associate director, Sean Fleming, said development application was granted this week.

“It will be one of the biggest industrial developments on the northern beaches for a long time,” he said.

“In a market starved of local investment, EG is thrilled to be injecting back into the economy of the Northern Beaches Local Government Area.”

An artist’s impression of the new Northern Beaches Business Park.

The company expects the construction phase and new tenants will bring up to 600 new jobs to the local area.

Formerly the headquarters of pharmaceutical company, Roche, the $44 million site redevelopment will include self-storage facilities, commercial office space, a cafe, and 11 warehouse and distribution units.

“The project offers the potential for a diverse range of local urban service outcomes, including creative and hi-tech industries, modern warehousing local business ‘start-up’ incubators and a place for innovation,” said EG’s development director Grant Flannigan.

An artist’s impression of the new Northern Beaches Business Park.

Important heritage elements of the site will be preserved for sympathetic adaptive re-use, including former Roche office buildings, a residence, associated landscape features and the iconic hexagonal five-storey tower.

The redevelopment is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2021, Mr Fleming said.

He said he expected the new business park would have up to 16 tenants, and talks were already underway with a number of businesses.

EG expects to retain ownership of the redeveloped site, which is held on one title.

“Our investors are some of Australia’s largest superannuation funds and industrial (investment property) has been relatively resilient during COVID,” Mr Fleming said.

An artist’s impression of the new Northern Beaches Business Park.

EG has a development pipeline value of more than $2.1 billion. During the past 20 years, the company has earned a respected reputation for creating sustainable and cohesive urban spaces, delivering high-quality residential and mixed-use projects to create connected communities.

Projects includes the award-winning mixed-use sites The Flour Mill at Summer Hill and Tempo at Drummoyne as well as residential sites The Canterbury in Melbourne, Bosco in Five Dock, The Herald at Newcastle and the multiple award-winning Pindari development in Randwick.

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Adelaide’s top-end property market is on fire, with spring tipped to be an absolute ripper.

Adelaide’s prestige property market is on fire, with local agents tipping a strong, and early, start to the state’s peak selling season.

Ouwens Casserly agent Cynthia Sajkunovic had a huge turnout for a $2.2 million to $2.4 million resort-style home at 101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern she is selling.

101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

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“We recorded 180 people through the property over two days and we had 200 brochures printed and all of them were taken,” she says.

“We’ve got multiple parties interested.

101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

“It’s a special place and I always expected it to attract strong interest.

“It was really well attended by family groups and also people from large homes again and wanting something a bit more manageable.

“It’s mainly local interest for this one – people upgrading from homes in the low million-range to coming up into that $2 million range.”

101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

Ms Sajkunovic says the top end is performing strongly.

“People can’t travel and they’re putting their money back into real estate and, with rates being as low as they are now, people are prepared to look at a decent upgrade,” she says.

“Volumes are low and that’s definitely driving prices.

101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

“It will turn around come spring – the Adelaide market tends to wait for the warmer weather, and then we’ll see more stock in the market.

“I think spring will start earlier this year, and I think people will be motivated to get going a bit earlier this year because the focus is now very much real estate-based instead of travel, which has typically been the case at this time of the year.”

101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

Ms Sajkunovic says while the Adelaide selling season typically only takes off after the AFL grand final, this year she expects it to be a different story.

“It’s been a bit of a mess this year and it doesn’t seem to have the hold on people it has in previous years because of the stop-start season with COVID-19 restrictions.

101 Cambridge Tce, Malvern. Supplied by Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

Last Saturday’s Real Estate Magazine House of the Week – a stunning Millswood home on 3114sqm at 17 Andrew Ave that’s been in the same family for the past 36 years – attracted a huge crowd last weekend.

Williams Real Estate agent John Williams, who is selling his stepmother’s home, says more than 130 people attended the home across two days.

17 Andrew Ave, Millswood. Supplied by Williams Real Estate.

“We had enormous interest in that property and are getting calls from Spain, Hong Kong, all over the world, and it was popular with local buyers too – it’s been incredible,” he says.

“It’s been immensely popular with family buyers – we’re still going to see if it’s going to sell as a whole yet, because it’s on two titles. It’s been one of the best responses we’ve had to a property so far – we put two other top-end properties under contract just on Tuesday, so the market’s showing really good signs. It’s stable and with good marketing in The Advertiser, homes are finding buyers.”

17 Andrew Ave, Millswood. Supplied by Williams Real Estate.

Mr Williams says the prestige property market has performed strongly over the past few months, and tips this will continue into spring.

“The only quiet month we had was April when we were in lockdown, but since May, June and July it’s just picked up,” he says.

“I think we’re going to have an early spring – that’s my gut feeling.

17 Andrew Ave, Millswood. Supplied by Williams Real Estate.

“Traditionally we’re flat out from October and to the middle or end of December, but for us, all the signals are telling us it’s going to come on a month early, because everything’s been held back for so long due to the fact that it has been a really strange year.

“We’re looking forward to a really strong spring and summer.

“We’re selling everything we can get – SA’s just a safe, easy place to live and people are looking for that now more than ever.”

The post Prestige homes in high demand as SA gears up for spring appeared first on realestate.com.au.

215 Clarke St, Northcote is Melbourne’s most viewed home on realestate.com.au so far this year.

A Northcote mansion with “fairytale appeal”, a Prahran pad with a two-storey tower of books, and a family haven near Ballarat are among Victoria’s most popular homes of 2020 so far.

Lugano at 215 Clarke Street, Northcote, racked up almost 131,000 views after being listed on realestate.com.au in April, offering its own “wellness centre” and spellbinding views from atop Ruckers Hill.

All this attention resulted in a $3.6m sale in May, to a Prahran-based family who were originally from New York and “fell in love with it on the first inspection”, Jellis Craig Northcote director Sam Rigopoulos said.

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The classic period interior of 215 Clarke St, Northcote.

The Northcote mansion featured its own yoga studio …

… and offered impressive city views from a hilltop position.

“Its fairytale appeal really drew the eyeballs,” Mr Rigopoulos said.

“Having a home of that period appeal, so close to the city (and) up on a hill with magnificent views captured everyone’s attention.”

The five-bedroom house was also “iso ready” for fitness fanatics missing the gym, featuring a yoga studio, gym, sauna and spa.

Realestate.com.au figures show a self-isolation haven west of Ballarat also went viral, attracting almost 80,000 views this year.

2436 Beaufort-Carngham Rd, Carngham has attracted about 80,000 views on realestate.com.au this year.

Sally and Joseph De Losa raised 10 children at their home just west of Ballarat in Carngham. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Inside 2436 Beaufort-Carngham Rd, Carngham.

Sally and Joseph De Losa raised and home schooled their 10 children at the 1.65ha property at 2436 Beaufort-Carngham Road, Carngham, which features a school hall, a mini footy oval, a dam, an edible garden and a renovated house with up to eight bedrooms. The special home remains for sale asking $1.15-$1.25m.

Three swell seaside pads were also among Melbourne’s 10 most viewed listings of 2020, with a clifftop Mount Eliza house notably accruing 121,021 clicks since hitting the market in April.

The resort-style abode at 36 Jacksons Road has an indoor pool, a 2733sq m block with a tennis court, and a $4.7-$5.1m price guide.

36 Jacksons Road, Mount Eliza, is still awaiting a sale, despite its massive popularity online.

10 Camrose Court, Jan Juc also remains up for grabs for $3.3-$3.5m.

The Jan Juc home boasts incredible views.

A Jan Juc showstopper at 10 Camrose Court — offering bay views McCartney Torquay agent Tim Carson swears “you would never get sick of” — has drawn 68,263 eyeballs in its four and a half months on the market with a $3.3-$3.5m price guide.

And 64,621 househunters flocked to the listing of a glorious church conversion at 10A Lochiel Avenue, Edithvale before its $1.02m sale in May.

10a Lochiel Ave, Edithvale is simply glorious — and buyers thought so too.

The Edithvale house sold for $1.02m after racking up almost 65,000 hits online.

Period charm helped 29 Edgevale Road, Kew attract 74,506 views online.

More than 70,000 househunters were drawn to 41 Linton Street, St Kilda East on realestate.com.au.

Homes in prized inner-city suburbs Kew, St Kilda East and Prahran each notched between 56,000 and 74,500 views this year.

Among them was an edgy warehouse-style pad at 6-8 Doon Street, Prahran, which sold in July for an undisclosed price within its $6.8-$7.4m quoted range, after storming on to the market boasting a suspended pool, a bar, an art gallery space, and a remarkable two-storey bookcase.

6-8 Doon Street, Prahran was a popular listing before its sale between $6.8-$7.4m.

The warehouse-style pad wrapped around a two-storey tower of books.

A bar and sleek kitchen also boosted the Prahran home.

Historic homes from different eras on Melbourne’s northern fringe rounded out the top 10.

Architecture enthusiasts drooled over a mid-century gem at 1 Kenarra Court, Hurstbridge, which racked up 58,794 views before its $920,000 sale. And a Victorian homestead
at 1481 Romsey Road, Romsey drew 50,741 eyeballs before breaking the Macedon Ranges town’s price record by fetching between $3.4-$3.6m.

The average view count for a Victorian property on realestate.com.au from January 1 to June 30 was about 1500.

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1 Kenarra Court, Hurstbridge’s mid-century charm wowed buyers.

The Hurstbridge house fetched $920,000 after drawing almost 60,000 views.

1481 Romsey Road, Romsey rounded out Melbourne’s 10 most viewed homes of 2020.

samantha.landy@news.com.au

VICTORIA’S MOST POPULAR HOMES OF 2020

1. 215 Clarke Street, Northcote: 130,933 views, sold for $3.6m

2. 36 Jacksons Road, Mount Eliza: 121,021, for sale $4.7-$5.1m

3. 2436 Beaufort-Carngham Road, Carngham: 78,547, for sale $1.15-$1.25m

4. 29 Edgevale Road, Kew: 74,506, sold $2.6m

5. 41 Linton Street, St Kilda East: 70,625, sold $1.84m

6. 10 Camrose Court, Jan Juc: 68,263, for sale $3.3-$3.5m

7. 10A Lochiel Avenue, Edithvale: 64,621, sold $1.02m

8. 1 Kenarra Court, Hurstbridge: 58,794, sold $920,000

9. 6-8 Doon Street, Prahran: 56,022, sold undisclosed between $6.8-$7.4m

10. 1481 Romsey Road, Romsey: 50,741, sold undisclosed between $3.4-$3.6m

Source: realestate.com.au, from January 1 to June 30
. Prices from CoreLogic, industry sources

The post Victoria’s most popular homes of 2020 revealed appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 109 Albion St, Surry Hills, sold for $2.5m — $500k above its reserve.

A builder mum has paid $2.5m — $500k over reserve — for a Surry Hills renovator’s delight for her daughter to live in.

Laing and Simmons Double Bay principal Steven Zoellner said his investor client would have been happy to secure $1.8m for the rundown five-bedroom terrace on busy Albion St that they’d been renting out to students.

“But this was one of those auctions you only get every 10 years,” Zoellner said.

“Both myself and the owner were jumping for joy at the result … the house needed a major reno and it’s not the quietest street!”

The student digs attracted swarms of builders and renovators, who could see the potential beyond the peeling paint, rising damp and dated, very basic interiors. Part of the appeal was a four-car garage, which is rare in the inner-city.

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There was evidence of rising damp and peeling paint, both inside …

… and out.

At this week’s auction with auctioneer David Scholes, Zoellner had five register with four ultimately fighting it out from $1.75m, initially with $50k increments but then a series of $1000 bids.

“It went on forever — at least half an hour,” Zoellner said.

The mum, who works for a building company, plans to do the well-needed renovation before her daughter moves in.

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There’ll be no such work required at a Paddington home, which sold for a whopping $6.72m at last night’s auction.

Richardson & Wrench Double Bay’s Marion Badenoch and Veronika Turnbull were guiding $6m before the Wentworth Courier House of the Week at the start of the campaign but this rose to $6.6m as interest grew in 13 Stephen St.

No. 13 Stephen St, Paddington, is freestanding and extra wide at 12m across.

It has beautiful interiors.

It was called onto the market at $6.6m last night.

With auctioneer Jesse Davidson presiding, the bidding opened at $5.9m and initially rose in $50k increments, with then a series of $10,000 and $5000 offers.

It was also a long auction lasting about half an hour.

There’d been 104 people through the home during the campaign. “It was a great result,” said Badenoch.

“Wide freestanding homes in Paddington are rare … the space brought them here.

“There were five generous bedrooms and four bathrooms and people loved that you could enter the home on the middle floor.”

Although the home attracted a lot of interest from Paddington families, the eventual buyers came through with a buyer’s agent and they were from outside the area.

The post Mum pays $500k over reserve to buy Surry Hills dump for her daughter appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Grand estate – 19 Prince Albert Rd, Mosman.

One of Mosman’s largest grand estates is set to come to market next week with a guide of $17 million to $18 million.

The 2770sqm property at 19 Prince Albert St, has been privately owned for about 50 years.

Built by Sydney Holland Cabban and William Henry Smith, otherwise known as Smith and Cabban, about 1905, the property known as Ardagh, will have a private VIP showing tonight ahead of its launch next week.

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Richard Simeon, of Simeon Partners, said Ardagh was one of the most significant properties to come to market in Mosman in years.

“It is one of the biggest estates in Mosman and has a rich history,” he said.

“The house itself has about 20 rooms and there is also a coach house on two levels. It’s a wonderful property.”

With spectacular views across Sydney Harbour, parklike gardens and a 40m dual street frontage, this property is perfect for family living on a grand scale.

The impressive three-level floorplan of more than 1000sqm internal includes self-contained

accommodation and the separate two-storey coach house.

19 Prince Albert St, Mosman.

An aerial view.

Every home should have a conservatory like this.

But the architecture isn’t the only aspect of the property that has a rich history.

Current owners Gary and Mary Smoker have held the property since 1994. Prior to the pharmacists lived at 9 Prince Albert St for some 22 years.

The parents’ retreat off the main bedroom.

Sweet dreams.

The upper level of the coach house.

Mrs Smoker said they had always loved No. 19, and over the years had got to know the owner, Reginald “John” Champ, a musician and ABC presenter of classical music.

Mr Champ died in 1993, and the Smokers discovered that he had decreed in his will that they be offered the first option to buy the property.

“We were shocked, but we had always loved the property,” Mrs Smoker said.

Grand spaces.

Multiple living areas.

The casual dining room.

They took the opportunity with both hands and set about major renovations. It was the home where they have watched their three children grow up.

They have held countless functions at the home, from 18th and 21st birthday celebrations, their daughter’s wedding and numerous festive season gatherings.

“I have always loved looking out at the Harbour Bridge and New Year’s Eve has always been special,” Mrs Smoker said.

The view.

Formal dining.

The cellar.

But the time has come for them to downsize and they are ready to pass the property on, she said.

“It’s just time to let somebody else enjoy it, the size of it, the swimming pool and the tennis court and the beautiful grounds,” she said.

“It has been a wonderful home and I hope another family gets to experience the same joy.”

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The post One of Mosman’s largest estate coming to market next week with $17m-$18m price guide appeared first on realestate.com.au.

This home on Campbell St in Glebe was firebombed last year.

A housing commission property in Glebe set ablaze during a night of random arson attacks has been attracting a spate of homebuyer inquiries.

The one-bedroom terrace on Campbell St was one of five properties torched in a series of deliberately lit fires in October last year and will go under the hammer this weekend.

It is expected to sell for over $700,000.

Much of the uninhabitable home has extensive smoke and fire damage and builders have estimated it would cost at least $100,000 to bring the home up to a liveable standard.

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The fire was understood have been started on the front porch, with smoke spreading into the rest of the house.

No casualties were reported from the attack but then resident Kevin Isdahl told reporters he was lucky to be alive.

The Campbell St terrace on fire in 2019. Picture: Bill Hearne

The home is now uninhabitable.

“There were big fires at the front of the house. Then this black smoke just hit me. I had black soot all over me and I ran out the back of my place,” he said after the incident.

“The ambulance took me to hospital because I had a lot of black smoke in my lung and this bad burn.”

Selling agent Peter Natoli of Ray White-Glebe will take the home to auction with a guide of $700,000 and said buyer inquiries were from a mix of builders and investors.

“Judging by the inquiries it could be a strong auction but we will see,” Mr Natoli said.

The home was one of five properties attacked in a single night.

“A lot of builders have told me the home is not as bad as it looks, it’s mostly smoke damage and the fire (damage) is mostly at the front of the house.”

Many of the keen buyers were attracted to the “potential”, Mr Natoli added.

“These types of homes tend to attract a lot of attention, partly because of the condition but also because of what you can do.”

Police reported at the time of the fire that it was one of five attacks they were investigating in the area.

Most of the damage was reported to be at the front of the home.

A nearby property at Derwent St was torched, with the flames spreading to a nearby garage.

Police also discovered a car burnt out on Westmoreland St.

Fire-damaged homes in Sydney’s popular inner west have often attracted bumper prices when going under the hammer.

Earlier this month, a burnt down Enfield house sold for $1.38m – almost $500,000 over reserve – despite lacking a roof.

The property on The Parade had been used as an alleged drug lab before going up in flames four years ago.

It was reported the two-level home had previously been used to grow marijuana but it was not known how the fire was started. Police called to the scene had identified it as “suspicious”, according to 2016 media reports.

The burnt down home on The Parade in Enfield sold for nearly $500,000 over reserve.

With 23 buyers registered to bid for the home on a 638sqm block, the price was marginally higher than the $1.32 million median price of houses in Enfield, according to realestate.com.au data.

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If you thought last year’s season of The Block was hard going – wait till you see what’s being thrown at this year’s group of intrepid Blockheads.

Not only do this year’s contestants have to contend with the advent of coronavirus, which shut down production for the show for six weeks in March, they were also thrown the added challenge of having to renovate each of their homes to a very specific era.

The Block 2020 will see homes from different periods being renovated. Picture: Channel Nine

“We have got five different eras of home this year – the tens, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties,” said host Scott Cam of the five existing homes that were craned into position on the New Street Brighton site for this teams to work on.

“Each contestant has got to put a nod to that era in their front part of the house, in the first three or four rooms.”

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As Cam explains, this proved tricky for some.

“It’s very difficult for them to work out how they are going to do that and still have a modern, 2020 version of, say, a bathroom or a bedroom, with a nod to the 1910s, ’20s or ’30s,” he explained. “They [are being ]judged on that, and that really brings a few of them unstuck in the early days.”

Read more: The Block 2020 – Meet the contestants 

Judge Neale Whitaker, who endeavours to judge each room on its own merits, taking into consideration functionality, finish and presentation, appropriateness for price-point and emotional connection, admits that adding these constraints in the early weeks put extra stress on the contestants, who needed to be conscious of their rooms gave a “nod” to the era, without feeling too much like a museum piece.

Neale Whittaker says this year’s challenge isn’t for the faint hearted. Picture: Channel Nine

“Even if we didn’t have a global pandemic on our shoulders at the moment, and if we hadn’t had that five-week hiatus in the middle, it would still have been a remarkable season, I think, because of the sheer size of the task the contestants had to take on,” he said.

“Nobody wants to live in a museum so I think [it was about] finding the defining characteristics of each era, and working out how to adapt them to create a modern home.”

House four will need to have renovations that fit with the era of the home. Picture: Channel Nine

Do they succeed? You’ll have to watch. But Whitaker says to expect some truly remarkable transformations over the course of the season.

“There was a real sense of individuality this year,” he says. “And I think it’s all credit to the contestants that they have created five homes that are so individual and are so different, yet somehow sit harmoniously alongside each other.”

The Blockheads have their work cut out for them in 2020. Picture: Channel Nine

The Block premieres this Sunday August 23, at 7pm on NINE and NineNow

The post The Block 2020’s biggest challenge for contestants…and it’s not COVID-19 appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Victoria’s evictions moratorium has been extended until the end of 2020. Source: iStock

Victorian tenants will “breathe a sigh of collective relief” now the state’s moratorium on evictions and rent hikes for those struggling through COVID-19 has been extended until the end of the year.

Treasurer Tim Pallas announced on Thursday that the bans would continue to apply for both residential and commercial tenants until December 31, well beyond the initial September 29 expiry date, with exceptions only “in rare and specific circumstances”.

Mr Pallas said further land tax relief and grant funding would be made available for residential and commercial landlords who supported struggling tenants amid Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19.

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Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas announced the extension, along with a continued freeze on rent rises until December 31. Picture: AAP/James Ross

Landlords who provided “outright rent waivers” of at least 50 per cent for at least three months would now be eligible for an additional 25 per cent land tax relief, he said.

And a $60m fund would also be established to gift eligible small commercial landlords up to $3000 per tenancy.

“Nobody should be worried about losing a roof over their head right now, particularly given the circumstances around social distancing,” Mr Pallas said.

“This is about (ensuring) those who depend upon tenancy arrangements for their shelter, their homes, are provided with adequate safeguards.

“It’s also about making sure we … provide support and assistance to landlords who do the right thing by their tenants.”

Mr Pallas said the government was also encouraging banks to “continue to do the right

thing by their customers”, and investing about $600,000 to support tenancy advocacy groups like the Victorian Council of Social Service, and Tenants Victoria.

Tenants Victoria chief executive Jennifer Beveridge said the state’s renters could now “breathe a sigh of collective relief” that they would continue to be protected from evictions if they fell behind on rent.

“If there is need for a further extension, we are confident the government will respond,” Ms Beveridge said.

The peak body for renters previously called for the moratorium to be extended to the end of March.

The government first confirmed the moratorium in April. At the same time, it unveiled a $500m package to support both tenants and landlords, which also included $420m of land tax relief for landlords who discounted rents for tenants in pandemic-related hardship, plus $80m in assistance for tenants who remained in rental stress even after discounting.

Mr Pallas said on Thursday he expected to see land tax relief claims “in excess of $100m”.

He added almost 26,000 agreements for rent reductions had been registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria in the past four months.

The Victorian Small Business Commission had also assisted with about 8000 rent-related inquiries.

Despite losing her hospitality job, Courtney Windross is still managing to afford her rent, thanks to her partner’s continued employment and JobKeeper. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mr Pallas also clarified commercial landlords would now be required to provide rent relief “in proportion with falls in turnover”.

“If you’re identifying a downturn in your capacity, your turnover, then you should have an expectation that is similarly reflected in terms of the rent relief that you get,” he said.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said a $1000 increase in the rent relief grant to $3000 was welcome news for landlords.

Further land tax concessions for impacted landlords would also help many who had been struggling amid rent reduction agreement.

“We’re still seeking clarity from government about how this change will affect pending (residential tenancy) cases in (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal), including where orders have already been issued in VCAT,” Ms Calnan said.

“We’ve also strongly advocated for the Residential Tenancies Act amendments to be postponed to July 2021 as we still haven’t seen any regulation around them.”

The 130 rent reforms have been delayed until January 1.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the protections were “important” for “both families and individuals who are renting, but also businesses who’ve got commercial arrangements and who, through no fault of their own, have got turnover that is a fraction of what it was this time last year”.

After the moratorium was initially announced, the government clarified evictions were only permitted if a tenant is engaging in threatening behaviour or maliciously damaging a property, or if a landlord is selling the home or they or their family need to move into it.

-with Jayitri Smiles, Jack Boronovskis

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

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