Frankfurt It’s an image that many in big cities have gotten used to. If a cheap advertisement comes up, 100 people are often queuing to view the apartment in order to convince real estate agents and landlords of themselves or at least to take them into the narrower circle of applicants.
But the corona crisis has changed some traditional rules for brokering on the real estate market and thus also ended these collective viewings for the time being.
The importance of the home at home has continued to rise, and people are looking for new homes and moving even during the pandemic. However, this can be more complicated than usual. Even a handshake with the broker is a thing of the past.
What else is allowed to interested parties and providers? How can an apartment still be viewed despite contact restrictions and hygiene regulations? In the following, the Handelsblatt answers the five most important questions that both sides should be aware of at the moment.
Yes, houses and apartments can still be viewed – only the procedure is currently different from what many interested parties and providers are used to. In the case of inhabited apartments, only individual viewings are allowed, with sufficient distance and cough and sneeze labels, as the online portal Immowelt explains.
The applicable contact restrictions of the respective federal states should also be observed. However, the visit is not a private meeting, which the state would like to prevent as much as possible, according to the real estate association IVD.
The current tenant must generally allow the viewing – despite the pandemic, says Florian Kappes, specialist lawyer for tenancy law from Landsberg. However, the landlord cannot unilaterally set appointments, nor can the tenant block appointments for several weeks. The tenant can, however, demand that the visits be staggered on one day or that the visitors wear masks. “You have to rely on mutual goodwill, which sometimes works more or less,” says the lawyer.
Are there other ways to get an idea of the apartment?
Absolutely. On online portals such as Immoscout24 or with brokers such as Engel & Völkers, providers can offer pictures and PDF files as well as a virtual tour of the advertised property. In this way, interested parties have the opportunity to get an impression of the apartment on the computer or smartphone.
In order to create a virtual tour, however, the property must be scanned by the real estate agent, according to Engel & Völkers. A digital image is then created from this data, in which visitors can move around using VR glasses. This takes between one and five hours, depending on the size of the object.
Specialized companies offer the creation of a 3D tour for apartments of up to 100 square meters for a price between 500 and 700 euros. This form of presenting the apartment is therefore particularly worthwhile for high-quality properties that are intended to appeal to a well-off and technology-savvy clientele. Interested parties should consider that virtual tours are not a substitute for an on-site inspection of the property, as the German Tenants’ Association emphasizes. In addition, tenants have a 14-day right of withdrawal in this case, as attorney Kappes explains.
Can friends help with the move?
Basically yes, but only with restrictions. The current Corona requirements of the respective federal states apply – some of which differ by region. As a rule, only one meeting of two households with a maximum size of five people is currently allowed, which greatly limits the number of private individuals who are allowed to lend a hand when moving.
Apartment visits with several people are not possible in the pandemic.
(Photo: dpa)
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On the other hand, professional moving companies – and of course all roommates living in your own household – are allowed to help without restriction. However, the professional helpers have to behave more carefully than usual in Corona times. The vehicles have to be disinfected on a regular basis and some packaging materials have to be disposed of by the customers for hygienic reasons.
Many companies distribute their employees, as far as possible, to several vehicles and equip them with gloves. Otherwise, the following applies: Anyone who is infected or waiting for a test result is not allowed to leave the apartment – and also not to move.
Can I conclude a contract digitally?
In theory, nothing speaks against reaching a virtual agreement on a new lease or real estate purchase. In practice, however, physical presence on site is desired again at the latest when going to the notary. Meetings and advice appointments can often be made by phone or video.
However, the contracting parties still have to sign the purchase contract by hand and in the presence of a notary, emphasizes Kappes. Buyers and sellers who belong to the risk group could also be represented by confidants when making their declaration to the notary. Such a power of attorney must, however, also be notarized for real estate contracts – which does not make going to the notary superfluous.
Rental contracts, on the other hand, can in principle be concluded by e-mail, unless both contracting parties have agreed otherwise. As a result, it is sufficient for the contract to be signed, scanned and then sent as an e-mail attachment. Large housing corporations like LEG Real Estate now offer this service for rental contracts. In any case, the contract should be in writing, advises lawyer Kappes. Otherwise it could be difficult to substantiate the agreements later.
What should be considered when handing over the apartment?
If the tenant checks the handover protocol with the owner before moving out, this can also turn out to be more complicated in Corona times than it used to be. In view of the current situation, the tenants’ association points out that there is no obligation to hand over the apartment in person.
Alternatively, the tenant and landlord can enter the apartment separately from one another and inspect it. Photos should be made, which you can then send to each other for voting. The tenants’ association also recommends having a witness document the condition of the apartment. The protocol and the keys are then given to the landlord. The subsequent communication can take place by email or post.
More: Double-digit increase in rental prices: Housing is becoming more and more expensive, even in smaller cities
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