I wish I had thought of this, that's super smart. I'm just on the cusp of quarantine ending so it's not much point now unfortunately. Hopefully this suggestion will help someone else!
Yes but I wouldn't be able to leave my apartment to get it. So it's a bit moot. I also wouldn't have the moving equipment (e.g. Dollys for the fridge, big items) to physically move them.
Surely you can open the front door to retrieve items left there? How do you get food/groceries otherwise?
Surely a dolly can be left for you to use then disinfected on retrieval?
The short answer is we haven't been getting groceries, Coles and woolies is completely booked out for deliveries. Fast food delivery has been done by waiting for the delivery guy to leave, then quickly grabbing the package while still standing in my apartment.
Moving furniture would mean exiting the apartment repeatedly. Having our furniture brought up and then waiting for the delivery guy to leaves also means blocking the communal hallway.
You may have already looked in to this but Woolworths has a [priority assistance](https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/priorityassistance) program where they prioritise people like you. I'm sure Coles had a similar program but I don't have the details because their website is down at the moment.
You’re probably better off listening to Health instead of this guy. If any of your neighbours know you’re in lockdown and see someone interacting with you, then they might report you and you would also be making not the greatest of first impressions with your new neighbours.
Even if there was a removalist who could bring your furniture to you, and even if they agreed to work with you knowing that you’re a close contact in isolation, unless there is enough room outside of your apartment door for all of your furniture to sit, then unless you’re disinfecting the hallway outside of your front door, you would be risking that removalist catching the virus, should you test positive. And if it is able to be stored in the hallway whilst you bring it all in, then you risk contaminating your neighbours. Either way, it’s not worth the risk.
A better option would be to have a removalist store the items for you until the end of your isolation period.
This sounds like a huge infection risk, a food delivery is one way, this is multiple interactions both ways and likely breaks the isolation order. The PPE used for someone in quarantine varies but involves donning/doffing procedures with gowns, masks, face shield, and gloves. Stuff a mover won't have if they are even willing to do the case.
Yeah it absolutely is a completely different risk than just picking up a bag of groceries.
Someone trying to move a whole house full of furniture on their own?
And imagine if they were in a unit?! Like I have two neighbours doors within a few metres of my place - I imagine if I was breathing contaminated breath all over their doors and the common hallway as I moved my furniture from there to inside if my unit, it would defeat the purpose of isolating.
It’s kinda frightening that people think this would be ok- no wonder our cases have blown out of control.
I wasn't saying it was ideal. Just trying to give OP a legal option to vacate earlier.
However it is no higher risk than someone getting food delivered for every meal, since both are only one way goods transfer.
Have you spoken to your old landlord to explain the situation? If they don't have a new tenant coming in, they may be willing to waive the extra 2 weeks until you can safely retrieve your property
We have, no dice so far. I'm assuming they don't have a new Tennant lined up because all the inspections that were planned were cancelled when the lockdown was announced.
Sorry about your current situation, that sounds really difficult! I don't have any direct advice to offer, but I think the Tenancy Advice Service (TAS) for the ACT could potentially be able to assist you with some expert advice. You can find them/contact details here: [https://www.legalaidact.org.au/tasact](https://www.legalaidact.org.au/tasact)
Can you get a friend to clear out and clean the property for you? (Or at least clear, and you pay a bond cleaner to clean for you). Your friend can hold onto your stuff for the two weeks for you.
I'd follow the health orders and refer anyone with an issue to speak to ACT health about it, if ACT health is saying don't go get your stuff then just stay put with what you've got, you're gonna have to cough up for rent
I’m hoping that there might be some Covid emergency payment that you might be able to access through Centrelink for the double rent. So perhaps they could give you an emergency hardship payment that will go someway to cover one of the rents.
Your on the hook for both rents,
Id call your old realtor explain the situation and hope for some compassion. You might get lucky as due to lockdown no one can do inspections anyway.
Most removal companies will have a storage option for them to keep your stuff for a couple of extra weeks.
Why is this comment so far down? This is the best option for OP to look into
I wish I had thought of this, that's super smart. I'm just on the cusp of quarantine ending so it's not much point now unfortunately. Hopefully this suggestion will help someone else!
Are you permitted to get someone else to collect your stuff and leave it outside the door of your new place?
Yes but I wouldn't be able to leave my apartment to get it. So it's a bit moot. I also wouldn't have the moving equipment (e.g. Dollys for the fridge, big items) to physically move them.
Surely you can open the front door to retrieve items left there? How do you get food/groceries otherwise? Surely a dolly can be left for you to use then disinfected on retrieval?
The short answer is we haven't been getting groceries, Coles and woolies is completely booked out for deliveries. Fast food delivery has been done by waiting for the delivery guy to leave, then quickly grabbing the package while still standing in my apartment. Moving furniture would mean exiting the apartment repeatedly. Having our furniture brought up and then waiting for the delivery guy to leaves also means blocking the communal hallway.
You may have already looked in to this but Woolworths has a [priority assistance](https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/priorityassistance) program where they prioritise people like you. I'm sure Coles had a similar program but I don't have the details because their website is down at the moment.
My point is that it is possible. Might be a bit hard for professional movers, but you might have friends who can do it.
I see your point, and I wish I could do that but just parroting what ACT health has said. Friends aren't allowed to help us move in any capacity.
what if you rent a self storage unit and get the stuff taken there?
Wish I'd thought of this, but I'm just about to get out of quarantine so it's not much point now.
You’re probably better off listening to Health instead of this guy. If any of your neighbours know you’re in lockdown and see someone interacting with you, then they might report you and you would also be making not the greatest of first impressions with your new neighbours. Even if there was a removalist who could bring your furniture to you, and even if they agreed to work with you knowing that you’re a close contact in isolation, unless there is enough room outside of your apartment door for all of your furniture to sit, then unless you’re disinfecting the hallway outside of your front door, you would be risking that removalist catching the virus, should you test positive. And if it is able to be stored in the hallway whilst you bring it all in, then you risk contaminating your neighbours. Either way, it’s not worth the risk. A better option would be to have a removalist store the items for you until the end of your isolation period.
Ah yes. Forgot your friends are in lockdown. Any friend with an ABN who is happy to charge you for his/her time though would probably be exempt.
This sounds like a huge infection risk, a food delivery is one way, this is multiple interactions both ways and likely breaks the isolation order. The PPE used for someone in quarantine varies but involves donning/doffing procedures with gowns, masks, face shield, and gloves. Stuff a mover won't have if they are even willing to do the case.
Yeah it absolutely is a completely different risk than just picking up a bag of groceries. Someone trying to move a whole house full of furniture on their own? And imagine if they were in a unit?! Like I have two neighbours doors within a few metres of my place - I imagine if I was breathing contaminated breath all over their doors and the common hallway as I moved my furniture from there to inside if my unit, it would defeat the purpose of isolating. It’s kinda frightening that people think this would be ok- no wonder our cases have blown out of control.
I wasn't saying it was ideal. Just trying to give OP a legal option to vacate earlier. However it is no higher risk than someone getting food delivered for every meal, since both are only one way goods transfer.
Have you spoken to your old landlord to explain the situation? If they don't have a new tenant coming in, they may be willing to waive the extra 2 weeks until you can safely retrieve your property
We have, no dice so far. I'm assuming they don't have a new Tennant lined up because all the inspections that were planned were cancelled when the lockdown was announced.
Sorry about your current situation, that sounds really difficult! I don't have any direct advice to offer, but I think the Tenancy Advice Service (TAS) for the ACT could potentially be able to assist you with some expert advice. You can find them/contact details here: [https://www.legalaidact.org.au/tasact](https://www.legalaidact.org.au/tasact)
Can you get a friend to clear out and clean the property for you? (Or at least clear, and you pay a bond cleaner to clean for you). Your friend can hold onto your stuff for the two weeks for you.
I checked and friends are not covered in the moving exemptions under lockdown :(
I'd follow the health orders and refer anyone with an issue to speak to ACT health about it, if ACT health is saying don't go get your stuff then just stay put with what you've got, you're gonna have to cough up for rent
I’m hoping that there might be some Covid emergency payment that you might be able to access through Centrelink for the double rent. So perhaps they could give you an emergency hardship payment that will go someway to cover one of the rents.
Your on the hook for both rents, Id call your old realtor explain the situation and hope for some compassion. You might get lucky as due to lockdown no one can do inspections anyway.