Are you an ACT agent who deals with developers? Have your say on developer regulation

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Are you an ACT agent who deals with developers? Have your say on developer regulation

7 February 2023

Are you an agent in the ACT who deals with property developers? As key property industry stakeholders, real estate agents bring valuable community insight and perspective when it comes to new property developments.

The ACT Government has announced in a recent media release that they have opened consultation with the community to ask for its views on a discussion paper that considers a range of issues and proposes different options for developer regulation.

The discussion paper looks at a range of approaches to improving the accountability of developers and providing consumers with greater information about developments and the developers behind them.

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NT Government announces new rent framework to strengthen remote housing sector

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NT Government announces new rent framework to strengthen remote housing sector

1 February 2023

The Northern Territory Government has announced in a media release this week that it will be rolling out a ‘Remote Rent Framework’, with the aim of providing financial sustainability to “complement the Territory Labor Government’s $2.1 billion remote housing program that includes the construction and upgrade of homes across the NT as well as civil infrastructure.”

The transition to the new rent model will take place for tenants in remote areas (including community living areas in Tennant Creek) on 6 February.

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Former Victorian estate agent investigated for falsified records and misuse of trust account funds

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Former Victorian estate agent investigated for falsified records and misuse of trust account funds

30 January 2023

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is acting against a former estate agent for the alleged falsification of records and misuse of more than $17,000 in trust account funds.

The former agent’s employer conducted an internal investigation upon identifying the discrepancy in funds and subsequently contacted CAV to report the issue. The trust account funds were restored using the agency’s company operating account.

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Attention NSW stockies: Minister for Agriculture announces funding for key stakeholders to implement electronic stock ID

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Attention NSW stockies: Minister for Agriculture announces funding for key stakeholders to implement electronic stock ID

23 December 2022

As the digital age advances, so must our ability to adapt to new electronic capabilities within the property industry. The stock and station sector is no exception, with one such example of digital advancements being the implementation of mandatory electronic identification for sheep and farmed goats.

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Rent bidding to be made illegal in NSW for new listings from 17 December 2022

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Rent bidding to be made illegal in NSW for new listings from 17 December 2022

12 December 2022

On the heels of the ACT Government’s announcement that rent bidding in the territory may soon be prohibited, the NSW Government has since confirmed their intention to follow suit.

The new laws against rent bidding in NSW will be introduced through changes to regulations under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002.

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ACT residential tenancy law reform: Ending no-cause evictions and rent bidding

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ACT residential tenancy law reform: Ending no-cause evictions and rent bidding

5 December 2022

Changes are coming to the current ACT residential tenancy legislation, the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (the Act).

The Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (the Bill) was introduced to the ACT Legislative Assembly on 30 November 2022.

The Bill proposed to:

  • End no-cause evictions and introduce new ‘with cause’ termination provisions to support landlords to manage their properties

  • Restrict solicited rent bidding

  • Allow tenants greater freedom to grow their own food and compost

  • Create a framework to support the introduction of minimum housing standards for rental properties.

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Review of NSW rental laws: Domestic violence and renting with pets

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Review of NSW rental laws: Domestic violence and renting with pets

28 November 2022

NSW Fair Trading announced in their latest issue of The Letterbox today that the regulator is now in consultation with the community regarding residential tenancy laws. The main topics of discussion include:

  • a review of the 2019 reforms made to the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 surrounding tenants experiencing domestic violence, and

  • whether laws around keeping pets in a rental property should change.

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Western Australia Consumer Protection issues $16,000 in fines over unregistered sales representative

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Western Australia Consumer Protection issues $16,000 in fines over unregistered sales representative

24 November 2022

Western Australia Consumer Protection has published a tribunal outcome on its website this week, detailing disciplinary action taken against a Perth agency for breaches under the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978. The breaches involved improper supervision of the agency and an unregistered individual working as a sales representative, who was found to also be accepting commission payments.

The disciplinary action was administered in the form of $16,000 worth of fines to the persons involved.

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Further misconduct within Victorian property industry: Former agent charged for misusing trust funds

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Further misconduct within Victorian property industry: Former agent charged for misusing trust funds

23 November 2022

As the result of several legal actions currently underway in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and the courts, yet another estate agent has been charged for trust fund misappropriation.

The now-former estate agent was found to have embezzled more than $100,000 in funds belonging to their clients.

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Review of Western Australia's domestic violence tenancy law reforms

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Review of Western Australia's domestic violence tenancy law reforms

23 November 2022

Western Australia Consumer Protection has advised they will be conducting community consultation on changes to residential tenancy laws that came into effect in April 2019. The aim of the consultation campaign is to seek feedback as to the effectiveness of the family and domestic violence provisions that currently exist, while assessing the impact they have had on affected tenants and landlords.

The consultation will take place from 25 November to 10 December 2022.

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Former Victorian agent sentenced to community corrections order and 300 hours of unpaid community work

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Former Victorian agent sentenced to community corrections order and 300 hours of unpaid community work

21 November 2022

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) recently reported that a former Victorian estate agent has been convicted of withdrawing more than $100,000 worth of trust account funds, with the intention of abusing the funds for their own personal use (a deposit on a commercial property in the Melbourne CBD).

The outcome follows earlier court proceedings against the agent, which commenced back in February 2021.

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Tasmanian agent has licence suspended, ordered to pay a total of $12,500

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Tasmanian agent has licence suspended, ordered to pay a total of $12,500

16 November 2022

The Property Agents Board of Tasmania (‘The Board’) has published a recent tribunal decision on their website this month. The redacted tribunal outcome details disciplinary action taken against an agent for improper operation as a licensed property agent while engaged to manage the rental properties of four separate clients.

The Board’s complaints against the property agent relate to “conduct not of a reasonable standard of competence and diligence,” and claim that the agent was guilty of ‘professional misconduct’ and ‘unsatisfactory professional conduct’ as defined under section 83 of the Property Agents and Land Transactions Act 2016.

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