31 July 2023
An underquoting taskforce established by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has announced that it observed twenty-nine agencies engage in the dishonest act of underquoting from the year 2022 to 2023.
CAV reports that in the 12 months to June 30, “inspectors issued 48 underquoting infringement notices totalling more than $520,000 and issued 37 official warnings to 29 estate agencies”.
Read More12 July 2023
The NSW Government has announced in a media release today that it plans to make longer-term temporary accommodation more accessible to women and children escaping domestic and family violence, disaster victim-survivors, rough sleepers, and couch surfers.
Under the reforms, people in need can now access an initial period of seven days of temporary accommodation, instead of two days.
Read More11 July 2023
The Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is campaigning for tenants to check whether they may have unclaimed bond money being held by the RTA. The RTA has reported the following:
more than 114,000 outstanding bond payments are yet to be claimed, with almost half (46%) worth more than $300.
the average value of an outstanding bond payment held with the RTA is $454.99.
the oldest outstanding bond payment dates back to 1990.
Tenants can submit an online enquiry via the RTA website to check their records and apply to receive any bond money belonging to them.
Read More11 July 2023
Since launching community consultation around further changes to residential tenancy laws, the NSW Government has today announced the new role of rental commissioner to government.
The role of the rental commissioner will involve:
Acting as a voice for renters and working with the government and stakeholders to get moving on the reforms open for consultation now,
Being responsible for identifying and investigating other issues that impact the NSW rental market, and
Examining rental affordability and supply, encouraging longer-term rental agreements, investigating ways to improve energy efficiency for renters, developing educational resources for renters and owners, and monitoring current tenancy laws.
7 July 2023
After announcing its steps to further reform rules around rent bidding and introduce plans for a portable bond scheme, the NSW Government has today announced its plans to delve deeper into other potential residential tenancy reforms. Community consultation has begun to discuss topics such as:
Ending no-grounds evictions by requiring a reason to end a lease,
Making it easier for renters to have pets,
Protecting renters’ personal information and privacy,
Making it easier to transfer rental bonds from one property to another, and
Other ways to improve conditions for renters and take the pressure off.
4 July 2023
A former Victorian agent’s decision to withdraw $105,915 in trust account money from their company’s trust account has landed them a two-year Community Corrections Order. They have also been ordered to complete 350 hours of community service. The sentence was handed down at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week after the former agent pleaded guilty to two charges under the Estate Agents Act 1980.
Read More1 July 2023
New laws around the rate at which rent may be increased for Queensland tenancies have come into place today. Under the new laws, rent may only be increased once every 12 months. The change applies to all new and existing tenancies.
The QLD Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) has also advised that they have updated the two Pocket Guides for Tenants and tenancy agreements for general tenancies, rooming accommodation, and movable dwellings. The new forms are available on the RTA website.
Read More30 June 2023
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has banned a former agents representative from registering to work in the industry for ten years, in addition to ordering them to pay $2,500 in fines to the Victorian Property Fund.
This disciplinary action was handed down in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after the agent representative was found to have transferred more than $17,000 in account funds to his personal bank account between February and July 2019. CAV began investigations into the individual’s conduct earlier this year.
Read More27 June 2023
In a media release today, South Australia Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has announced that rent bidding within the South Australian rental market is now prohibited. Landlords and agents will no longer be able to:
advertise properties with a rent range,
put properties up for rent auction, or
solicit offers over the advertised rental price.
The new laws will also prevent third-party tenancy application platforms from rating or assessing a prospective tenant based on an offer of higher rent.
Read More27 June 2023
In their latest Property Matters issue, NSW Fair Trading has reported on the outcome of a joint investigation undertaken with NSW Police. The investigation was carried out over a two-year period and was based on the suspected trust account fraud of an agent operating out of Penrith, NSW.
The offending agent has been sentenced to two years imprisonment and has been ordered to repay $164,554 to the compensation fund.
Read More26 June 2023
Less than a month after a real estate agent lost $43,080 and two settlement agents lost a combined $64,468, a Western Australia real estate agent has lost $329,500 in trust account money after falling victim to a remote access bank scam last week.
Western Australia Consumer Protection reports that the scammer convinced the agent to download remote access software to their computer, which the scammer then used to access the agency trust account. The scammers were successful in completing a range of transactions out of the trust account while on the phone with the victim. The agent’s real bank then called to alert them that they were concerned about possible fraudulent activity on their account.
We recently published a blog post on protecting your real estate business from scam activity and fraud.
Read More18 June 2023
Earlier this year, the South Australian Government provided broader insight into the changes expected to residential tenancy laws. The Government sought and received feedback on a range of issues, including the rules around ending or not renewing a lease, maximum bond amounts, rent bidding, and tenant rights around renting with pets.
South Australia Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has today provided an update on the issue of renting with pets, and the new rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords around the issue.
Read More
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