31 August 2023
In the latest issue of ‘Property Matters’, NSW Fair Trading has reminded licensees in charge that they must ensure any assistant agents working under their supervision since March 2020 must apply for their Class 2 licence by 22 March 2024.
Read More11 August 2023
Queensland Fair Trading has released a media statement on its website today, outlining an agent’s requirement to pay over $13,300 in fines and compensation after pleading guilty to a total of 13 charges laid by Fair Trading. The charges relate to trust account breaches and charging clients for unauthorised expenses.
Read More3 August 2023
In a media release posted online today, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has announced the commencement of court action against an agency after it was found to be acting whilst unlicensed.
The Sunshine-based agency is reported to face up to $165,220 in potential fines. Additionally, it also faces charges of:
failing to notify the Director of CAV within 14 days of opening a statutory trust account, and
failing to meet an inspector’s investigation requirements, as required under the Estate Agents Act.
1 August 2023
In a media release today, the NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, announces that applications are now open for saleyards and processors to apply for part of the $38 million ‘Sheep and Goat eID Infrastructure Rebate Scheme’. It is understood that the electronic identification (eID) support for the NSW sheep and goat industries intends to boost biosecurity in NSW.
So, when can stock and station agents apply?
The application window for the NSW Sheep and Goat eID Infrastructure Rebate Scheme for saleyards and processors is from 1 August until 31 January 2024, and 3 October until 31 March 2024 for producers and stock and station agents.
Early applications are encouraged, as funding is limited, and applications will be considered in order of date received.
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 More
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