27 September 2022
The Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is encouraging tenants, property managers, and property owners to take time to understand the upcoming rental law reforms, including how the changes may impact their rights and obligations, and to make necessary preparations.
Read More14 September 2022
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has reported today that they will be targeting unfair business practices used by unethical estate agents, including the practice of underquoting. The property industry regulator has been allocated $3.8 million to allow inspectors, investigators, information analysts, and legal officers to effectively carry out the task.
Underquoting involves advertising a property for sale at “a price below the estimated selling price, the seller's asking price, or a price that has been rejected as too low by the seller”.
Read More12 September 2022
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has published a court outcome notice on their website today, advising that an estate agency has been convicted and fined in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. The conviction and disciplinary action are the result of the estate agency’s threats to deny three international students legal access to their rental properties at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More7 September 2022
WA Consumer Protection has reported a rise in fake social media ads that make use of stolen images of legitimate rental properties, to lure in people eager to secure a rental property. Victims of these scams have fallen into the trap of making hasty decisions and transferring money to secure a rental property without carrying out proper checks. Consumer Protection has advised that landlords and agents must also be cautious when posting ads for rental properties, as scammers may respond.
Read More7 September 2022
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) published a news alert on their website last week, outlining action being taken against an estate agent with a history of unprofessional conduct. The alleged misconduct includes the mishandling of clients’ money. The agent is now facing the prospect of being banned from holding an estate agent licence.
Read More30 August 2022
The new Property and Stock Agents Regulation 2022 supports the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002.
Almost all agent obligations remain the same. There are some minor changes that improve consumer protections and reduce the administrative load for agents.
Read More22 August 2022
15 August 2022
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has published a notice on their website today, advising that they will be commencing court proceedings against Christopher Michael and Australian Property Management Solutions (APMS) Pty Ltd. It is alleged that Mr Michael accepted thousands of dollars in payments from contractors to refer work to them, failed to provide them with leads he had promised, and then failed to provide refunds.
Read More8 August 2022
Following feedback collected during NSW Fair Trading’s Property Services Listening Tour earlier this year, the Secretary has decided to establish an independent commissioner for the NSW property services sector.
The decision comes following significant reforms to the industry in March 2020 and is a timely application of additional regulation, after 206 NSW agents were found to be non-compliant with the new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines in April of this year.
Read More1 August 2022
Licence holders and property representatives in Tasmania must complete 12 points of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training by 30 June each year, consisting of:
8 points (of the 12 points) industry-specific CPD; and
4 points (of the industry-specific CPD) need to be delivered by an external provider.
The term "external provider" means that the CPD activity is delivered by a person external to the organisation by which the property agent is employed.
Read More27 July 2022
Since October 2021, the Queensland Government has been making incremental changes to tenancy laws. The changes have been rolled out in phases, with the first phase being implemented on 20 October 2021 - the introduction of greater domestic and family violence protections for tenants and residents.
The next phase will be coming into effect on 1 October 2022. The changes will include updates to legislation concerning renting with pets, ending a tenancy, and repair orders.
Read More
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