A property manager has been reprimanded and fined $1,500 by the State Administrative Tribunal for operating without a current certificate of registration.

Shamela Rima Neilson was working for an Attadale real estate agency when her real estate sales representative registration expired in March 2017, but continued to carry out duties as a property manager in breach of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act.

In the nine months until her registration was renewed in December 2017, Ms Neilson had executed 20 Exclusive Management Authorities and 13 residential tenancy agreements on behalf of the agency.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said all real estate agents and sales representatives have an obligation to ensure their licences and registrations are up to date.

“To operate without a valid licence or registration is a serious breach of the law, so careful attention must be given to ensure that they are current and, if they lapse, the agent or sales rep must cease carrying out any related duties,” Mr Hillyard said.

“Reminders are sent out by Consumer Protection prior to licences or registrations expiring, so we recommend that they are renewed straight away so there is no risk of operating illegally.”

The Commissioner also reminds all licensees that they too have an obligation under the Code of Conduct to take all reasonable steps to ensure that every person employed in or engaged by the business keep their licence or registration current. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary proceedings against those licensees. Consumer Protection has an online search facility to check the current licence status.

More information on the obligations of real estate agents and sales representatives is available on the Consumer Protection website or enquiries can be made by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au