ACT Commissioner for Fair Trading, David Snowden, has warned that individuals who make false representations to the Canberra community will face serious consequences. This follows the recent conviction of an unlicensed real estate agent in the ACT Magistrates Court.
On 30 March 2015, Mr Neale John Emanuel was convicted for offences under the Agents Act 2003 and the Competition & Consumer Act 2010 (the Australian Consumer Law).
“A series of complaints received from tenants and landlords initiated an investigation by the Office of Regulatory Services into the business of Mr Emanuel,” Mr Snowden said.
Mr Emanuel was subsequently charged, and convicted, of acting as an unlicensed agent and engaging in conduct in which he made false and misleading representations to tenants and lessors. He was placed on an 18 month Good Behaviour Order, fined $7500 and ordered to pay court costs.
Mr Emanuel was previously a licensed real estate agent, however his licence expired in 2006.
He subsequently engaged in real estate property management for several properties while unlicensed.
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker identified that Mr Emanuel had willingly exposed his clients to serious risks by failing to obtain the required licence to provide real estate services.
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