{"id":212504,"date":"2018-06-28T12:58:47","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T02:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=212504"},"modified":"2020-07-29T11:10:41","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T01:10:41","slug":"crackdown-on-real-estate-rorts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/06\/28\/crackdown-on-real-estate-rorts\/","title":{"rendered":"Crackdown On Real Estate Rorts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D\u2019Ath<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 28, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

A joint agency crackdown on real estate agents withholding tenants\u2019 bonds in Queensland has led to investigations against 13 agents, with a further 20 targeted for follow-up.<\/p>\n

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) partnered for a joint compliance operation during January to April.<\/p>\n

Attorney-General Yvette D\u2019Ath said the operation was established in response to concerns that tenants\u2019 rights were being ignored by agents who weren\u2019t lodging bonds with the RTA within required timeframes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBond money does not belong to a real estate agent and must be transferred to the RTA correctly and within legislated timeframes,\u201d Mrs D\u2019Ath said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost agents are doing the right thing. But it\u2019s important that tenants are treated fairly and legally, and I\u2019m pleased to see action taken against non-compliant agencies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis behaviour also impacts on the broader integrity of the industry and I know agents welcome such investigations so that all are not tarred with the same brush.\u201d<\/p>\n

The OFT issued statutory notices to 54 real estate agencies across the State, requesting agents provide their rent roll information to the OFT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The rent rolls were then compared against bonds held with the RTA to identify any potential bond money discrepancies.<\/p>\n

Of the 54 statutory notices issued:<\/strong><\/p>\n