CAV fines Melbourne agency
Consumer Affairs Victoria has fined Biggin & Scott’s for operating a Carnegie agency while a director did not have the appropriate licence.
That broker, Dragan Mrkela, did not meet the Office in Effective Control requirements to lead an agency, the authority said.
Biggin & Scott managing director Kevin Biggin didn’t comment when contacted by The Sunday Age.
The company’s website now shows Michael Kurts leads that office.
“Real estate licences and associated laws and regulations impose high standards of honesty, probity and professionalism on agents, particularly around handling client money in trust accounts,” Consumer Affairs minister Tony Robinson said.
“Breaches of real estate laws are taken very seriously,” he added.
“This action is a lesson for real estate companies to stick to the law.
“While most Victorian real estate agents comply with the law, CAV will pursue the rogue operators who flout industry specific regulations and general consumer protection laws”.
The CAV said trading without a licence can attract fines or imprisonment.
