Watchdog warns rule breakers
The real estate watchdog is warning of “major consequences” for salespeople who break the rules after an agent was stripped of his licence for on-selling a couple’s home twice on the same day.
Aaron Hughes and two former Barfoot & Thompson colleagues were charged by the Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) in connection with the on-selling of two homes in 2014. One, at 71 Fitzroy St, Papatoetoe, was re-sold by Hughes on the same day for an extra $100,000, earning him double commission totalling about $45,000. The other, at 14 Carlie St, Papatoetoe, was sold three times in 11 days with its price escalating by $95,000.
Hughes and fellow Papatoetoe branch agent Kymm Hape were both given final warnings in late 2014, and their then manager Avind Lal was dismissed. The REAA laid misconduct charges against Hughes and Lal, and a lesser charge of unsatisfactory conduct against Hape. The trio admitted the charges at a Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal hearing in July and a penalty decision was issued by the tribunal yesterday.
Hughes has now had his licence cancelled.
Hughes said last night he never set out to be dishonest. However, he accepted the tribunal’s decision. The tribunal suspended Lal’s licence for 10 months.
Barfoot director Peter Thompson said the penalties seemed appropriate.