Estate agent listed property incorrectly

File photo

A Whakatane Harcourts real estate agent has been censured for continually advertising incorrect details about a property.

In a decision released by the Real Estate Agents Authority today, a complaints committee said Graham Eastwood advertised a lifestyle block in the local newspaper earlier this year, describing it as halfway between Whakatane and Tauranga when it was actually halfway between Te Puke and Whakatane.

Despite contacting Mr Eastwood, the complainant Mrs M found the property's address was incorrectly advertised several more times during the following five weeks, including in an open home advertisement which no one showed up to.

Mrs M complained to the manager of the Whakatane branch, and claimed that Mr Eastwood thought the incorrect advertising was a "great joke".

In its decision, the committee said that despite the error being brought to Mr Eastwood's attention soon after the first incident he did little to correct it, and that it was his responsibility to check and approve the advertising.

"In the committee's view the actions of Mr Eastwood falls below the general level of competence and care that should be expected by Mrs M," the decision read.

"The committee has decided to censure Mr Eastwood for his conduct."

It asked for an investigator to obtain any prior disciplinary decisions in respect to Mr Eastwood.

- NZPA