The view the Ogilvys ended up with after they had bought their house.
The view the Ogilvys ended up with after they had bought their house.
Woman fined for not telling buyers home was her parents’ and sea vista would be lost.
A Tauranga real estate agent who sold a house without revealing a stunning sea view would be partially blocked has been fined $8000.
The Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal imposed that penalty on Tanya Dunham of LJ Hooker Tauranga after she was found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct when it emerged she knew about building plans before she sold her parents' home in Forrester Drive.
The owner of the property across the road had told her he planned a new double garage with a second storey above, the tribunal said.
"He asked Ms Dunham to advise any potential purchasers of his plans as the construction would affect the property's water views. He also offered to provide Ms Dunham with a copy of the plans," the tribunal said.
"Ms Dunham acknowledged receipt of the email but did not obtain the plans. However, she altered the marketing material for the property so as not to include a picture of the view that would be affected."
Jared and Rosalie Ogilvy were attracted to the property by its view, making that clear to the agent.
The purchase settled on September 2, 2013. By December 18, 2013, they noticed construction had started of the second storey across the road. Views from their property were significantly affected, the tribunal noted.
After hearing of the $8000 fine, Jared Ogilvy expressed anger and disbelief. "It's a ridiculous amount of equity we've lost - at least $60,000," he said of the lost views.
"We purchased the house in good faith, ticking all the boxes and she knew full well and she knew the importance of buying that property for the view," Ogilvy said.
The view the Ogilvys started with.
"We could have purchased lots of other properties without that view which were considerably cheaper."
Submissions for Dunham at the penalty hearing in Auckland on July 4 argued that her omission to advise the Ogilvys of the extent of the building plans was at the lowest end of the range of disgraceful conduct. But she did acknowledge from the outset that she had failed to make written disclosure of her relationship to the vendors - her parents.
"She had taken steps to improve her practices, she felt remorseful, she has had 23 years' experience in the industry without any previous disciplinary action against her, she was the sole breadwinner for her family and she had been vilified by recent publicity of this case, which had included threats and hate messages," the tribunal said.
Professional associates submitted character references for her.
Public interest did not require her omission to be met with suspension from working as a real estate agent, her lawyer submitted.
The tribunal agreed.
"However we regard Ms Dunham's conduct as being serious and it requires censure and a fine," the tribunal said.
