Real estate agent censured

A real estate sales manager who allegedly pressured sellers into giving his company a listing, then managed it poorly, has been censured.

The Real Estate Agents Authority found that Campbell Scott, whose employer was not named, engaged in unsatisfactory conduct.

But the authority found that the conduct fell at the lower end of the scale and did not amount to misconduct which could have resulted in orders being made against Mr Scott by the Licencing Board.

The complainants, identified as B1 and B2, were executors of a family estate after their father/brother died.

They approached a real estate agent who worked for Mr Scott's company to market and sell the property but then decided they did not want him involved.

Mr Scott then got in touch with the two complainants and asserted the company had a valid contract and would take legal action if not given the listing.

Throughout the course of the sale, the complainants said Mr Scott charged them for marketing costs that he had at first agreed to waive and also involved Mr A in the sale though they specifically asked he not be part of it.

The complainants went to the authority after an investigation by one of the company's directors was unsatisfactory to them.

The authority noted in its decision that the company refunded the marketing costs, admitted it made mistakes and apologised to the complainants.

But Mr Scott was found not to have properly managed the company's contractual obligations and was found to have engaged in unsatisfactory conduct under the Real Estate Agents Act.

The authority dismissed complaints by B1 and B2 against all other parties.

- NZPA