Wandi property manager fined for operating without a licence

A WANDI property manager has been fined $5000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for operating without a licence.

Josephine Wei-Wei Liau purported to be a licensed property manager between June 2013 November 2015.

Ms Liau was managing a property in Willetton through her unregistered business Emerald Property Management after her registration expired in March 2013.

Between June 2013 and November 2015, Ms Liau collected rent, negotiated lease renewals, arranged repairs and charged management fees to the owner of the Willetton property while not being licensed, in breach of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act.

It is her second conviction under the act after being fined $10,000 by Perth Magistrates Court for 16 breaches under various legislation including that same offence of operating as a real estate agent without a licence and current triennial certificate.

She claimed to represent an agency which had no knowledge of the properties under their management.

She also misrepresented the actual amount of rent she was collecting on behalf of property owners.

Magistrate Steven Heath stated during sentencing that it must have been clear after her first conviction that Ms Liau could not continue to operate and continue to receive payment.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said Ms Liau’s continued misconduct shows she has little regard for the laws regulating the real estate industry.

“Despite receiving a substantial fine for deceptive and illegal conduct in 2014, Ms Liau went on to operate knowing that she was unlicensed,” he said.

“By purporting to be licensed, Ms Liau represented that she was bound by the code of conduct that underpins the licensing system and ensures high professional standards within the industry.”

More information on the obligations of real estate agents, sales representatives and property managers is available on the Consumer Protection website: www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au or enquiries can be made by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

She was also ordered to pay costs of $1784.