People are taking advantage of a watchdog to lay unfounded complaints against reputable real estate agents, a Tauranga real estate boss says.
Nearly 3000 complaints have been lodged with the Real Estate Agents' Authority (REAA) since its launch in 2009, including 156 against agents in the Bay of Plenty region. Most of the region's complaints related to licensee conduct, 17 were for problems with marketing or advertising, and three cited a conflict of interest.
Twenty-three were ruled to be "unsatisfactory conduct", 66 warranted no further action and one agent was found guilty of misconduct. The rest were withdrawn, resolved or the REAA did not to inquire into them.
Ross Stanway, chief executive of Realty Services, which operates Bayleys and Eves, said it was "very easy" for people to complain to the REAA. But it was important to focus on the proportion that were upheld.
That only 24 cases were upheld out of 156 complaints implied consumers were taking advantage of their rights under the legislation, he said. However, there had "absolutely" been a change in standards within the industry.