A Christchurch realtor has been fined $7500 for failing to tell a potential buyer a property had already been sold and stringing her along for months.
It is one of the biggest fines ever handed down by the Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA). One other fine, of the same amount, has also been imposed previously.
The would-be buyer laid a complaint against Century 21 real estate agent David Randall in January this year, claiming he misled her and employed stalling tactics over her bid to buy a Christchurch home.
The complainant made an offer on the house in July last year, which she later reduced after viewing the property a second time.
Randall did not give a final response to her second offer and allegedly made excuses every time she contacted him in the following months.