8 June 2011

Stigmatised properties. What the agent should tell you.

| Charlotte
Join the conversation
12
mugga lane zoo

The Office of Regulatory Services has released a reminder to ACT real estate agents on their duties of disclosure in relation to stigmatised property – that is, any property with a stigma attached to it.

There is no set list of what a stigma is, but it applies to anything that could affect the value of the property. Examples given by the ORS include:

    — The history of the property, such as if gruesome murders or suicide occurred there.

    — Health and safety issues such as proximity to toxic waste or chemical residue.

    — Proximity to other properties with a history or to unsound or violent neighbours.

    — Any other matter that is so clearly relevant to buyers they cannot be expected to be ignored.

ACT real estate agents have a duty under the Agents Regulation 2003 and the Australian Consumer Law 2010 to tell buyers of any such stigmas and act honestly, fairly and professionally.

Agents face criminal penalties up to $1,100,00 for misleading or deceptive conduct and can lose their licence to be an agent in the ACT.

This means prospective real estate buyers can expect their agents to tell them of anything about the property that could change your willingness to buy it.

In 2006 in the NSW case of Hinton & Others v Commissioner for Fair Trading, the two owners of the house and their daughter were murdered in the house by their son.

The agent knew this had to be dealt with in advertising the house, but decided to say the house was a “deceased estate” whose beneficiaries did not want. When the buyers found out they were released from the contract and the agent forced to pay penalties.

So, although we hope you never find yourself being misled by a trusted real estate agent, these changes are important to note so you know where you stand the next time you buy a house.

[Photo taken from our story on the ghost zoo]

Join the conversation

12
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Deref said :

“up to $1,100,00 for misleading or deceptive conduct and can lose their licence to be an agent in the ACT.”

WTF????

They should be required to refund, at the buyer’s request, anything up to the full purchase price at their own expense.

Then where is the disincentive? What is going to stop them doing it again? I mean if they just refund they are just losing one sale which they probably wouldn’t have made anyway if there had been full disclosure in the first place.

Captain RAAF11:33 am 09 Jun 11

Joker said :

Does this include notifying the potential tenants that there’s a scrot-bag inter-generational welfare dependant criminal family living in the area? aka ‘state sponsored terrorists’?

If I ever sell-up and move out before the houso filth beside me do (and I refuse to do so because that would mean that they win), I won’t be telling anyone what they are like!

I’ll do what the people I bought the house off did, pay the filth a hundred bucks to clean up the yard and keep a low profile for a week while the deal is done!

Does this include notifying the potential tenants that there’s a scrot-bag inter-generational welfare dependant criminal family living in the area? aka ‘state sponsored terrorists’?

So it is ok not to disclose anything if only non-gruesome murders or suicides occurred there?

“up to $1,100,00 for misleading or deceptive conduct and can lose their licence to be an agent in the ACT.”

WTF????

They should be required to refund, at the buyer’s request, anything up to the full purchase price at their own expense.

…trusted real estate agent

Oxymoron.

If the house where Joel Monaghan got freaky with Rover comes up for sale, does this rule apply as well???

arthwollipot said :

Is there a list somewhere of properties on the market that are reputed to be haunted or where a murder has occurred? They’d be available for cheap, right?

Anything is available for me baby

arthwollipot4:33 pm 08 Jun 11

Is there a list somewhere of properties on the market that are reputed to be haunted or where a murder has occurred? They’d be available for cheap, right?

This is Canberra. Stabbed to death, yes, but make the buyer prove the intent was there to murder.

Clown Killer12:48 pm 08 Jun 11

That’s why you should only ever tell an agent the absolute minimum of information that they need to sell the property. Don’t volunteer a thing, and answer all their questions succinctly so as not to include any additional information not directly related to their question.

That way when a prospective buyer asks “Has anyone been stabbed 49 times in the kitchen of this house?” they can smile and say, with their hand on their heart “I have no knowledege of any stigma attached to this house”.

Does this apply to informing potential tenants as well?

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.