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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


PROPERTY AGENTS BILL 2010

          Queensland



Property Agents Bill 2010

 


 

 

Queensland Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents Part 1 Preliminary Division 1 Introduction 1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 3 Act binds all persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Division 2 Exemptions 4 Particular auctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 5 Administrators, liquidators, controllers and receivers . . . . . . . . . . 17 6 Financial institutions and trustee companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 7 Non-profit corporations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Division 3 Objects of Act 8 Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Division 4 Interpretation 9 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 10 Meaning of beneficial interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 11 Meaning of completes a residential property sale . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 12 Meaning of in charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 13 Meaning of open listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 14 Meaning of residential property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 15 Meaning of unsolicited invitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 16 Difference between exclusive agency and sole agency . . . . . . . . 28 Part 2 Licensing Division 1 Categories of licence 17 Categories of licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Division 2 Limited property agent licence 18 Limited property agent licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Division 3 How to obtain a licence 19 Steps involved in obtaining a licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents Division 4 Applications for licence 20 Application for licence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 21 Applicant must state business address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 22 Special provision for applicant for resident letting agent licence . 32 23 Requirement to give information or material about application . . 32 24 Applicant intending to carry on business to advise name of auditor ........................................ 33 Division 5 Suitability of applicants and licensees 25 Suitability of applicants and licensees--individuals . . . . . . . . . . . 33 26 Suitability of applicants and licensees--corporations . . . . . . . . . 34 27 Chief executive must consider suitability of applicants and licensees ..................................... 34 28 Public trustee is a suitable person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 29 Chief executive of department is a suitable person . . . . . . . . . . . 36 30 Defence Housing Australia is a suitable person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 31 Investigations about suitability of applicants and licensees . . . . . 36 32 Costs of criminal history report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 33 Confidentiality of criminal history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 34 Requirement to give chief executive information or material about suitability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Division 6 Eligibility for licence Subdivision 1 Property agent licence 35 Eligibility for property agent licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Subdivision 2 Resident letting agent licence 36 Eligibility for resident letting agent licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Subdivision 3 Chief executives and particular corporation sole 37 Public trustee is eligible to obtain licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 38 Chief executive of department is eligible to obtain licence . . . . . . 42 39 Defence Housing Australia is eligible to obtain licence . . . . . . . . 42 Division 7 Issue of licences 40 Chief executive may issue or refuse to issue licence . . . . . . . . . . 43 41 Licence--public trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 42 Licence--chief executive of department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 43 Licence--Defence Housing Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 44 Licence--conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Division 8 Restrictions on performing activities under licences 45 Restriction--corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Page 2

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 46 Restriction--individuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 47 Restriction--conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Division 9 Renewal and restoration of licences Subdivision 1 Renewal 48 Application for renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 49 Chief executive may renew or refuse to renew licence. . . . . . . . . 49 50 Licence taken to be in force while application for renewal is considered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Subdivision 2 Restoration 51 Application for restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 52 Chief executive may restore or refuse to restore licence . . . . . . . 51 53 Licence taken to be in force while application for restoration is considered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Division 10 Dealings with licences Subdivision 1 Transfer of licence 54 Transfer of licence prohibited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Subdivision 2 Substitute licences 55 Appointment of substitute licensee--principal licensee--individual ............................. 53 56 Appointment of substitute licensee--employed licensee in charge of a licensee's business at a place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 57 Chief executive may appoint or refuse to appoint substitute licensee ....................................... 56 58 Substitute licensee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 59 Limitation on period of substitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Subdivision 3 General 60 Amendment of licence conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 61 Return of licence for amendment of conditions or when suspended or cancelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 62 Surrender of licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 63 Licence may be deactivated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Division 11 Immediate suspension and cancellation of licences 64 Immediate suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 65 Immediate cancellation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Division 12 General provisions about licences 66 Form of licence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 67 Display of licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 68 Term of licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Page 3

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 69 Replacement licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 70 Register of licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 71 Licensees to notify chief executive of changes in circumstances. 67 Part 3 Property agents Division 1 Property agents' authorisation and responsibility 72 What a property agent licence authorises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 73 Responsibility for acts and omissions of salespersons . . . . . . . . 68 Division 2 Conduct provisions Subdivision 1 Carrying on business 74 Carrying on of business under property agent licence. . . . . . . . . 69 75 Licensee to be in charge of a property agent's business at a place ........................................ 69 Subdivision 2 Appointment 76 Appointment of property agent--general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 77 Form of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 78 Pre-appointment advice about types of appointment . . . . . . . . . . 73 79 Appointment of property agent--sole and exclusive agencies. . . 74 80 Proposal for assignment of appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 81 Restriction on reappointment of property agents for sales of residential property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 82 Form of reappointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 83 When appointments and reappointments are ineffective . . . . . . . 76 Subdivision 3 Disclosure of interest 84 Disclosures to prospective buyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Subdivision 4 Auctions of goods 85 Buyer's premium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Subdivision 5 Recovery of reward or expense 86 Commission may be claimed only for actual amounts . . . . . . . . . 79 87 Restriction on recovery of reward or expense--no proper authorisation etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 88 Restriction on recovery of reward or expense above amount allowed ......................................... 80 89 Excess commission etc. to be repaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Subdivision 6 Interests in property 90 Definition for sdiv 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 91 Beneficial interest--options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 92 Beneficial interest--other than options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Page 4

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 93 Return of beneficial interest if in form of commission. . . . . . . . . . 83 Subdivision 7 Lands not lawfully useable for residential purposes 94 Definition for sdiv 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 95 Application of sdiv 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 96 Notice to be given about vacant land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 97 Buyer's rights if notice not given or materially defective . . . . . . . . 85 98 Liability to punishment under s 96 or 97 additional to other liabilities at law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Subdivision 8 Sales of particular businesses 99 Application of sdiv 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 100 Notice to be given about sale of resident letting agent's business ..................................... 87 Subdivision 9 Auctions of goods 101 Buyer's premium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Subdivision 10 Code of conduct 102 Code of conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 103 Complaints about conduct and action chief executive may take . 90 Division 3 General 104 Registered office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 105 Property agent must notify chief executive of change in place of business etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 106 Display and publication of licensee's name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 107 Principal licensee must keep employment register . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Division 4 Offences 108 Acting as property agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 109 Pretending to be property agent salesperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 110 Property agent must not act for more than 1 party. . . . . . . . . . . . 95 111 Production of licence or registration certificate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 112 Employment of persons in real estate business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Part 4 Resident letting agents Division 1 Resident letting agent licence 113 What a resident letting agent licence authorises . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Division 2 Conduct provisions Subdivision 1 Carrying on business 114 Carrying on of business under resident letting agent licence. . . . 98 115 Licensee to be in charge of a resident letting agent's business at a place ...................................... 99 Page 5

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents Subdivision 2 Appointment 116 Appointment of resident letting agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 117 Form of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 118 Assignment of appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Subdivision 3 Recovery of reward or expense 119 Commission may be claimed only for actual amounts . . . . . . . . . 103 120 Restriction on remedy for reward or expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 121 Excess fees etc. to be repaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Subdivision 4 Code of conduct 122 Code of conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 123 Complaints about conduct and action chief executive may take . 105 Division 3 General 124 Registered office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 125 Resident letting agent to notify chief executive of change in place of business etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 126 Display and publication of licensee's name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 127 Principal licensee must keep employment register . . . . . . . . . . . 108 128 Access to particular documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Division 4 Offences 129 Acting as resident letting agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 130 Resident letting agent must not act for more than 1 party . . . . . . 110 131 Production of licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson Division 1 Registered employees' authorisation 132 What a registration certificate authorises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Division 2 How to obtain registration 133 Steps involved in obtaining registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Division 3 Applications for registration 134 Application for registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 135 Requirement to give chief executive information or material about application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Division 4 Suitability of applicants 136 Suitability of applicants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 137 Chief executive must consider suitability of applicants. . . . . . . . . 113 138 Investigations about suitability of applicants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 139 Costs of criminal history report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Page 6

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 140 Confidentiality of criminal history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 141 Requirement to give chief executive information or material about suitability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Division 5 Eligibility for registration 142 Eligibility for registration as property agent salesperson . . . . . . . 116 Division 6 Issue of registration certificate 143 Chief executive may issue or refuse to issue registration certificate ...................................... 117 144 Registration certificate--conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Division 7 Renewal and restoration of registration certificates Subdivision 1 Renewal 145 Application for renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 146 Chief executive may renew or refuse to renew registration certificate ...................................... 119 147 Registration certificate taken to be in force while application for renewal is considered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Subdivision 2 Restoration 148 Application for restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 149 Chief executive may restore or refuse to restore registration certificate ........................................ 121 150 Registration certificate taken to be in force while application for restoration is considered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Division 8 Dealings with registration certificates Subdivision 1 Transfer of registration certificate 151 Transfer of registration certificate prohibited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Subdivision 2 General 152 Amendment of registration certificate conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 153 Return of registration certificate for amendment of conditions . . . 124 154 Surrender of registration certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Division 9 Immediate suspension and cancellation of registration certificates 155 Immediate suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 156 Immediate cancellation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Division 10 General provisions about employee registration 157 Form of registration certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 158 Term of registration certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 159 Replacement certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 160 Register of registration certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Page 7

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 161 Property agent salespersons to notify chief executive of changes in circumstances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Part 6 Residential property sales Division 1 Preliminary 162 Purposes of pt 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 163 Definitions for pt 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 164 Relationship with Electronic Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001 131 Division 2 Independence of lawyers, disclosure of interests, and particular valuations 165 Lawyer's disclosure to buyer about independence . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 166 Disclosures to prospective buyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 167 Buyer to receive copy of property valuation buyer pays for . . . . . 133 Division 3 Warning statements for proposed relevant contracts and relevant contracts 168 Content and effectiveness of warning statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 169 Warning statement etc. if proposed relevant contract is given to buyer for signing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 170 Defence for s 169(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 171 Warning statement must be attached to relevant contract . . . . . . 137 Division 4 Waiving and shortening cooling-off periods 172 Cooling-off period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 173 Waiving cooling-off period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 174 Shortening cooling-off period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Division 5 Terminating relevant contracts 175 Buyer may terminate relevant contract in certain circumstance if clear statement is not given under s 169(2)(c)(i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 176 Terminating relevant contract during cooling-off period . . . . . . . . 141 Division 6 Accounting requirements for relevant contracts 177 Application of div 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 178 Part payments must be paid to particular persons . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 179 Part payment to be held in trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Division 7 Advertising sale of particular properties--sustainability declarations Subdivision 1 Preliminary 180 Definitions for div 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Subdivision 2 Requirements about advertising sale, and inspection, of residential dwellings 181 Application of sdiv 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Page 8

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 182 Requirements about advertising sale of residential dwelling . . . . 145 183 Requirements about inspection of residential dwelling . . . . . . . . 146 184 Requirement to give copy of sustainability declaration. . . . . . . . . 147 185 Breach of obligation does not give rise to civil right or remedy . . 147 Subdivision 3 Publishing or giving incomplete or false or misleading sustainability declaration 186 Application of sdiv 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 187 No right to terminate contract for publishing or giving declaration 148 188 Publishing or giving declaration does not contravene particular provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Part 7 Trust accounts 189 Opening and maintaining trust accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Part 8 Claims against the fund Division 1 Preliminary 190 Definitions for pt 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 191 What is the purchase of a non-investment residential property . . 150 Division 2 Claims against the fund 192 Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 193 Persons who can not claim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 194 Claims limited to realised loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Part 9 Jurisdiction of QCAT 195 Definitions for pt 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 196 Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Part 10 Proceedings Division 1 Disciplinary proceedings 197 Grounds for starting disciplinary proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 198 Starting disciplinary proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Division 2 Marketeer proceedings 199 Grounds for starting marketeer proceeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 200 How to start a proceeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Division 3 Review proceedings 201 Person dissatisfied with chief executive's decision may seek review ......................................... 156 202 Stay of operation of decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 203 QCAT may extend time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Page 9

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents Division 4 Proceedings generally Subdivision 1 Reference committee 204 Reference committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 205 Reference committee functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 206 Reference committee may authorise application for public examination .................................... 158 Subdivision 2 Public examinations 207 QCAT may conduct public examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 208 Procedure before public examination starts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 209 Person must answer particular questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Subdivision 3 Stopping particular conduct 210 Stopping particular conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Subdivision 4 QCAT's orders 211 Orders QCAT may make on disciplinary hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 212 Stopping contraventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 213 Orders QCAT may make in a marketeer proceeding . . . . . . . . . . 164 214 Criteria for deciding amount to be ordered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Subdivison 5 Chief executive's right of appeal 215 Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties Division 1 Injunctions 216 Injunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 217 Who may apply for injunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 218 Grounds for injunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 219 Court's powers for injunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 220 Terms of injunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 221 Undertakings as to costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Division 2 Undertakings 222 Chief executive may seek undertaking after contravention . . . . . 170 223 Undertaking about other matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 224 Variation and withdrawal of undertakings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 225 Enforcement of undertakings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 226 Register of undertakings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Division 3 Preservation of assets 227 Powers of court for preservation of assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Page 10

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents Division 4 Civil penalties and compensation orders for particular contraventions 228 Application of div 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 229 Application for order imposing civil penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 230 Orders District Court may make . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 231 Criteria for deciding amount to be ordered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings Division 1 General contraventions 232 Wrongful conversion and false accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 233 Misleading conduct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 234 Unconscionable conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 235 False representations and other misleading conduct relating to residential property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 236 Application of ss 234, 235 and 236 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 237 Offensive conduct relating to residential property . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 238 False representations about property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 239 Representation of price of property to seller--property agent . . . 185 240 Property agent not to indicate reserve or other price to bidder . . 186 241 Representation of price of property--property agent . . . . . . . . . . 187 242 Property agent not to indicate reserve price to potential buyer . . 188 243 Chief executive's power to ask for substantiation of representations made by licensees or property agent salespersons ................................ 189 244 Chief executive to ask for substantiation of representations made by marketeers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 245 Offence to charge fee for providing documents etc. . . . . . . . . . . . 190 246 Offence to ask for, or receive, excess or improper remuneration . 190 247 Offence to lend or borrow licence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 248 False or misleading statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 249 False or misleading documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 250 Prohibited practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Division 2 Evidentiary matters 251 Evidentiary provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 252 Entries in licensee's documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Division 3 Proceedings 253 Proceedings for an offence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 254 Responsibility for acts or omissions of representatives . . . . . . . . 196 Page 11

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 255 Executive officers must ensure corporation complies with Act. . . 197 256 Power of court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 257 Power of court for particular offences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 258 Allegations of false or misleading representations or statements etc. ........................................... 199 Part 13 General 259 Public warning statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 260 Civil remedies not affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 261 Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2002 not limited. . . . . . . . . . 200 262 Delegation--chief executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 263 Approved forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 264 Review of Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 265 Regulation-making power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Part 14 Repeal 266 Repeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions Division 1 Preliminary 267 Definitions for pt 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Division 2 Transitional provisions Subdivision 1 Licences and registration certificates 268 Existing licences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 269 Existing registration certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 270 Expiry of particular licences and certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 271 Existing applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 272 Restoration of expired existing licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 273 Restoration of expired existing registration certificates . . . . . . . . 210 274 Previous refusals of applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 275 Deactivated existing licences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 276 Suspended existing licences and existing registration certificates 213 Subdivision 2 Miscellaneous provisions 277 Existing appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 278 Disciplinary action relating to pre-commencement conduct . . . . . 216 279 Marketeer proceeding relating to pre-commencement conduct . . 216 280 Continuation of reviews under the repealed Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 281 Injunctions relating to pre-commencement conduct . . . . . . . . . . . 217 282 Undertakings relating to pre-commencement conduct. . . . . . . . . 218 Page 12

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Contents 283 Proceedings for particular offences under repealed Act. . . . . . . . 219 284 Existing infringement notice offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 285 Existing delegations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 286 Reference committee--marketeers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 287 Existing registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 288 Existing fines and fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 289 Return of beneficial interest if in form of commission. . . . . . . . . . 222 290 Buyer's rights if notice about land is not given under repealed Act or is materially defective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 291 Transitional regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Division 3 Savings provision for repealed Act 292 Saving of enforcement provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Part 16 Minor and consequential amendments 293 Minor and consequential amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Schedule 1 Decisions subject to review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Schedule 2 Minor and consequential amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Part 1 Amendments of this Act Part 2 Other amendments Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997. . . . . . . 226 Building Act 1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Integrated Resort Development Act 1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Land Sales Act 1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Legal Profession Act 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Personal Property Securities (Ancillary Provisions) Act 2010 . . . 230 Retirement Villages Act 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003. . . . . . . . . . . . 231 South Bank Corporation Act 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Schedule 3 Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Page 13

 


 

 

2010 A Bill for An Act to comprehensively provide for the regulation of the activities, licensing and conduct of property agents and their employees and to protect consumers against particular undesirable practices, and to make minor and consequential amendments of the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997, the Building Act 1975, the Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980, the Integrated Resort Development Act 1987, the Land Sales Act 1984, the Legal Profession Act 2007, the Personal Property Securities (Ancillary Provisions) Act 2010, the Retirement Villages Act 1999, the Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985, the Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003 and the South Bank Corporation Act 1989 for particular purposes

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 1] The Parliament of Queensland enacts-- 1 Part 1 Preliminary 2 Division 1 Introduction 3 1 Short title 4 This Act may be cited as the Property Agents Act 2010. 5 2 Commencement 6 This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation. 7 3 Act binds all persons 8 (1) This Act binds all persons, including the State and, as far as 9 the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the 10 Commonwealth and the other States. 11 (2) Nothing in this Act makes the State, the Commonwealth or 12 any other State liable to be prosecuted for an offence. 13 Division 2 Exemptions 14 4 Particular auctions 15 (1) Part 3 does not apply to-- 16 (a) a sale made under a rule, order, or judgment of the 17 Supreme Court or District Court; or 18 (b) a sale made by a person obeying an order of, or a 19 process issued by, a court, judge or justice, or the 20 registrar of the State Penalties Enforcement Registry for 21 the recovery of a fine, penalty or award; or 22 Page 16

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 5] (c) a sale of an animal lawfully impounded and sold under 1 the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 or another law 2 about impounding; or 3 (d) a sale conducted for a charity, a religious denomination 4 or an organisation formed for a community purpose, 5 within the meaning of the Collections Act 1966 (a 6 relevant entity) if-- 7 (i) the person conducting the sale does not receive 8 from the relevant entity a reward for the person's 9 services; and 10 (ii) amounts received from the sale are paid directly to 11 an officer or employee of the relevant entity who is 12 authorised by the relevant entity to receive and deal 13 with the amounts. 14 (2) In this section-- 15 sale means a sale, attempted sale or an offering for sale or 16 resale, by way of auction. 17 5 Administrators, liquidators, controllers and receivers 18 (1) This section applies to-- 19 (a) a person appointed under the Corporations Act as an 20 administrator of a corporation that is authorised under a 21 licence to perform an activity; or 22 (b) a person appointed under the Corporations Act as an 23 administrator of a deed of company arrangement for a 24 corporation that is authorised under a licence to perform 25 an activity; or 26 (c) a person appointed under the Corporations Act as a 27 liquidator, or controller of property, of a corporation that 28 is authorised under a licence to perform an activity; or 29 (d) a person appointed under the Administration Act as a 30 receiver of an entity that is authorised under a licence to 31 perform an activity. 32 Page 17

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 6] (2) The person is exempt from the following provisions while 1 performing the activity for any business carried on under the 2 licence in accordance with the conditions applying to the 3 licence-- 4 (a) part 3, division 2, subdivision 1; 5 (b) section 76; 6 (c) part 3, division 3; 7 (d) part 4, division 2, subdivision 1; 8 (e) section 116; 9 (f) part 4, division 3. 10 6 Financial institutions and trustee companies 11 (1) Part 3 does not apply to a financial institution or trustee 12 company. 13 (2) In this section-- 14 trustee company means-- 15 (a) a trustee company under the Trustee Companies Act 16 1968; or 17 (b) the public trustee when the public trustee is-- 18 (i) performing the activities that may be performed by 19 a trustee company; or 20 (ii) exercising the powers that may be exercised by a 21 trustee company; or 22 (iii) holding an office that may be held by a trustee 23 company. 24 7 Non-profit corporations 25 (1) A non-profit corporation is exempt from parts 5 and 6 if-- 26 (a) the corporation provides or locates-- 27 (i) affordable rental housing under an affordable 28 housing scheme; or 29 Page 18

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 8] (ii) approved supported accommodation; and 1 (b) the providing or locating of the housing or 2 accommodation is funded or managed by the 3 Commonwealth, the State or a local government. 4 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the non-profit corporation is 5 otherwise carrying on the business of a resident letting agent 6 or property agent. 7 (3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that a corporation does 8 not stop being a non-profit corporation only because it 9 receives a reward for providing its services to another 10 non-profit corporation. 11 (4) In this section-- 12 affordable housing scheme see the Residential Tenancies and 13 Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, schedule 2. 14 approved supported accommodation see the Residential 15 Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, schedule 16 2. 17 non-profit corporation means a corporation formed for a 18 purpose other than the purpose of making a profit. 19 Division 3 Objects of Act 20 8 Objects 21 (1) The objects of this Act are-- 22 (a) to provide a system for licensing and regulating persons 23 as property agents or resident letting agents and for 24 registering and regulating persons as property agent 25 salespersons that achieves an appropriate balance 26 between-- 27 (i) the need to regulate for the protection of 28 consumers; and 29 (ii) the need to promote freedom of enterprise in the 30 market place; and 31 Page 19

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 8] (b) to provide a way of protecting consumers against 1 particular undesirable practices associated with the 2 promotion of residential property. 3 (2) The objects are to be achieved by-- 4 (a) ensuring-- 5 (i) only suitable persons with appropriate 6 qualifications are licensed or registered; and 7 (ii) persons who carry on business or are in charge of a 8 licensee's business at a place under the authority of 9 a property agent licence maintain close personal 10 supervision of the way the business is carried on; 11 and 12 (b) providing-- 13 (i) protection for consumers in their dealings with 14 licensees and their employees; and 15 (ii) a legislative framework within which persons 16 performing activities for licensees may lawfully 17 operate; and 18 (c) regulating fees and commissions that can be charged for 19 particular transactions; and 20 (d) providing protection for consumers in their dealings 21 with marketeers; and 22 (e) establishing a right for persons who suffer financial loss 23 because of their dealings with persons regulated under 24 this Act to apply for compensation from the fund; and 25 (f) providing for the enforcement of matters involving 26 marketeers by QCAT and the District Court; and 27 (g) providing increased flexibility in enforcement measures 28 through codes of conduct, injunctions, undertakings, 29 and, for contraventions by marketeers, preservation of 30 assets and civil penalties; and 31 (h) promoting administrative efficiency by providing that-- 32 Page 20

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 9] (i) responsibility for licensing rests with the chief 1 executive; and 2 (ii) responsibility for reviewing particular decisions of 3 the chief executive rests with QCAT; and 4 (iii) responsibility for disciplinary matters rests with 5 QCAT. 6 Division 4 Interpretation 7 9 Definitions 8 The dictionary in schedule 3 defines particular words used in 9 this Act. 10 10 Meaning of beneficial interest 11 (1) For this Act, other than section 40(6)(b)(i), a licensee is taken 12 to have a beneficial interest in property in each of the 13 following cases-- 14 Case 1 15 The purchase of the property is made for the licensee or an 16 associate of the licensee. 17 Case 2 18 An option to purchase the property is held by the licensee or 19 an associate of the licensee. 20 Case 3 21 The purchase of the property is made for a corporation 22 (having not more than 100 members) of which the licensee or 23 an associate of the licensee is a member. 24 Case 4 25 An option to purchase the property is held by a corporation 26 (having not more than 100 members) of which the licensee or 27 an associate of the licensee is a member. 28 Page 21

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 10] Case 5 1 The purchase of the property is made for a corporation of 2 which the licensee or an associate of the licensee is an 3 executive officer. 4 Case 6 5 An option to purchase the property is held by a corporation of 6 which the licensee or an associate of the licensee is an 7 executive officer. 8 Case 7 9 If the licensee is a corporation, the purchase of the property is 10 made for an executive officer of the licensee or an associate of 11 the executive officer. 12 Case 8 13 If the licensee is a corporation, an option to purchase the 14 property is held by an executive officer of the licensee or an 15 associate of the executive officer. 16 Case 9 17 The purchase of the property is made for a member of a firm 18 or partnership of which the licensee or an associate of the 19 licensee is also a member. 20 Case 10 21 The purchase of the property is made for a person carrying on 22 a business for profit or gain and the licensee or an associate of 23 the licensee has, directly or indirectly, a right to participate in 24 the income or profits of the person's business or the purchase 25 of the property. 26 (2) For this Act, a property agent salesperson of a licensee is 27 taken to have a beneficial interest in property in each of the 28 following cases-- 29 Case 1 30 The purchase of the property is made for the property agent 31 salesperson or an associate of the salesperson. 32 Page 22

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 10] Case 2 1 The property agent salesperson or an associate of the 2 salesperson has an option to purchase the property. 3 Case 3 4 The purchase of the property is made for a corporation 5 (having not more than 100 members) of which the property 6 agent salesperson or an associate of the salesperson is a 7 member. 8 Case 4 9 An option to purchase the property is held by a corporation 10 (having not more than 100 members) of which the property 11 agent salesperson or an associate of the salesperson is a 12 member. 13 Case 5 14 The purchase of the property is made for a corporation of 15 which the property agent salesperson or an associate of the 16 salesperson is an executive officer. 17 Case 6 18 An option to purchase the property is held by a corporation of 19 which the property agent salesperson or an associate of the 20 salesperson is an executive officer. 21 Case 7 22 The purchase of the property is made for an executive officer 23 of a corporation of which the property agent salesperson or an 24 associate of the salesperson is an executive officer. 25 Case 8 26 An option to purchase the property is held by an executive 27 officer of a corporation of which the property agent 28 salesperson or an associate of the salesperson is an executive 29 officer. 30 Page 23

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 11] Case 9 1 The purchase of the property is made for a member of a firm 2 or partnership of which the property agent salesperson or an 3 associate of the salesperson is also a member. 4 Case 10 5 The purchase of the property is made for a person carrying on 6 a business for profit or gain and the property agent salesperson 7 or an associate of the salesperson has, directly or indirectly, a 8 right to participate in the income or profits of the person's 9 business or the purchase of the property. 10 11 Meaning of completes a residential property sale 11 (1) A person completes a residential property sale if a residential 12 property in which the person has an interest is sold, whether 13 or not a transfer to the purchaser under the sale has been 14 registered. 15 (2) However, the person is not to be taken to have completed a 16 residential property sale if-- 17 (a) the person appointed a property agent to sell the interest 18 in the residential property on the person's behalf and the 19 property agent is the effective cause of the sale; or 20 (b) the person held the interest in the residential property 21 as-- 22 (i) a personal representative; or 23 (ii) an administrator under the Guardianship and 24 Administration Act 2000; or 25 (iii) a beneficiary in, or a trustee of, a deceased person's 26 estate; or 27 (iv) a mortgagee; or 28 (c) the person is a corporation and the corporation sold the 29 corporation's interest in the residential property to a 30 related body corporate of the corporation; or 31 Page 24

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 12] (d) the interest in the residential property is sold under a 1 court order. 2 (3) In this section-- 3 related body corporate means a body that, under the 4 Corporations Act, section 50, is related to the corporation. 5 12 Meaning of in charge 6 (1) A person is in charge of a licensee's business at a place where 7 the licensee carries on business only if the person personally 8 supervises, manages or controls the conduct of the licensee's 9 business at the place. 10 (2) In this section-- 11 licensee's business means the licensee's business carried on 12 under the authority of the licensee's licence. 13 13 Meaning of open listing 14 (1) An open listing is a written agreement entered into between a 15 person (seller) and a property agent (selling agent) under 16 which the seller appoints the selling agent, in accordance with 17 the terms of the agreement, to sell stated property. 18 (2) Under the agreement-- 19 (a) the seller retains a right-- 20 (i) to sell the seller's property during the term of the 21 agreement; or 22 (ii) to appoint additional property agents as selling 23 agents to sell the property on terms similar to those 24 under the agreement; and 25 (b) the appointed selling agent is entitled to remuneration 26 only if he or she is the effective cause of sale; and 27 (c) the appointment of the selling agent can be ended by 28 either the seller or the selling agent at any time. 29 Page 25

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 14] 14 Meaning of residential property 1 (1) Property is residential property if the property is-- 2 (a) a single parcel of land on which a place of residence is 3 constructed or being constructed; or 4 (b) a single parcel of vacant land in a residential area. 5 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), property is residential 6 property if the property is any of the following lots that is a 7 place of residence or in a residential area-- 8 (a) a lot included in a community titles scheme, or proposed 9 to be included in a community titles scheme, under the 10 Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997; 11 (b) a lot or proposed lot under the Building Units and Group 12 Titles Act 1980; 13 (c) a lot shown on a leasehold building units plan registered 14 or to be registered under the South Bank Corporation 15 Act 1989. 16 (3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the following property is not 17 residential property-- 18 (a) a single parcel of land on which a place of residence is 19 constructed or being constructed if all or part of the land 20 is used substantially for industry, commerce or primary 21 production; 22 (b) a single parcel of vacant land, if-- 23 (i) the property is in a non-residential area; or 24 (ii) the property is in a residential area, but only if a 25 local government has approved development for all 26 or a part of the land, the development is other than 27 for residential purposes and the approval is current; 28 or 29 (iii) all or part of the land is used substantially for 30 industry, commerce or primary production. 31 (4) In this section-- 32 Page 26

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 15] development see the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, section 1 7. 2 non-residential area means an area other than a residential 3 area. 4 planning scheme see the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, 5 section 79. 6 residential area means an area identified on a map in a 7 planning scheme as an area for residential purposes. 8 residential purposes includes rural residential purposes and 9 future residential purposes. 10 vacant land means land on which there are no structural 11 improvements, other than fencing. 12 15 Meaning of unsolicited invitation 13 (1) An unsolicited invitation to a person to attend a property 14 information session includes an invitation-- 15 (a) addressed personally to the person and sent to the 16 person's residential, business, postal or email address; or 17 (b) made by telephoning the person, or by another personal 18 approach to the person. 19 (2) An invitation to a person to attend a property information 20 session is not an unsolicited invitation if it is-- 21 (a) made at the person's request, other than in response to 22 an approach of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(b); or 23 (b) made to the public generally or a section of the public by 24 media advertisement; or 25 (c) addressed non-specifically and sent to the person's 26 residential, business, postal or email address. 27 Examples of invitations addressed non-specifically-- 28 · `The owner' 29 · `The householder' 30 Page 27

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 1 Preliminary [s 16] 16 Difference between exclusive agency and sole agency 1 (1) The only difference between an exclusive agency and a sole 2 agency is the extent of the entitlement of a selling agent to 3 receive an agreed commission or other reward on the sale of 4 particular property. 5 (2) Under an exclusive agency, a selling agent is entitled, on the 6 sale of particular property and in accordance with the terms of 7 an agreement with the seller of the property, to receive an 8 agreed commission or other reward, whether or not the selling 9 agent is the effective cause of the sale. 10 (3) However, if the sale was subject to a sole agency, the selling 11 agent would not be entitled to the commission or other reward 12 if the seller was the effective cause of the sale. 13 Example-- 14 Facts--S is the owner of a place of residence that S appoints R to sell. B 15 buys the place of residence. 16 Assume for the example that in the following cases the following 17 persons are the effective cause of the sale-- 18 case 1--R 19 case 2--X (another property agent) 20 case 3--M (S's mother) 21 case 4--S. 22 If the selling agent is appointed under an exclusive agency, R is entitled 23 to an agreed commission or other reward in accordance with the terms 24 of R's agreement with S in cases 1, 2, 3 and 4. If the selling agent is 25 appointed under a sole agency, R is entitled to an agreed commission or 26 other reward in accordance with the terms of R's agreement with S only 27 in cases 1, 2 and 3. 28 (4) In this section-- 29 seller, of property, means the person authorising the sale of 30 the property. 31 selling agent, of property, means a property agent appointed 32 under a written agreement under this Act by the seller to sell 33 the property. 34 Page 28

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 17] Part 2 Licensing 1 Division 1 Categories of licence 2 17 Categories of licence 3 The chief executive may issue the following categories of 4 licence under this Act-- 5 (a) property agent licence (real estate agent and auctioneer); 6 (b) resident letting agent licence. 7 Division 2 Limited property agent licence 8 18 Limited property agent licence 9 (1) The chief executive may issue a property agent licence 10 (limited property agent licence) of a type prescribed under a 11 regulation, that authorises the performance of activities that 12 are more limited than the activities that may be performed 13 under an unconditional property agent licence. 14 (2) A regulation may prescribe-- 15 (a) the activities that may be performed under a limited 16 property agent licence; and 17 (b) the educational requirements for obtaining a limited 18 property agent licence. 19 Division 3 How to obtain a licence 20 19 Steps involved in obtaining a licence 21 (1) A person who wishes to obtain a licence must be a suitable 22 person to hold a licence under division 5. 23 Page 29

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 20] (2) The person must apply for the licence by-- 1 (a) giving the chief executive an application showing, 2 among other things, the person is eligible to obtain the 3 licence; and 4 (b) paying-- 5 (i) the fees prescribed under a regulation; and 6 (ii) if, before or when the application is made, a 7 criminal history costs requirement is made of the 8 applicant--the amount of the costs required to be 9 paid; and 10 (c) giving the chief executive the other information required 11 under section 21 and, if the person is required under 12 section 189 to keep a trust account or special trust 13 account, section 24. 14 (3) In deciding the person's application, the chief executive must 15 have regard, among other things, to-- 16 (a) the person's suitability to hold a licence under this Act; 17 and 18 (b) the person's eligibility to hold the licence. 19 Division 4 Applications for licence 20 20 Application for licence 21 (1) An applicant for a licence must-- 22 (a) apply to the chief executive in the approved form; and 23 (b) state the category of licence being applied for; and 24 (c) state the term of the licence being applied for; and 25 (d) establish the applicant's eligibility for the category of 26 licence being applied for; and 27 (e) state the names and addresses of the applicant's business 28 associates; and 29 Page 30

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 21] (f) provide any information the chief executive reasonably 1 requires to decide whether the applicant is a suitable 2 person to hold a licence. 3 (2) The application must be accompanied by-- 4 (a) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; and 5 (b) the licence issue fee prescribed under a regulation; and 6 (c) if, before or when the application is made, a criminal 7 history costs requirement is made of the applicant--the 8 amount of the costs required to be paid. 9 21 Applicant must state business address 10 (1) The applicant must also state in the applicant's application-- 11 (a) if the applicant intends carrying on business under the 12 licence immediately after the issue of the licence--the 13 place or places in Queensland where the applicant 14 proposes to carry on business under the licence; or 15 (b) if the applicant does not intend carrying on business 16 under the licence immediately after the issue of the 17 licence-- 18 (i) the capacity in which the applicant intends 19 performing activities under the licence and the 20 address where the activities are to be performed 21 (business address); and 22 (ii) if the applicant intends to be a person in charge of a 23 licensee's business at a place of business--the 24 name of the applicant's employer and the address 25 of the place of business where the applicant is to be 26 in charge (also a business address). 27 Examples of capacity in which activities may be performed-- 28 · person in charge of a corporation's business 29 · licensed employee of a licensee 30 Example of business address of an employed licensee-- 31 the address of the person's employer's place of business where 32 the person generally reports for work 33 Page 31

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 22] (2) If the applicant intends to carry on business under the licence 1 at more than 1 place, the applicant must state in the 2 application the place the applicant intends to be the 3 applicant's principal place of business. 4 (3) A place of business or an address under this section must be a 5 place where a document can be served personally. 6 (4) A place of business or an address must not be a post office 7 box. 8 22 Special provision for applicant for resident letting agent 9 licence 10 (1) This section applies to an applicant for a resident letting agent 11 licence for a building complex. 12 (2) Before the chief executive may issue the licence, the applicant 13 must satisfy the chief executive that the applicant has 14 prescribed approval. 15 Note-- 16 See section 40(2)(d). 17 (3) In this section-- 18 prescribed approval means-- 19 (a) if the applicant is an individual--body corporate 20 approval for the individual or the person by whom the 21 individual is to be employed to carry on a business of 22 letting lots in the building complex under the authority 23 of a licence; or 24 (b) if the applicant is a corporation--body corporate 25 approval for the corporation to carry on a business of 26 letting lots in the building complex under the authority 27 of a licence. 28 23 Requirement to give information or material about 29 application 30 (1) This section applies to an applicant for a licence. 31 Page 32

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 24] (2) The chief executive may, by written notice given to the 1 applicant, require the applicant to give the chief executive 2 within a stated reasonable period information or material the 3 chief executive reasonably considers is needed to consider the 4 applicant's application for the licence. 5 (3) The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, 6 within the stated reasonable period, the applicant fails to 7 comply with the chief executive's requirement. 8 24 Applicant intending to carry on business to advise name 9 of auditor 10 (1) If the applicant intends carrying on business under a licence 11 and is required under section 189 to keep a trust account or 12 special trust account, the applicant must-- 13 (a) state in the applicant's application the name and 14 business address of an auditor appointed by the 15 applicant to audit the trust account; and 16 Note-- 17 See the Administration Act, section 26 (Principal licensee must 18 appoint auditor). 19 (b) give the chief executive evidence that the auditor has 20 accepted the appointment as auditor. 21 (2) In this section-- 22 auditor see the Administration Act, section 25. 23 Division 5 Suitability of applicants and 24 licensees 25 25 Suitability of applicants and licensees--individuals 26 (1) An individual is not a suitable person to hold a licence if the 27 person is-- 28 (a) an insolvent under administration; or 29 Page 33

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 26] (b) a person who has been convicted, in Queensland or 1 elsewhere, within the preceding 5 years of a serious 2 offence; or 3 (c) currently disqualified from holding a licence or 4 registration certificate; or 5 (d) a person the chief executive decides under section 27 is 6 not a suitable person to hold a licence. 7 (2) An individual who is not a suitable person can not hold a 8 licence. 9 26 Suitability of applicants and licensees--corporations 10 (1) A corporation is not a suitable person to hold a licence if an 11 executive officer of the corporation is-- 12 (a) an insolvent under administration; or 13 (b) a person who has been convicted, in Queensland or 14 elsewhere, within the preceding 5 years of a serious 15 offence; or 16 (c) a person the chief executive decides under section 27 is 17 not a suitable person to hold a licence. 18 (2) A corporation that is not a suitable person can not hold a 19 licence. 20 27 Chief executive must consider suitability of applicants 21 and licensees 22 (1) The chief executive must, when deciding whether a person is 23 a suitable person to hold a licence, consider all of the 24 following things-- 25 (a) the character of the person; 26 (b) the character of the person's business associates; 27 (c) whether the person held a licence under a relevant Act 28 that was suspended or cancelled under the relevant Act; 29 Page 34

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 27] (d) whether an amount has been paid from the fund because 1 the person did, or omitted to do, something that gave 2 rise to the claim against the fund; 3 (e) whether the person has been disqualified under a 4 relevant Act from being the holder of a licence within 5 the meaning of the relevant Act, or an executive officer 6 of a corporation; 7 (f) whether, within the previous 5 years, QCAT, the former 8 tribunal or the District Court has made an order under 9 this Act, or the repealed Act, against the person because 10 of the person's involvement as a marketeer of residential 11 property; 12 (g) for an individual-- 13 (i) the person's criminal history; and 14 (ii) whether the person has been an insolvent under 15 administration; and 16 (iii) whether the person has been convicted of an 17 offence against a relevant Act or the 18 Administration Act; and 19 (iv) whether the person is capable of satisfactorily 20 performing the activities of a licensee; and 21 (v) whether the person's name appears in the register 22 of disqualified company directors and other 23 officers under the Corporations Act; 24 Note-- 25 See the Corporations Act, section 1274AA (Register of 26 disqualified company directors and other officers). 27 (h) for a corporation-- 28 (i) whether the corporation has been placed in 29 receivership or liquidation; and 30 (ii) whether an executive officer of the corporation has 31 been an insolvent under administration; and 32 Page 35

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 28] (iii) whether an executive officer of the corporation has 1 been convicted of an offence against an Agents Act 2 the Administration Act or the repealed Act; and 3 (iv) whether each executive officer of the corporation is 4 a suitable person to hold a licence; 5 (i) another thing the chief executive may consider under 6 this Act. 7 (2) If the chief executive decides a person is not a suitable person 8 to hold a licence, the chief executive must give the person an 9 information notice about the decision within 14 days after the 10 decision is made. 11 (3) In this section-- 12 fund includes the claim fund under the repealed Act. 13 relevant Act means this Act, an Agents Act, the repealed Act 14 or a corresponding law. 15 28 Public trustee is a suitable person 16 The corporation sole called The Public Trustee of Queensland 17 is taken to be a suitable person to hold a licence. 18 29 Chief executive of department is a suitable person 19 The chief executive of a department is taken to be a suitable 20 person to hold a licence. 21 30 Defence Housing Australia is a suitable person 22 Defence Housing Australia is taken to be a suitable person to 23 hold a licence. 24 31 Investigations about suitability of applicants and 25 licensees 26 (1) The chief executive may make investigations about the 27 following persons to help the chief executive decide whether 28 Page 36

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 32] an applicant or licensee is a suitable person to hold a 1 licence-- 2 (a) the applicant or licensee; 3 (b) if the applicant or licensee intends carrying on, or 4 carries on, business in partnership or in conjunction with 5 others--each member of the partnership or each person 6 with whom the applicant or licensee intends carrying on, 7 or carries on, business in partnership or in conjunction; 8 (c) if the applicant or licensee is a corporation--the 9 corporation's executive officers; 10 (d) a business associate of the applicant or licensee. 11 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the chief executive may ask 12 the commissioner of the police service for a report about the 13 criminal history of any of the persons. 14 (3) The commissioner must give the report to the chief executive. 15 (4) However, the report is required to contain only criminal 16 history in the commissioner's possession or to which the 17 commissioner has access. 18 (5) If the criminal history of the person includes a conviction 19 recorded against the person, the commissioner's report must 20 be written. 21 (6) In this section-- 22 applicant includes a nominated person mentioned in section 23 55(3) or 56(4). 24 32 Costs of criminal history report 25 (1) The chief executive may require an applicant or licensee to 26 pay the reasonable, but no more than actual, costs of obtaining 27 a report under section 31 about-- 28 (a) the applicant or licensee; or 29 (b) if the applicant or licensee intends carrying on, or 30 carries on, business in partnership or in conjunction with 31 others--each member of the partnership or each person 32 Page 37

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 33] with whom the applicant or licensee intends carrying on, 1 or carries on, business in partnership or in conjunction; 2 or 3 (c) if the applicant or licensee is a corporation--the 4 corporation's executive officers; or 5 (d) a business associate of the applicant or licensee; or 6 (e) if the applicant has made an application under section 7 55(3) or 56(4)--the person nominated by the applicant 8 under section 55(3) or 56(4). 9 (2) The requirement is a criminal history costs requirement. 10 (3) The requirement is sufficiently made of the applicant or 11 licensee if it is made generally of applicants or licensees of 12 that type in the relevant approved form or notified on the 13 department's website for applicants or licensees of that type. 14 (4) The chief executive must refund to an applicant an amount 15 paid under the requirement if-- 16 (a) the chief executive refuses the application without 17 asking for the report; or 18 (b) the applicant withdraws the application before the chief 19 executive asks for the report. 20 (5) In this section-- 21 applicant includes proposed applicant. 22 33 Confidentiality of criminal history 23 (1) A public service employee performing functions under this 24 Act must not, directly or indirectly, disclose to anyone else a 25 report about a person's criminal history, or information 26 contained in the report, given under section 31. 27 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 28 (2) However, the person does not contravene subsection (1) if-- 29 (a) disclosure of the report or information to someone else 30 is authorised by the chief executive to the extent 31 Page 38

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 34] necessary to perform a function under or relating to this 1 Act; or 2 (b) the disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law. 3 (3) The chief executive must destroy a written report about a 4 person's criminal history as soon as practicable after 5 considering the person's suitability to hold a licence. 6 34 Requirement to give chief executive information or 7 material about suitability 8 (1) This section applies to an applicant for the issue of a licence 9 or the renewal or restoration of a licence. 10 (2) The chief executive may, by written notice given to the 11 applicant, require the applicant to give the chief executive 12 within a stated reasonable period information or material the 13 chief executive reasonably considers is needed to establish the 14 applicant's suitability for the licence. 15 (3) The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, 16 within the stated reasonable period, the applicant fails to 17 comply with the chief executive's requirement. 18 Division 6 Eligibility for licence 19 Subdivision 1 Property agent licence 20 35 Eligibility for property agent licence 21 (1) An individual is eligible to obtain a property agent licence 22 only if the individual-- 23 (a) is at least 18 years; and 24 (b) has the educational or other qualifications for a property 25 agent licence prescribed under a regulation. 26 Page 39

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 36] (2) An individual is to be taken to satisfy the requirement 1 mentioned in subsection (1)(b) if the chief executive is 2 satisfied the individual-- 3 (a) has a comparable qualification; or 4 (b) within 2 years before the day the individual's 5 application for a property agent licence is received by 6 the chief executive-- 7 (i) has been licensed as a property agent; or 8 (ii) has been the holder of a comparable licence under 9 the repealed Act. 10 (3) A corporation is eligible to obtain a property agent licence 11 only if-- 12 (a) a person in charge of the corporation's business is a 13 property agent; and 14 (b) each director of the corporation would be a suitable 15 person under division 5 if the director were an applicant 16 for a licence. 17 Subdivision 2 Resident letting agent licence 18 36 Eligibility for resident letting agent licence 19 (1) An individual is eligible to obtain a resident letting agent 20 licence for a building complex only if the individual-- 21 (a) is at least 18 years; and 22 (b) has the educational or other qualifications for a resident 23 letting agent licence prescribed under a regulation; and 24 (c) satisfies the chief executive that the individual-- 25 (i) resides, or will reside if issued with a licence, in 26 the building complex or, if the individual proposes 27 to perform the activities of a resident letting agent 28 for more than 1 building complex, in 1 of the 29 building complexes; and 30 Page 40

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 36] (ii) has a place, or will have a place if issued with a 1 licence, in the building complex or, if the 2 individual proposes to perform the activities of a 3 resident letting agent for more than 1 building 4 complex, in 1 of the building complexes, that will 5 be the individual's registered office. 6 (2) An individual is taken to satisfy the requirement mentioned in 7 subsection (1)(b) if the chief executive is satisfied the 8 individual-- 9 (a) has a comparable qualification; or 10 (b) within 2 years before the day the individual's 11 application for a resident letting agent licence is 12 received by the chief executive-- 13 (i) has been licensed as a resident letting agent or 14 property agent; or 15 (ii) has been the holder of a comparable licence under 16 the repealed Act. 17 (3) A corporation is eligible to obtain a resident letting agent 18 licence for a building complex only if-- 19 (a) a person in charge of the corporation's business is a 20 resident letting agent; and 21 (b) each director of the corporation would be a suitable 22 person under division 5 if the director were an applicant 23 for a licence; and 24 (c) the corporation satisfies the chief executive that-- 25 (i) the corporation has body corporate approval for the 26 corporation to carry on a business of letting lots in 27 the building complex under the authority of a 28 licence; and 29 (ii) the individual who will perform the activities of a 30 resident letting agent for the corporation-- 31 (A) is a resident letting agent; and 32 (B) resides, or will reside if the corporation is 33 issued with a licence, in the building 34 Page 41

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 37] complex or, if the individual proposes to 1 perform the activities of a resident letting 2 agent for the corporation for more than 1 3 building complex, in 1 of the building 4 complexes; and 5 (C) has a place, or will have a place if issued 6 with a licence, in the building complex or, if 7 the individual proposes to perform the 8 activities of a resident letting agent for the 9 corporation for more than 1 building 10 complex, that will be the individual's 11 registered office. 12 (4) An individual who satisfies the chief executive that the 13 individual will be a director of a corporation that is a resident 14 letting agent is not required to comply with subsection 15 (1)(c)(i) if the individual does not intend performing the 16 activities of a resident letting agent for the building complex. 17 Subdivision 3 Chief executives and particular 18 corporation sole 19 37 Public trustee is eligible to obtain licence 20 The public trustee as a corporation sole is taken to be eligible 21 to obtain a licence. 22 38 Chief executive of department is eligible to obtain licence 23 The chief executive of a department is taken to be eligible to 24 obtain a licence. 25 39 Defence Housing Australia is eligible to obtain licence 26 Defence Housing Australia is taken to be eligible to obtain a 27 licence. 28 Page 42

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 40] Division 7 Issue of licences 1 40 Chief executive may issue or refuse to issue licence 2 (1) The chief executive may issue or refuse to issue a licence to 3 an applicant. 4 (2) The chief executive may issue a licence to an applicant only if 5 the chief executive is satisfied-- 6 (a) the applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence and-- 7 (i) if the applicant intends carrying on business in 8 partnership or in conjunction with others--each 9 member of the partnership or each person with 10 whom the applicant intends carrying on business in 11 conjunction is a suitable person to hold a licence; 12 and 13 (ii) if the applicant is a corporation--each executive 14 officer of the corporation is a suitable person to 15 hold a licence; and 16 (b) the applicant is eligible to obtain a licence of the 17 category of licence being applied for; and 18 (c) the application is properly made; and 19 (d) if the application is for a resident letting agent licence 20 for a building complex--the applicant has the 21 prescribed approval under section 22. 22 (3) For subsection (2)(c), an application is properly made only if 23 it complies with section 20 and is accompanied by the things 24 mentioned in that section. 25 (4) If the chief executive decides to refuse to issue the licence, the 26 chief executive must give the applicant an information notice 27 about the decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 28 (5) If the applicant's application for a licence is refused, the 29 applicant may not make another application for a licence-- 30 (a) for 3 months after the day the chief executive gives the 31 applicant the information notice under subsection (4); or 32 Page 43

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 41] (b) if the applicant applies to QCAT to review the chief 1 executive's decision and the decision is confirmed, for 3 2 months after the day the decision is confirmed. 3 (6) Subsection (5) does not apply if-- 4 (a) the applicant is a corporation; and 5 (b) the applicant satisfies the chief executive that, because 6 of a genuine sale-- 7 (i) no person who was a shareholder of, or held a 8 beneficial interest in, the corporation when the 9 refused application was made is a shareholder of, 10 or holds a beneficial interest in, the applicant 11 corporation; and 12 (ii) no person who was in a position to control or 13 influence the affairs of the corporation when the 14 refused application was made is in a position to 15 control or influence the affairs of the applicant 16 corporation. 17 41 Licence--public trustee 18 (1) The chief executive may issue a licence to the public trustee in 19 the public trustee's capacity as a corporation sole in the name 20 `The Public Trustee of Queensland'. 21 (2) A licence issued to the public trustee authorises an officer or 22 employee of the public trustee to perform any activity 23 authorised by the public trustee that the public trustee may 24 perform under the licence. 25 (3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that an officer or 26 employee performing an activity authorised by the public 27 trustee is not required to be licensed or registered under this 28 Act to perform the activity. 29 Page 44

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 42] 42 Licence--chief executive of department 1 (1) The chief executive may issue a licence to the chief executive 2 of a department in the name `The Chief Executive of the 3 (name of department)'. 4 (2) The licence is taken to be issued to the chief executive for the 5 time being of the department. 6 (3) The chief executive of a department, as licensee, is taken to 7 represent the State. 8 (4) A licence issued to the chief executive authorises an officer or 9 employee of the department of which the chief executive is 10 chief executive to perform any activity authorised by the chief 11 executive that the chief executive may perform under the 12 licence. 13 (5) To remove any doubt, it is declared that an officer or 14 employee performing an activity authorised by the chief 15 executive is not required to be licensed or registered under this 16 Act to perform the activity. 17 43 Licence--Defence Housing Australia 18 (1) The chief executive may issue a licence to Defence Housing 19 Australia in the name `Defence Housing Australia'. 20 (2) A licence issued to Defence Housing Australia authorises an 21 officer or employee of the authority to perform any activity 22 authorised by the authority that the authority may perform 23 under the licence. 24 (3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that an officer or 25 employee performing an activity authorised by the authority is 26 not required to be licensed or registered under this Act to 27 perform the activity. 28 44 Licence--conditions 29 (1) The chief executive may issue a licence on the conditions the 30 chief executive considers necessary or desirable for the proper 31 performance of the activities authorised by the licence. 32 Page 45

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 45] (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a condition may-- 1 (a) limit or prohibit the performance of an activity 2 authorised under this Act or the Administration Act; or 3 (b) require a licensee to hold insurance of a kind and in an 4 amount prescribed under a regulation. 5 (3) If the chief executive decides to issue a licence on condition, 6 the chief executive must give the applicant an information 7 notice about the decision within 14 days after the decision is 8 made. 9 Division 8 Restrictions on performing 10 activities under licences 11 45 Restriction--corporations 12 (1) A corporation that holds a licence may perform an activity 13 under its licence at a place only if the activity may be 14 performed by-- 15 (a) a licensed person who is in charge of the corporation's 16 business at the place; or 17 (b) a liquidator or controller appointed under the 18 Corporations Act of property of the corporation; or 19 (c) a person appointed under the Corporations Act as an 20 administrator of the corporation; or 21 (d) a person appointed under the Corporations Act as an 22 administrator of a deed of company arrangement for the 23 corporation; or 24 (e) a receiver, appointed under the Administration Act, for 25 property of the corporation. 26 (2) If the corporation performs an activity it is not authorised to 27 perform, it is taken to be a person who acts as a licensee 28 without a licence for the performance of the activity. 29 Page 46

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 46] 46 Restriction--individuals 1 (1) An individual who is an employed licensee may perform an 2 activity authorised under the individual's licence only if the 3 activity may also be performed by the individual's employer 4 under the employer's licence. 5 Example-- 6 E is a licensed employee of P, a property agent. E's licence is not subject 7 to a condition. However, P's licence is subject to a condition that P deal 8 only in business letting. Because of the condition, E is only authorised 9 to deal in business letting under E's licence during E's employment with 10 P and while P is subject to the condition. 11 (2) If the employed licensee performs an activity the employed 12 licensee is not authorised to perform because of subsection 13 (1), the employed licensee is taken to be a person who acts as 14 a licensee without a licence for the performance of the 15 activity. 16 47 Restriction--conditions 17 (1) This section applies to a licensee who performs an activity 18 under the licensee's licence that the licensee is not authorised 19 to perform because of a condition on the licensee's licence. 20 (2) The licensee is taken to be a person who acts as a licensee 21 without a licence for the performance of the activity. 22 Note-- 23 For the consequences of a licensee performing an activity that the 24 licensee is not authorised to perform because of a condition on the 25 licensee's licence, see sections 108 and 120. 26 Page 47

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 48] Division 9 Renewal and restoration of licences 1 Subdivision 1 Renewal 2 48 Application for renewal 3 (1) A licensee may only apply for renewal of the licensee's 4 licence before the licence expires. 5 (2) The application must-- 6 (a) be made to the chief executive in the approved form; and 7 (b) state the term of the licence being applied for; and 8 (c) state the names and addresses of the licensee's business 9 associates; and 10 (d) be accompanied by-- 11 (i) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; 12 and 13 (ii) the licence renewal fee prescribed under a 14 regulation; and 15 (iii) if the licensee is required as a condition of the 16 licensee's licence to hold insurance, proof of the 17 currency of the insurance; and 18 (iv) if, before or when the application is made, a 19 criminal history costs requirement is made of the 20 licensee--the amount of the costs required to be 21 paid. 22 (3) The application must also be accompanied by-- 23 (a) an audit report for all trust accounts kept by the licensee 24 during the relevant audit period; or 25 (b) a statutory declaration that the licensee did not operate a 26 trust account during the relevant audit period. 27 (4) The licensee must also satisfy the chief executive that the 28 licensee has actively carried out the activities authorised 29 Page 48

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 49] under the licence for a period, and within the period, 1 prescribed under a regulation. 2 (5) In this section-- 3 relevant audit period, for a licensee's licence, means the audit 4 period ending immediately before the licence's expiry date. 5 49 Chief executive may renew or refuse to renew licence 6 (1) The chief executive must consider the renewal application and 7 may renew or refuse to renew the licence. 8 (2) The chief executive may renew the licence only if the chief 9 executive is satisfied-- 10 (a) the licensee is a suitable person to hold a licence and-- 11 (i) if the licensee carries on business in partnership or 12 in conjunction with others--each member of the 13 partnership or each person with whom the licensee 14 carries on business in conjunction is a suitable 15 person to hold a licence; and 16 (ii) if the licensee is a corporation--each executive 17 officer of the corporation is a suitable person to 18 hold a licence; and 19 (b) the application is properly made; and 20 (c) the licensee has, as a principal licensee, licensee in 21 charge of a corporation's business or employed licensee, 22 actively carried out the activities authorised under the 23 licence for a period, and within the period, prescribed 24 under a regulation; and 25 (d) the licensee meets the eligibility requirements, other 26 than eligibility requirements of an educational nature, 27 for the licence. 28 (3) For subsection (2)(b), an application is properly made only if 29 it complies with section 48 and is accompanied by the things 30 mentioned in that section. 31 Page 49

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 50] (4) If the chief executive decides to refuse the application, the 1 chief executive must give the applicant an information notice 2 about the decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 3 50 Licence taken to be in force while application for renewal 4 is considered 5 If an application is made under section 48, the licensee's 6 licence is taken to continue in force from the day that it 7 would, apart from this section, have expired until the 8 licensee's application for renewal is-- 9 (a) decided under section 49; or 10 (b) withdrawn by the licensee; or 11 (c) taken to have been withdrawn under section 34(3). 12 Subdivision 2 Restoration 13 51 Application for restoration 14 (1) If a licensee's licence expires, the person (former licensee) 15 may apply for restoration of the licence. 16 (2) The application must-- 17 (a) be made within 3 months after the expiry; and 18 (b) be made to the chief executive in the approved form; and 19 (c) state the term of the licence being applied for; and 20 (d) state the names and addresses of the former licensee's 21 business associates; and 22 (e) be accompanied by-- 23 (i) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; 24 and 25 (ii) the licence renewal fee prescribed under a 26 regulation; and 27 Page 50

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 52] (iii) the licence restoration fee prescribed under a 1 regulation; and 2 (iv) if the former licensee was required as a condition 3 of the former licensee's licence to hold 4 insurance--proof of the currency of the insurance; 5 and 6 (v) if, before or when the application is made, a 7 criminal history costs requirement is made of the 8 former licensee--the amount of the costs required 9 to be paid. 10 (3) The application must also be accompanied by-- 11 (a) an audit report about all trust accounts maintained by the 12 former licensee during the relevant audit period; or 13 (b) a statutory declaration that the former licensee did not 14 operate a trust account during the relevant audit period. 15 (4) The former licensee must also satisfy the chief executive that 16 the former licensee has, as a licensee or salesperson, actively 17 carried out the activities authorised under the licence for a 18 period, and within the period, prescribed under a regulation. 19 (5) In this section-- 20 relevant audit period, for a former licensee's licence, means 21 the audit period ending immediately before the former 22 licence's expiry date. 23 52 Chief executive may restore or refuse to restore licence 24 (1) The chief executive must consider the restoration application 25 and may restore or refuse to restore the licence. 26 (2) The chief executive may restore the licence only if the chief 27 executive is satisfied-- 28 (a) the licensee is a suitable person to hold a licence and-- 29 (i) if the licensee carries on, or intends to carry on, 30 business in partnership or in conjunction with 31 others--each member of the partnership or each 32 person with whom the licensee carries on business 33 Page 51

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 53] in conjunction is a suitable person to hold a 1 licence; and 2 (ii) if the licensee is a corporation--each executive 3 officer of the corporation is a suitable person to 4 hold a licence; and 5 (b) the application is properly made; and 6 (c) the licensee has, as a principal licensee or employed 7 licensee, actively carried out the activities authorised 8 under the licence for a period, and within the period, 9 prescribed under a regulation; and 10 (d) the licensee meets the eligibility requirements, other 11 than eligibility requirements of an educational nature, 12 for the licence. 13 (3) For subsection (2)(b), an application is properly made only if 14 it complies with section 51 and is accompanied by the things 15 mentioned in that section. 16 (4) If the chief executive decides to refuse the application, the 17 chief executive must give the licensee an information notice 18 about the decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 19 (5) If the chief executive restores the licence-- 20 (a) the licence is taken to have been renewed on the day it 21 would, apart from section 53, have expired (the initial 22 expiry date); and 23 (b) to remove any doubt, a thing done during the period 24 starting on the initial expiry date and ending on the day 25 the licence is restored under this section is taken to have 26 been as validly done as it would have been if the licence 27 had been renewed immediately before the initial expiry 28 date. 29 53 Licence taken to be in force while application for 30 restoration is considered 31 If an application is made under section 51, the licensee's 32 licence is taken to continue in force from the day that it 33 Page 52

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 54] would, apart from this section, have expired until the 1 licensee's application for restoration is-- 2 (a) decided under section 52; or 3 (b) withdrawn by the licensee; or 4 (c) taken to have been withdrawn under section 34(3). 5 Division 10 Dealings with licences 6 Subdivision 1 Transfer of licence 7 54 Transfer of licence prohibited 8 A licence may not be transferred. 9 Subdivision 2 Substitute licences 10 55 Appointment of substitute licensee--principal 11 licensee--individual 12 (1) A principal licensee may appoint an adult as the licensee's 13 substitute licensee for a period of not more than 30 days only 14 if-- 15 (a) the licensee will be absent from the licensee's registered 16 office for the period; and 17 (b) the adult consents to the appointment; and 18 (c) if the licensee is required as a condition of the licensee's 19 licence to hold insurance, the adult is covered by the 20 insurance or holds insurance that complies with the 21 requirements of the condition. 22 (2) The principal licensee must ensure-- 23 (a) an appointment under subsection (1) and the substitute 24 licensee's consent to the appointment are in writing and 25 state the period of appointment; and 26 Page 53

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 55] (b) the appointment, consent and evidence of any insurance 1 the substitute licensee is required to have are-- 2 (i) kept at the licensee's registered office; and 3 (ii) made available for immediate inspection by an 4 inspector who asks to see them. 5 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 6 (3) A principal licensee who will be absent from the licensee's 7 registered office for a period of more than 30 days must apply 8 to the chief executive in the approved form for the 9 appointment or the extension of the appointment of an adult 10 (nominated person) as the licensee's substitute licensee. 11 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 12 (4) If the principal licensee is a person for whom an administrator 13 has been appointed under the Guardianship and 14 Administration Act 2000 or is deceased, the licensee's 15 representative may make the application under subsection (3). 16 (5) The application must be accompanied by-- 17 (a) the nominated person's signed consent to the 18 appointment; and 19 (b) enough information about the nominated person to 20 enable the chief executive to decide whether the 21 person-- 22 (i) is a suitable person to hold a licence; and 23 (ii) is sufficiently qualified to perform the licensee's 24 activities during the period; and 25 (iii) if the licensee is required as a condition of the 26 licensee's licence to hold insurance, is covered by 27 the insurance or holds insurance that complies with 28 the requirements of the condition; and 29 (c) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; and 30 (d) if, before or when the application is made, a criminal 31 history costs requirement is made of the principal 32 licensee--the amount of the costs required to be paid. 33 Page 54

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 56] (6) In this section-- 1 principal licensee means a principal licensee who is an 2 individual. 3 representative, of a principal licensee, means-- 4 (a) for a licensee for whom an administrator has been 5 appointed under the Guardianship and Administration 6 Act 2000--the licensee's administrator; or 7 (b) for a deceased licensee--the licensee's personal 8 representative. 9 56 Appointment of substitute licensee--employed licensee 10 in charge of a licensee's business at a place 11 (1) This section applies if an employed licensee who is in charge 12 of a licensee's business at a place will be absent from the 13 place for any reason, other than the employed licensee's 14 resignation or termination of employment. 15 (2) If the employed licensee will be absent from the place for a 16 period of not more than 30 days, the principal licensee who 17 employs the employed licensee may appoint an adult as the 18 employed licensee's substitute licensee for the period if the 19 adult consents to the appointment. 20 (3) The principal licensee must ensure an appointment under 21 subsection (2) and the person's consent to the appointment 22 are-- 23 (a) in writing and state the period of appointment; and 24 (b) kept at the licensee's registered office; and 25 (c) made available for immediate inspection by an inspector 26 who asks to see them. 27 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 28 (4) If the employed licensee will be absent from the place for a 29 period of more than 30 days, the principal licensee who 30 employs the employed licensee must apply to the chief 31 executive in the approved form for the appointment or the 32 Page 55

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 57] extension of the appointment of a person (nominated person) 1 as the licensee's substitute licensee. 2 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 3 (5) The application must be accompanied by-- 4 (a) the nominated person's signed consent to the 5 appointment; and 6 (b) enough information about the nominated person to 7 enable the chief executive to decide whether the person 8 is-- 9 (i) a suitable person to hold a licence; and 10 (ii) sufficiently qualified to perform the employed 11 licensee's activities during the period; and 12 (c) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; and 13 (d) if, before or when the application is made, a criminal 14 history costs requirement is made of the principal 15 licensee--the amount of the costs required to be paid. 16 (6) In this section-- 17 principal licensee includes-- 18 (a) for a licensee for whom an administrator has been 19 appointed under the Guardianship and Administration 20 Act 2000--the licensee's administrator; and 21 (b) for a deceased licensee--the licensee's personal 22 representative. 23 57 Chief executive may appoint or refuse to appoint 24 substitute licensee 25 (1) The chief executive may appoint or refuse to appoint a 26 nominated person mentioned in section 55(3) or 56(4) as a 27 licensee's substitute licensee. 28 (2) The chief executive may appoint the nominated person only if 29 the chief executive is satisfied the person-- 30 Page 56

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 58] (a) is, under division 5, a suitable person to hold a licence; 1 and 2 (b) is sufficiently qualified to perform the licensee's 3 activities during the period of the licensee's absence; 4 and 5 (c) if the licensee is required as a condition of the licensee's 6 licence to hold insurance, is covered by the insurance or 7 holds insurance that complies with the requirements of 8 the condition. 9 (3) An appointment under this section may be made subject to the 10 conditions the chief executive considers appropriate. 11 (4) The chief executive must give written notice of the 12 appointment to the licensee and the substitute licensee. 13 (5) If the chief executive decides to refuse the application or to 14 impose conditions on the appointment, the chief executive 15 must give the licensee an information notice about the 16 decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 17 58 Substitute licensee 18 (1) On appointment, a substitute licensee-- 19 (a) must act as substitute for the licensee for whom the 20 substitute is appointed; and 21 (b) is taken to be the licensee during the period of 22 appointment. 23 (2) A licensee for whom a substitute has been appointed must not 24 act under the authority of the licensee's licence while the 25 appointment of the substitute licensee continues. 26 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 27 (3) The appointment of the substitute licensee ends if-- 28 (a) the period of appointment ends; or 29 (b) the principal licensee gives written notice to end the 30 appointment from a date stated in the notice-- 31 Page 57

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 59] (i) for a substitute licensee appointed under section 1 55(1) or 56(2)--to the substitute licensee; or 2 (ii) for a substitute licensee appointed under section 3 57--to the chief executive and the substitute 4 licensee; or 5 (c) the substitute licensee gives written notice to end the 6 appointment from a date stated in the notice-- 7 (i) for a substitute licensee appointed under section 8 55(1) or 56(2)--to the principal licensee making 9 the appointment; or 10 (ii) for a substitute licensee appointed under section 11 57--to the chief executive and the principal 12 licensee who applied for the appointment; or 13 (d) the chief executive revokes the substitute licensee's 14 appointment; or 15 (e) the licensee's licence is suspended or cancelled; or 16 (f) if the licensee is a principal licensee, the licensee stops 17 carrying on business as a licensee. 18 59 Limitation on period of substitution 19 (1) A principal licensee may not appoint a substitute licensee for 20 himself or herself for more than 12 weeks in any period of 12 21 months. 22 (2) A principal licensee may not appoint a substitute licensee for 23 an employed licensee for more than 12 weeks in any period of 24 12 months. 25 (3) The chief executive may not appoint a substitute licensee for 26 any licensee for more than 26 weeks in any period of 12 27 months. 28 Page 58

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 60] Subdivision 3 General 1 60 Amendment of licence conditions 2 (1) The chief executive may amend the conditions of a licence-- 3 (a) on the licensee's application; or 4 (b) on the order of QCAT after a disciplinary hearing; or 5 (c) on the chief executive's own initiative. 6 Note-- 7 QCAT may deal with the conditions of a person's licence under section 8 211. 9 (2) An application under subsection (1)(a) must be made in the 10 approved form and be accompanied by the application fee 11 prescribed under a regulation. 12 (3) Before making an amendment under subsection (1)(a), the 13 chief executive must be satisfied the licensee meets the 14 eligibility requirements the chief executive considers relevant 15 to the amendment of the condition. 16 (4) Before making an amendment under subsection (1)(c), the 17 chief executive must-- 18 (a) give written notice to the licensee-- 19 (i) of the particulars of the proposed amendment; and 20 (ii) that the licensee may make written submissions to 21 the chief executive about the proposed amendment 22 before a stated day, not later than 14 days after the 23 notice is given to the licensee; and 24 (b) have regard to submissions made to the chief executive 25 by the licensee before the stated day. 26 (5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the chief executive decides 27 that the amendment must be made urgently-- 28 (a) to avoid potential claims against the fund; or 29 (b) to ensure compliance with this Act or the 30 Administration Act. 31 Page 59

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 61] (6) If the chief executive decides to amend the conditions of a 1 licence under subsection (1)(c), the chief executive must give 2 the licensee an information notice about the decision within 3 14 days after the decision is made. 4 (7) The amendment takes effect-- 5 (a) on the day the written notice of the amendment is given 6 to the licensee; or 7 (b) if a later day is stated in the notice, on the stated day. 8 (8) If the chief executive decides to refuse to make an amendment 9 requested under subsection (1)(a), the chief executive must 10 give the applicant an information notice about the decision 11 within 14 days after the decision is made. 12 61 Return of licence for amendment of conditions or when 13 suspended or cancelled 14 (1) If the chief executive amends the conditions of a licence under 15 section 60, the chief executive may require the licensee to 16 produce the licence for amendment within a stated period of 17 not less than 14 days. 18 (2) The licensee must comply with a requirement under 19 subsection (1), unless the person has a reasonable excuse. 20 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 21 (3) A person whose licence has been suspended or cancelled must 22 return the licence to the chief executive within 14 days after 23 the suspension or cancellation, unless the person has a 24 reasonable excuse. 25 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 26 62 Surrender of licence 27 (1) A licensee may surrender the licensee's licence by giving 28 written notice to the chief executive and returning the licence. 29 (2) A licence surrendered under this section stops having effect 30 on the day it is surrendered. 31 Page 60

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 63] 63 Licence may be deactivated 1 (1) A licensee may ask the chief executive to deactivate the 2 licensee's licence. 3 (2) A request under subsection (1) must be made in the approved 4 form and be accompanied by the licensee's licence and the fee 5 prescribed under a regulation. 6 (3) The licence is taken to be deactivated when the request, the 7 licence and the prescribed fee are received by the chief 8 executive under subsection (2). 9 (4) A licence that is deactivated does not authorise the licensee to 10 perform an activity under the authority of the licence. 11 (5) The deactivation of a licence under this section does not-- 12 (a) affect the term of the licence; or 13 (b) entitle the licensee to a refund of fees relating to the 14 licence for the balance of the licence's term. 15 (6) The holder of a deactivated licence may apply to have the 16 licence renewed under section 48 or restored under section 51 17 as a deactivated licence at a reduced fee prescribed under a 18 regulation. 19 (7) A licensee may ask the chief executive to reactivate the 20 licence. 21 (8) However, if the licence has been deactivated for 5 years or 22 more, the licence may be reactivated only if the licensee 23 satisfies any educational or other requirements prescribed 24 under a regulation for the issue of the licence. 25 (9) A request under subsection (7) must be made in the approved 26 form and be accompanied by the fee prescribed under a 27 regulation. 28 Page 61

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 64] Division 11 Immediate suspension and 1 cancellation of licences 2 64 Immediate suspension 3 (1) This section applies if-- 4 (a) the chief executive reasonably considers that a licensee's 5 licence was obtained, or renewed or restored, because of 6 materially incorrect or misleading information; or 7 (b) the chief executive reasonably considers that an 8 irregularity or deficiency exists in a licensee's trust 9 account; or 10 (c) the chief executive is satisfied a licensee who has been 11 convicted of failing to file an audit report as required 12 under the Administration Act, section 36 continues, 13 after the end of any appeal against the conviction, to fail 14 to file the audit report; or 15 (d) a receiver is appointed under the Administration Act, 16 section 45 over property-- 17 (i) held by a licensee; or 18 (ii) held by another person for a licensee; or 19 (iii) recoverable by a licensee; or 20 (e) the chief executive reasonably considers that a 21 licensee-- 22 (i) has contravened or is contravening this Act or the 23 Administration Act; or 24 (ii) has contravened the repealed Act; or 25 (ii) is likely or proposing to engage in conduct that 26 would contravene this Act or the Administration 27 Act. 28 (2) The chief executive may, whether or not disciplinary 29 proceedings have been started under this Act-- 30 (a) suspend the licensee's licence; or 31 Page 62

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 65] (b) without limiting paragraph (a), for subsection (1)(b), 1 suspend a licence held by an employee of the licensee if 2 the chief executive considers, on reasonable grounds, 3 the employee is responsible in any way for the 4 irregularity or deficiency in the licensee's trust account. 5 (3) If the chief executive suspends a licence for a reason 6 mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b), (d) or (e), the licence may 7 be suspended for the period, of not more than 28 days, and on 8 the conditions, the chief executive decides. 9 (4) If the chief executive suspends the licence for the reason 10 mentioned in subsection (1)(c), the licence is suspended until 11 whichever of the following happens first-- 12 (a) the licensee files the required audit report; 13 (b) an application to QCAT for the cancellation of the 14 licence is heard and decided. 15 (5) The chief executive must give the licensee an information 16 notice about the suspension within 14 days after suspending 17 the licensee's licence. 18 (6) The licensee must return the licence to the chief executive 19 within 14 days after the licensee receives the notice, unless 20 the person has a reasonable excuse. 21 Maximum penalty for subsection (6)--100 penalty units. 22 65 Immediate cancellation 23 (1) A licensee's licence is cancelled on the happening of any of 24 the following events-- 25 (a) the licensee is convicted of a serious offence; 26 (b) if the licensee is an individual, the licensee is an 27 insolvent under administration; 28 (c) if the licensee is a corporation, the licensee has been 29 wound up or struck off under the Corporations Act. 30 Page 63

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 66] (2) The licensee must return the licence to the chief executive 1 within 14 days after the happening of an event mentioned in 2 subsection (1), unless the licensee has a reasonable excuse. 3 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 4 Division 12 General provisions about licences 5 66 Form of licence 6 (1) A licence must be in the approved form. 7 (2) However, the chief executive may approve-- 8 (a) a form of licence for office display purposes; and 9 Example-- 10 a licence in the form of a certificate that may be framed and 11 displayed in an office 12 (b) a form of licence for personal identification purposes. 13 (3) The chief executive may also issue a form of licence for a 14 corporation endorsed with the categories of licence issued in 15 the corporation's name. 16 (4) The licence must contain the following particulars-- 17 (a) the name of the licensee; 18 (b) the date of issue of the licence; 19 (c) the expiry date of the licence; 20 (d) other particulars prescribed under a regulation. 21 67 Display of licence 22 A principal licensee must display the licensee's licence at the 23 licensee's principal place of business in the way prescribed 24 under a regulation. 25 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 26 Page 64

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 68] 68 Term of licence 1 A licence may be issued for a 1 year or 3 year term. 2 69 Replacement licences 3 (1) A licensee may apply to the chief executive for the 4 replacement of a lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged licence. 5 (2) The application must be made in the approved form and be 6 accompanied by the fee prescribed under a regulation. 7 (3) The chief executive must grant the application if the chief 8 executive is satisfied the licence has been lost, stolen or 9 destroyed, or damaged in a way that would require its 10 replacement. 11 (4) If the chief executive grants the application, the chief 12 executive must issue another licence to the applicant to 13 replace the lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged licence. 14 70 Register of licences 15 (1) The chief executive must keep a register of licences and 16 applications for licences (licence register). 17 (2) The licence register must contain the following particulars-- 18 (a) for each applicant for a licence-- 19 (i) the applicant's name; and 20 (ii) if the applicant intends to carry on business under 21 the licence, the place where the applicant intends 22 to carry on business; and 23 (iii) the category of licence applied for; and 24 (iv) the date of the application; and 25 (v) the application number; 26 (b) for each licensee-- 27 (i) the licensee's name; and 28 (ii) the licensee's registered office; and 29 Page 65

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 2 Licensing [s 70] (iii) the category of the licensee's licence; and 1 (iv) the dates of issue and expiry of the licensee's 2 current licence; and 3 (v) any conditions imposed on the licence; and 4 (vi) if the licensee is a corporation, the name of the 5 individual in charge of the licensee's business at 6 the licensee's registered office; and 7 (vii) if the licensee is a director of a licensed 8 corporation, the name of the licensed corporation; 9 and 10 (viii) if the licensee is an employee of another licensee, 11 the name of the licensee's employer; and 12 (ix) the licensee's licence number; and 13 (x) particulars of any surrender, suspension or 14 cancellation of the licensee's licence. 15 (3) A person may, on payment of the fee prescribed under a 16 regulation, inspect, or get a copy of details in, the part of the 17 register containing the particulars mentioned in subsection 18 (2)-- 19 (a) at a place or places decided by the chief executive; or 20 (b) by using a computer. 21 (4) A person may pay the fee, in advance or in arrears, under an 22 arrangement approved by the chief executive. 23 (5) The register may be kept in any way the chief executive 24 considers appropriate. 25 (6) In this section-- 26 contain includes record and store. 27 Page 66

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 71] 71 Licensees to notify chief executive of changes in 1 circumstances 2 (1) A licensee must give written notice to the chief executive of a 3 prescribed change in the licensee's circumstances within 14 4 days after the change. 5 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 6 (2) In this section-- 7 prescribed change means a change prescribed under a 8 regulation. 9 Part 3 Property agents 10 Division 1 Property agents' authorisation and 11 responsibility 12 72 What a property agent licence authorises 13 (1) A property agent licence authorises the holder of the licence 14 (property agent) to perform the following activities as an 15 agent for others for reward-- 16 (a) to buy, sell, exchange, or let places of residence or land 17 or interests in places of residence or land; 18 (b) to buy, sell, exchange, or let businesses or interests in 19 businesses; 20 (c) to sell, or attempt to sell or offer for sale or resale, 21 something mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) by way of 22 auction; 23 (d) to negotiate for the buying, selling, exchanging, or 24 letting of something mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b); 25 (e) to collect rents. 26 Page 67

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 73] (2) A property agent licence also authorises the holder of the 1 licence to perform the activity of selling or attempting to sell 2 or offering for sale or resale goods by way of auction if the 3 sale or resale is directly connected with a sale by auction of a 4 place of residence or land performed by the property agent. 5 (3) For subsection (2), an auction of goods may be directly 6 connected with a sale by auction of a place of residence or 7 land despite the auction of the goods being conducted 8 separately from the auction of the place of residence or land. 9 Example-- 10 An auction of a place of residence followed by an auction of the 11 contents of the residence. 12 (3) A property agent may perform the activities mentioned in 13 subsection (1) or (2) in the carrying on of a business, either 14 alone or with others, or as an employee of someone else. 15 73 Responsibility for acts and omissions of salespersons 16 (1) A property agent who is a principal licensee must take 17 reasonable steps to ensure each property agent salesperson 18 employed by the agent is properly supervised and complies 19 with this Act. 20 (2) A property agent who is an employed licensee in charge of a 21 licensee's business at a place of business must take reasonable 22 steps to ensure each property agent salesperson employed at 23 the place is properly supervised and complies with this Act. 24 (3) A property agent who fails to comply with subsection (1) or 25 (2) is liable to disciplinary action under part 10, division 1. 26 Page 68

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 74] Division 2 Conduct provisions 1 Subdivision 1 Carrying on business 2 74 Carrying on of business under property agent licence 3 An individual who carries on the business of a property agent 4 with others is not required to hold a property agent licence 5 if-- 6 (a) at least 1 of the persons with whom the individual 7 carries on business is a property agent; and 8 (b) the individual does not perform the activities of a 9 property agent; and 10 (c) the individual is a suitable person to hold a licence. 11 75 Licensee to be in charge of a property agent's business 12 at a place 13 (1) A property agent who is an individual and a principal licensee 14 must-- 15 (a) be in charge of the agent's business at the agent's 16 registered office; and 17 (b) if the property agent has more than 1 place of business, 18 ensure the following at each other place of business-- 19 (i) for a resident letting agency--a property agent, or 20 resident letting agent, who is an individual is in 21 charge of the property agent's business at the place 22 of business; 23 (ii) otherwise--a property agent who is an individual 24 is in charge of the property agent's business at the 25 place of business. 26 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 27 (2) A property agent that is a corporation and a principal licensee 28 (corporate agent) must ensure-- 29 Page 69

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 75] (a) the individual in charge of the corporate agent's business 1 at its registered office is a property agent; and 2 (b) if the corporate agent has more than 1 place of business, 3 ensure the following at each other place of business-- 4 (i) for a resident letting agency--a property agent, or 5 resident letting agent, who is an individual is in 6 charge of the corporate agent's business at the 7 place of business; 8 (ii) otherwise--a property agent who is an individual 9 is in charge of the corporate agent's business at the 10 place of business. 11 Maximum penalty-- 12 (a) for an individual guilty under chapter 2 of the Criminal 13 Code of an offence or for section 255--200 penalty 14 units; or 15 (b) for a corporation--1000 penalty units. 16 (3) An individual must not be in charge of a property agent's 17 business at more than 1 place. 18 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 19 (4) It is not an offence against subsection (1) or (2) for a property 20 agent who is an individual to be in charge of more than 1 21 place of business if each place of business is on land 22 contiguous to land on which the other place of business is 23 located. 24 (5) For subsection (4), land is contiguous with other land only if 25 the parcels of land have a common boundary that is not 26 separated by a public road. 27 (6) In this section-- 28 resident letting agency means a place of business at which the 29 only business carried on as a property agent is the business of 30 a resident letting agent. 31 Page 70

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 76] Subdivision 2 Appointment 1 76 Appointment of property agent--general 2 (1) A property agent must not act as a property agent for a person 3 (client) to perform an activity (service) for the client unless-- 4 (a) the client first appoints the property agent in writing; or 5 (b) a previous appointment by the client is assigned to the 6 property agent under the terms of that appointment or 7 under section 80 and the appointment is in force. 8 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 9 (2) The appointment may be for the performance of-- 10 (a) a particular service (single appointment); or 11 (b) a number of services over a period (continuing 12 appointment). 13 (3) The appointment must, for each service-- 14 (a) state the service to be performed by the property agent 15 and how it is to be performed; and 16 (b) if the service is an auction--state the day set for the 17 auction; and 18 (c) state, in the way prescribed under a regulation, that fees, 19 charges and commission payable for the service are 20 negotiable up to any amount prescribed under a 21 regulation; and 22 (d) state-- 23 (i) the fees, charges and any commission payable for 24 the service; and 25 (ii) the expenses, including advertising and marketing 26 expenses, the agent is authorised to incur in 27 connection with the performance of each service or 28 category of service; and 29 (iii) the source and the estimated amount or value of 30 any rebate, discount, commission or benefit that 31 Page 71

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 76] the agent may receive for any expenses that the 1 agent may incur in connection with the 2 performance of the service; and 3 (iv) any condition, limitation or restriction on the 4 performance of the service; and 5 (e) state when the fees, charges and any commission for the 6 service become payable; and 7 (f) if the service to be performed is the sale or letting of 8 property or the collecting of rents and commission is 9 payable for the service and expressed as a percentage of 10 an estimated sale price or amount to be collected, state 11 that the commission is worked out only on the actual 12 sale price or the amount actually collected; and 13 (g) if the appointment is for a sole or exclusive agency, state 14 the date the appointment ends. 15 Note-- 16 For additional requirements for an appointment for a sole or 17 exclusive agency, see section 79. 18 (4) A continuing appointment must state-- 19 (a) the date the appointment ends; and 20 (b) that the appointment, other than to the extent it relates to 21 the sale of land or interests in land, may be revoked on 22 the giving of 90 days notice, or the lesser period (not 23 less than 30 days) agreed by the parties. 24 (5) The notice revoking a continuing appointment must be by 25 signed writing given to the other party. 26 (6) The revocation of a continuing appointment does not affect 27 existing contracts entered into by the property agent on behalf 28 of the client. 29 (7) The appointment must be signed and dated by the client and 30 the property agent or someone authorised or apparently 31 authorised to sign for the agent. 32 Page 72

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 77] (8) The property agent must give a copy of the signed 1 appointment to the client. 2 Maximum penalty for subsection (8)--200 penalty units. 3 77 Form of appointment 4 (1) The appointment must be in the approved form. 5 (2) The approved form must include a prominent statement that 6 the client should seek independent legal advice before signing 7 the appointment. 8 (3) An appointment that does not comply with subsection (1) is 9 ineffective from the time it is made. 10 78 Pre-appointment advice about types of appointment 11 If the appointment is for the sale of a place of residence or 12 land or an interest in a place of residence or land, before the 13 appointment is signed, the property agent must specifically 14 bring to the client's notice the information in the form of 15 appointment about-- 16 (a) the effect of the following-- 17 (i) an open listing; 18 (ii) an exclusive agency; 19 (iii) a sole agency; and 20 (b) the difference between sole agency and exclusive 21 agency. 22 Note-- 23 The commission of an offence against this section also renders the 24 appointment ineffective under section 83(3). 25 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 26 Page 73

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 79] 79 Appointment of property agent--sole and exclusive 1 agencies 2 (1) If the appointment is for a sole or exclusive agency, before the 3 appointment is signed, the property agent must discuss with 4 the client whether the appointment is to be for a sole agency 5 or an exclusive agency and specifically bring to the client's 6 notice the information in the form of appointment about-- 7 (a) the proposed term of the appointment; and 8 (b) if the appointment is for the sale of residential property, 9 the client's entitlement to negotiate the term of the 10 appointment up to a maximum term of 60 days; and 11 (c) the difference between sole agency and exclusive 12 agency, unless the information has been brought to the 13 client's notice under section 78; and 14 (d) the consequences for the client if the property is sold by 15 someone other than the agent during the term of the 16 appointment. 17 Note-- 18 The commission of an offence against this subsection also renders an 19 appointment for the sale of a place of residence or land or an interest in 20 a place of residence or land ineffective under section 83(3). 21 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 22 (2) The appointment may include provision that, at the end of the 23 term of a sole or exclusive agency, the appointment of the 24 agent continues under an open listing that may be ended at 25 any time by the agent or the client. 26 (3) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply if the appointment-- 27 (a) is for the sale of 3 or more residential properties; or 28 (b) is for the sale of a lot in a community titles scheme as 29 part of the sale of management rights to the person who 30 is to become the letting agent for the community titles 31 scheme. 32 Page 74

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 80] 80 Proposal for assignment of appointments 1 (1) This section applies if a property agent who holds 2 appointments from clients to perform services for the clients 3 under section 76 proposes to assign the appointments to 4 another property agent (proposed assignee) without changing 5 the terms of the appointment. 6 (2) However, this section does not apply to the assignment of an 7 appointment if-- 8 (a) the terms of the appointment authorise the assignment 9 of the appointment; and 10 (b) the assignment is made under the terms of the 11 appointment. 12 (3) At least 14 days before the property agent assigns the 13 appointments, the agent must give each client written notice 14 of the proposed assignment. 15 (4) The notice must state the following-- 16 (a) the proposed assignee's name; 17 (b) the appointments are to be assigned without changing 18 the terms of the appointment; 19 (c) the client may agree or refuse to agree to the proposed 20 assignment; 21 (d) when the proposed assignment is to take effect. 22 (5) If a client agrees to the assignment and the property agent 23 assigns the appointment under this section, the appointment is 24 taken, for section 76, to be an appointment by the client of the 25 proposed assignee and to continue to have effect according to 26 its terms. 27 81 Restriction on reappointment of property agents for sales 28 of residential property 29 (1) A property agent may be reappointed for a sole or exclusive 30 agency for the sale of residential property for 1 or more terms 31 of not more than 60 days. 32 Page 75

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 82] (2) The limitation on the term of reappointment under subsection 1 (1) does not apply if the reappointment is for the sale of 3 or 2 more residential properties. 3 (3) A property agent appointed for the sale of residential property 4 under a sole or exclusive agency commits an offence if the 5 agent is reappointed for the sale earlier than 14 days before 6 the term of the sole or exclusive agency ends. 7 Note-- 8 The commission of an offence against this subsection relating to the 9 reappointment also renders the reappointment ineffective under section 10 83. 11 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 12 82 Form of reappointment 13 (1) The reappointment of a property agent under section 81 must 14 be made in the approved form. 15 (2) A reappointment that does not comply with subsection (1) is 16 ineffective from the time it is made. 17 83 When appointments and reappointments are ineffective 18 (1) The appointment of a property agent for the sale of residential 19 property under a sole or exclusive agency is ineffective from 20 the time it is made if the term of the appointment is more than 21 60 days. 22 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the appointment is for the sale 23 of 3 or more residential properties. 24 (3) The appointment of a property agent for the sale of a place of 25 residence or land or an interest in a place of residence or land 26 is ineffective from the time it is made if the property agent 27 commits an offence against section 78 or 79(1). 28 (4) The reappointment of a property agent for a further term of 29 sole or exclusive agency for the sale of residential property is 30 ineffective from the time it is made if the property agent 31 Page 76

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 84] commits an offence against section 81(3) relating to the 1 reappointment. 2 Subdivision 3 Disclosure of interest 3 84 Disclosures to prospective buyer 4 (1) A residential property agent for the sale of residential property 5 must disclose the following to any prospective buyer of the 6 property-- 7 (a) any relationship, and the nature of the relationship 8 (whether personal or commercial), the agent has with 9 anyone to whom the agent refers the buyer for 10 professional services associated with the sale; 11 Examples of relationships for paragraph (a)-- 12 · a family relationship 13 · a business relationship, other than a casual business 14 relationship 15 · a fiduciary relationship 16 · a relationship in which 1 person is accustomed, or obliged, 17 to act under the directions, instructions, or wishes of the 18 other 19 (b) whether the agent derives or expects to derive any 20 benefit from a person to whom the agent has referred the 21 buyer and, if so, the amount or value of the benefit; 22 (c) the amount, value or nature of any benefit any person 23 has received, receives, or expects to receive in 24 connection with the sale, or for promoting the sale, or 25 for providing a service in connection with the sale, of 26 the property. 27 Examples for paragraph (c) of persons who may receive a benefit-- 28 · finance broker 29 · financial adviser 30 · financier 31 · property valuer 32 Page 77

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 85] · residential property agent 1 · seller 2 · solicitor 3 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 4 (2) The disclosure is effective for subsection (1) only if it is-- 5 (a) given to the prospective buyer in the approved form; and 6 (b) acknowledged by the prospective buyer in writing on the 7 approved form; and 8 (c) given and acknowledged before a contract for the sale of 9 the residential property is entered into. 10 (3) Also, for subsection (1)(c), disclosure in compliance with the 11 approved form is sufficient. 12 (4) In this section-- 13 benefit means monetary or other benefit. 14 residential property agent means-- 15 (a) a property agent; or 16 (b) a property agent salesperson acting for the property 17 agent; or 18 (c) a person acting as a property agent in contravention of 19 section 108(2); or 20 (d) a person acting as a property agent salesperson in 21 contravention of section 109(1). 22 Subdivision 4 Auctions of goods 23 85 Buyer's premium 24 (1) This section applies to an auction of goods conducted by a 25 property agent. 26 (2) A property agent must not charge the buyer of the goods a 27 buyer's premium unless-- 28 Page 78

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 86] (a) the property agent-- 1 (i) before the auction, obtains the written consent of 2 the owner of the goods; and 3 (ii) discloses, in the way prescribed under a regulation, 4 that a buyer's premium is payable on the purchase 5 of the goods; and 6 (b) the premium is not more than the amount prescribed or 7 worked out under a regulation. 8 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 9 (3) The property agent does not act for the buyer of the goods 10 only because the agent accepts a buyer's premium from the 11 buyer. 12 (4) In this section-- 13 buyer's premium means an amount, not more than an amount 14 prescribed or worked out under a regulation, payable to a 15 property agent by a buyer on the purchase of goods. 16 owner, of goods, includes a person who is lawfully entitled to 17 sell the goods. 18 Subdivision 5 Recovery of reward or expense 19 86 Commission may be claimed only for actual amounts 20 (1) This section applies to a property agent who performs, for the 21 payment of a commission, a service of selling or letting 22 property or collecting rents. 23 (2) The property agent must not claim commission worked out on 24 an amount more than the actual sale price of the property or 25 the amount collected. 26 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 27 Page 79

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 87] 87 Restriction on recovery of reward or expense--no proper 1 authorisation etc. 2 (1) A person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, a 3 reward or expense for the performance of an activity as a 4 property agent unless, at the time the activity was performed, 5 the person-- 6 (a) held a property agent licence; and 7 (b) was authorised under the person's licence to perform the 8 activity; and 9 (c) had been properly appointed under subdivision 2 by the 10 person to be charged with the reward or expense. 11 (2) A person who sues for, or recovers or retains, a reward or 12 expense for the performance of an activity as a property agent 13 other than as provided by subsection (1) commits an offence. 14 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 15 88 Restriction on recovery of reward or expense above 16 amount allowed 17 (1) A person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, a 18 reward for the performance of an activity as a property agent 19 that is more than the amount of the reward stated in the 20 appointment given under section 76. 21 (2) However, if the reward for the performance of the activity is 22 limited under a regulation, the person is not entitled to sue for, 23 or recover or retain, a reward more than the amount allowed 24 under the regulation. 25 (3) A person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, 26 expenses for the performance of an activity as a property 27 agent that are more than the amount of the expenses stated in 28 the appointment given under section 76 and actually 29 expended. 30 (4) However, if the amount of expenses that may be incurred for 31 the performance of the activity is limited under a regulation, 32 the person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, an 33 amount more than the amount allowed under the regulation. 34 Page 80

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 89] (5) Subsection (2) does not prevent the person suing for, 1 recovering or retaining, in addition to the amount allowed 2 under a regulation for the reward, an amount for GST payable 3 for a supply. 4 (6) A person who sues for, or recovers or retains, a reward or 5 expense for the performance of an activity as a property agent 6 other than as provided by this section commits an offence. 7 Maximum penalty for subsection (6)--200 penalty units. 8 89 Excess commission etc. to be repaid 9 (1) This section applies if-- 10 (a) a person is convicted of an offence against section 86(2), 11 87(2) or 88(6); and 12 (b) the court convicting the person is satisfied on the 13 balance of probabilities that the person, in connection 14 with the offence, has recovered or retained from 15 someone (client) for whom the person performed an 16 activity an amount to which the person was not entitled. 17 (2) The court must order the person to pay the amount to the 18 client. 19 (3) The order must be made whether or not any penalty is 20 imposed on the conviction. 21 (4) The client may file the order in a court having jurisdiction for 22 the recovery of a debt of an equal amount and the order may 23 be enforced as if it were a judgment of that court. 24 Subdivision 6 Interests in property 25 90 Definition for sdiv 6 26 In this subdivision-- 27 obtain includes being in any way concerned in obtaining. 28 Page 81

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 91] 91 Beneficial interest--options 1 (1) This section applies to property placed by a person (client) 2 with a property agent for sale. 3 (2) The property agent commits an offence if the agent obtains 4 from the client an option to purchase the property in which the 5 agent has a beneficial interest. 6 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 3 years 7 imprisonment. 8 (3) A property agent salesperson employed by the property agent 9 commits an offence if the salesperson obtains from the client 10 an option to purchase the property in which the salesperson 11 has a beneficial interest. 12 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 3 years 13 imprisonment. 14 (4) The property agent must not sell the property if the agent 15 obtains a beneficial interest in an option to purchase the 16 property. 17 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 3 years 18 imprisonment. 19 92 Beneficial interest--other than options 20 (1) This section applies to property placed by a person (client) 21 with a property agent for sale, but does not apply if section 91 22 applies. 23 (2) The property agent commits an offence if the agent obtains a 24 beneficial interest in the property. 25 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 3 years 26 imprisonment. 27 (3) A property agent salesperson employed by the property agent 28 commits an offence if the salesperson obtains a beneficial 29 interest in the property. 30 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 3 years 31 imprisonment. 32 Page 82

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 93] (4) A person does not contravene subsection (2) or (3) if-- 1 (a) the person-- 2 (i) before a contract for the sale of the property is 3 entered into, obtains the client's written 4 acknowledgement in the approved form that the 5 client-- 6 (A) is aware that the person is interested in 7 obtaining a beneficial interest in the 8 property; and 9 (B) consents to the person obtaining the interest; 10 and 11 (ii) acts fairly and honestly in relation to the sale; and 12 (b) no commission or other reward is payable for the sale; 13 and 14 (c) the client is in substantially as good a position as the 15 client would be if the property were sold at fair market 16 value. 17 93 Return of beneficial interest if in form of commission 18 (1) This section applies if-- 19 (a) a person is convicted of an offence against section 92(2) 20 or (3); and 21 (b) the court convicting the person is satisfied on the 22 balance of probabilities that the person, in connection 23 with the offence, has recovered or retained from 24 someone (client) for whom the person performed an 25 activity an amount of commission to which the person 26 was not entitled. 27 (2) The court must order the person to pay the amount to the 28 client. 29 (3) The order must be made whether or not any penalty is 30 imposed on the conviction. 31 Page 83

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 94] (4) The client may file the order in a court having jurisdiction for 1 the recovery of a debt of an equal amount and the order may 2 be enforced as if it were a judgment of that court. 3 Subdivision 7 Lands not lawfully useable for 4 residential purposes 5 94 Definition for sdiv 7 6 In this subdivision-- 7 vacant land means land on which there are no structural 8 improvements, other than fencing. 9 95 Application of sdiv 7 10 This subdivision applies to a sale or proposed sale of vacant 11 land if-- 12 (a) the sale is by a property agent either as agent for another 13 or as principal; and 14 (b) the land is within a local government area; and 15 (c) the land can not, as at the day of sale, be lawfully used 16 for residential purposes. 17 96 Notice to be given about vacant land 18 (1) The property agent must give to a proposed buyer a written 19 statement under this section. 20 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 21 imprisonment. 22 (2) The property agent must give the statement to the proposed 23 buyer before the buyer signs any contract for the sale. 24 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 25 imprisonment. 26 (3) The statement must include the following particulars-- 27 Page 84

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 97] (a) the land, clearly identified (including by lot-on-plan, or 1 similar, description), to which the statement relates; 2 (b) the names and addresses of the seller of the land and the 3 proposed buyer; 4 (c) a clear statement that the use of the land for residential 5 purposes is unlawful; 6 (d) a clear statement that if the buyer erects on the land a 7 place of residence or otherwise uses the land for 8 residential purposes contrary to law-- 9 (i) the buyer may commit an offence; and 10 (ii) a named local government may be lawfully 11 empowered to demolish the place of residence or 12 other residential structure; 13 (e) the date on which the statement is given. 14 (4) The statement must be signed and dated by the property agent 15 and the proposed buyer. 16 (5) The property agent must-- 17 (a) keep a copy of the signed statement at the property 18 agent's registered office; and 19 (b) make it available for immediate inspection by an 20 inspector who asks to see it. 21 Maximum penalty for subsection (5)--200 penalty units or 2 22 years imprisonment. 23 97 Buyer's rights if notice not given or materially defective 24 (1) A buyer of land, by written notice (avoidance notice) given to 25 the seller of the land or the property agent, may avoid a 26 contract for the sale of the land if-- 27 (a) the buyer has not been given the notice under section 96; 28 or 29 (b) the notice has been given to the buyer, but the notice is 30 defective in a material way. 31 Page 85

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 97] (2) The avoidance notice must be given to the seller or property 1 agent within 6 months after the day the buyer entered into the 2 contract. 3 (3) If the contract is avoided by the buyer under subsection (1), 4 the seller and the property agent are liable at law to the buyer 5 for all amounts paid by the buyer-- 6 (a) under the contract; and 7 (b) for legal and other expenses for the contract after it was 8 signed. 9 (4) A property agent who is liable at law under subsection (3) for 10 the repayment to the buyer of an amount paid by the buyer 11 under, or relating to, the contract must repay the amount 12 within 14 days after becoming liable. 13 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 14 (5) The buyer may recover an amount mentioned in subsection 15 (3) as a debt. 16 (6) Judgment recovered against either person liable under 17 subsection (3) for an amount repayable under that subsection 18 does not bar an action against the other person. 19 (7) However, if separate actions are brought-- 20 (a) the amounts recoverable under the judgments given in 21 the actions must not be more, taken together, than the 22 amount repayable to the buyer; and 23 (b) in the later of the 2 actions, the plaintiff is not entitled to 24 costs, unless the court decides there were reasonable 25 grounds for bringing the action. 26 (8) If the buyer avoids the contract under this section after the 27 contract is completed, the buyer must, after repayment of all 28 amounts recoverable by the buyer under subsection (3)-- 29 (a) sign the documents presented to the buyer necessary to 30 convey title to the land to the person lawfully entitled to 31 the land or the person's nominee; and 32 Page 86

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 98] (b) deliver to the person lawfully entitled to the land or the 1 person's nominee any instrument of title in the buyer's 2 possession or under the buyer's control. 3 (9) The buyer-- 4 (a) is not liable for any costs associated with a conveyance 5 under subsection (8); and 6 (b) may recover from the seller and the property agent as a 7 debt the buyer's reasonable costs associated with the 8 conveyance. 9 (10) The liability of the seller and the property agent under 10 subsections (3) and (9) is joint and several. 11 98 Liability to punishment under s 96 or 97 additional to 12 other liabilities at law 13 Liability to punishment under section 96 or 97 is in addition to 14 other liabilities at law imposed under section 97. 15 Subdivision 8 Sales of particular businesses 16 99 Application of sdiv 8 17 This subdivision applies to the sale of a business for which a 18 resident letting agent licence is required (resident letting 19 agent's business). 20 100 Notice to be given about sale of resident letting agent's 21 business 22 (1) A property agent who is authorised to sell a resident letting 23 agent's business by the seller of the business must give to a 24 proposed buyer of the business a written statement under this 25 section. 26 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 27 (2) The property agent must give the statement to the proposed 28 buyer before the buyer signs any contract relating to the sale. 29 Page 87

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 101] (3) The statement must include the following particulars-- 1 (a) the business, clearly identified, to which the statement 2 relates; 3 (b) the names and addresses of the seller of the business and 4 the proposed buyer; 5 (c) a clear statement that, to carry on the business, the 6 proposed buyer must have the approval of the body 7 corporate of the building complex in which the activities 8 of a resident letting agent are to be performed; 9 (d) a clear statement that a person who performs the 10 activities of a resident letting agent must-- 11 (i) hold a resident letting agent licence under this Act; 12 or 13 (ii) otherwise be permitted under this or another Act to 14 perform the activities; 15 (e) the date on which the statement is given. 16 (4) The statement must be signed and dated by the property agent. 17 (5) Also, when giving the statement to the proposed buyer, the 18 property agent must ask the proposed buyer to acknowledge 19 that the proposed buyer has read the statement by signing and 20 dating it. 21 (6) The property agent must keep a copy of the signed statement 22 at the property agent's registered office and make it available 23 for the immediate inspection of an inspector who asks to see 24 it. 25 Maximum penalty for subsection (6)--200 penalty units. 26 Subdivision 9 Auctions of goods 27 101 Buyer's premium 28 (1) This section applies to an auction of goods by a property 29 agent. 30 Page 88

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 102] (2) A property agent must not charge the buyer of goods a buyer's 1 premium unless-- 2 (a) the property agent-- 3 (i) before the auction, obtains the written consent of 4 the owner of the goods; and 5 (ii) discloses, in the way prescribed under a regulation, 6 that a buyer's premium is payable on the purchase 7 of the goods; and 8 (b) the premium is not more than the amount prescribed or 9 worked out under a regulation. 10 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 11 (3) The property agent does not act for the buyer of the goods 12 only because the property agent accepts a buyer's premium 13 from the buyer. 14 (4) In this section-- 15 buyer's premium means an amount, not more than an amount 16 prescribed or worked out under a regulation, payable to the 17 property agent by a buyer on the purchase of goods. 18 owner, of goods, includes a person who is lawfully entitled to 19 sell the goods. 20 Subdivision 10 Code of conduct 21 102 Code of conduct 22 A regulation may prescribe a code of conduct about the 23 practice of a property agent that may include the following-- 24 (a) setting conduct standards for property agents, employed 25 licensees and property agent salespersons; 26 (b) establishing principles for fair trading; 27 (c) providing for a system of complaint resolution; 28 (d) providing that contraventions of some provisions of the 29 code are an offence. 30 Page 89

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 103] 103 Complaints about conduct and action chief executive 1 may take 2 (1) A person aggrieved by the conduct of a property agent or 3 property agent salesperson may complain in writing to the 4 chief executive about the conduct. 5 (2) The chief executive may investigate the complaint and, if 6 satisfied the code of conduct has been breached, take the 7 action about the conduct allowed under this Act. 8 Note-- 9 Breach of the code of conduct may be an offence and is a ground for 10 starting disciplinary proceedings under section 197. 11 (3) The investigation may take place and action may be taken 12 against a person who was a property agent or property agent 13 salesperson even though the person is no longer a property 14 agent or property agent salesperson. 15 Division 3 General 16 104 Registered office 17 A property agent's registered office is-- 18 (a) for a property agent who is a principal licensee-- 19 (i) the place the agent states in the agent's application 20 for a property agent licence as the agent's principal 21 place of business; or 22 (ii) another place notified to the chief executive by the 23 agent in the approved form as the agent's principal 24 place of business; and 25 (b) for a property agent who is an employed licensee-- 26 (i) the place the agent states in the licensee's 27 application for a property agent licence as the 28 agent's business address; or 29 Page 90

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 105] (ii) another place notified to the chief executive by the 1 agent in the approved form as the agent's business 2 address. 3 105 Property agent must notify chief executive of change in 4 place of business etc. 5 (1) A property agent who is a principal licensee must notify the 6 chief executive in the approved form of-- 7 (a) any change in the agent's principal place of business 8 within 14 days after the change; and 9 (b) the closure of any place where the agent carries on 10 business within 14 days after the closure; and 11 (c) the opening of any place where the agent carries on 12 business within 14 days after the opening. 13 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 14 (2) A property agent who is an employed licensee must notify the 15 chief executive in the approved form of any change in the 16 agent's business address within 14 days after the change. 17 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 18 106 Display and publication of licensee's name 19 (1) A property agent who is a principal licensee must display at 20 each place the agent carries on business, in the way prescribed 21 under a regulation-- 22 (a) the agent's name; and 23 (b) if the agent is not the person in charge of the agent's 24 business at the place, the name of the property agent 25 who is in charge at the place; and 26 (c) the other particulars prescribed under a regulation. 27 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 28 (2) A property agent who is a principal licensee must not publish, 29 or permit to be published, in a newspaper or elsewhere an 30 Page 91

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 107] advertisement for the agent's business without stating in the 1 advertisement the particulars prescribed under a regulation. 2 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 3 (3) A property agent who conducts an auction must display at the 4 auction, in the way and for the period prescribed under a 5 regulation-- 6 (a) the property agent's name; and 7 (b) the other particulars prescribed under a regulation. 8 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 9 107 Principal licensee must keep employment register 10 (1) A property agent who is a principal licensee must keep a 11 register (employment register) at each place where the agent 12 carries on business. 13 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 14 (2) The property agent must enter, and keep entered, in the 15 employment register-- 16 (a) the name, and the other particulars prescribed under a 17 regulation, of each person (employee) who is employed 18 as an employed licensee, or property agent salesperson 19 at the place; and 20 (b) if the employee is a property agent salesperson, the 21 activities the salesperson is authorised to perform for the 22 agent during the employee's employment by the agent. 23 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 24 (3) The property agent must-- 25 (a) enter the particulars about each employee, and for each 26 property agent salesperson, the activities the salesperson 27 is authorised to perform, immediately after the 28 employee is employed at the place; and 29 Page 92

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 108] (b) if there is a change in an employee's particulars or 1 activities, correct the entry in the way prescribed under a 2 regulation immediately after the change. 3 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 4 (4) The form of the register may be prescribed under a regulation. 5 Division 4 Offences 6 108 Acting as property agent 7 (1) A person must not, as an agent for someone else for reward, 8 perform an activity that may be done under the authority of a 9 property agent licence unless the person-- 10 (a) holds a property agent licence and the performance of 11 the activity is authorised under the person's licence; or 12 (b) is otherwise permitted under this or another Act to 13 perform the activity. 14 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 15 imprisonment. 16 (2) A person must not act as a property agent unless-- 17 (a) the person holds a property agent licence and the act is 18 done under the authority of the person's licence; or 19 (b) the act is otherwise permitted under this or another Act. 20 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 21 imprisonment. 22 (3) Without limiting the ways a person may act as a property 23 agent, a person acts as a property agent if the person-- 24 (a) performs an activity mentioned in section 72(1); or 25 (b) advertises or notifies or states that the person-- 26 (i) performs an activity mentioned in section 72(1); or 27 (ii) is willing to perform an activity mentioned in 28 section 72(1); or 29 Page 93

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 109] (c) in any way holds out as being ready to perform an 1 activity mentioned in section 72(1). 2 (4) However-- 3 (a) a person does not act as a property agent only because 4 the person, while performing duties as an employee of a 5 property agent at the property agent's registered office 6 or other place of business-- 7 (i) collects, and issues receipts for, rents; or 8 (ii) gives a person a list, prepared by or for the 9 property agent, of premises available for rent; or 10 (iii) does something of an administrative nature relating 11 to a thing the property agent does as a property 12 agent; and 13 (b) a person does not act as a property agent only because 14 the person collects rents for the provider of rooming 15 accommodation, as an employee of the provider, if the 16 rents are collected in the course of providing rooming 17 accommodation; and 18 (c) a lawyer does not act as a property agent only because 19 the lawyer collects rents in the lawyer's practice if the 20 lawyer complies with the requirements of the Legal 21 Profession Act 2007 for the rents; and 22 (d) a person does not act as a property agent only because 23 the person sells, or negotiates the sale of, a 24 manufactured home under an authority given to the 25 person under the Manufactured Homes (Residential 26 Parks) Act 2003, section 60. 27 109 Pretending to be property agent salesperson 28 (1) A person must not act as a property agent salesperson unless 29 the person holds a registration certificate as a property agent 30 salesperson. 31 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 32 Page 94

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 110] (2) A person does not act as a property agent salesperson only 1 because the person, while performing duties as an employee 2 of a property agent at the property agent's registered office or 3 other place of business-- 4 (a) collects, and issues receipts for, rents; or 5 (b) gives a person a list, prepared by or for the property 6 agent, of premises available for rent; or 7 (c) does something of an administrative nature relating to a 8 thing the property agent does as a property agent. 9 (3) In this section-- 10 act as a property agent salesperson, for a person, includes 11 hold out that the person is a property agent salesperson. 12 110 Property agent must not act for more than 1 party 13 (1) A property agent must not act for more than 1 party to a 14 transaction. 15 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 16 (2) If a property agent acts for more than 1 party to a transaction, 17 an appointment to act for a party to the transaction is 18 ineffective from the time it is made. 19 (3) If the transaction is an exchange of property, a property agent 20 does not contravene subsection (1), and subsection (2) does 21 not apply to the extent that the agent acts for each of the 22 parties to the transaction. 23 111 Production of licence or registration certificate 24 (1) A property agent must, if asked by a person with whom the 25 agent is dealing, produce the agent licence for inspection by 26 the person. 27 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 28 (2) A property agent salesperson must, if asked by a person with 29 whom the salesperson is dealing, produce the salesperson's 30 Page 95

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 3 Property agents [s 112] registration certificate for inspection by the person. 1 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 2 112 Employment of persons in real estate business 3 (1) A property agent must not employ, as a property agent 4 salesperson, a person the agent knows, or ought to know, does 5 not hold a registration certificate as a property agent 6 salesperson. 7 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 8 (2) A property agent must not directly engage a property agent or 9 property agent salesperson as an independent contractor 10 unless the person holds a property agent licence. 11 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 12 (3) A principal licensee who is an individual and carries on the 13 business of a property agent must not employ, as a property 14 agent salesperson for the business, himself or herself or 15 another individual with whom the principal licensee carries on 16 business as a property agent. 17 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 18 (4) A principal licensee that is a corporation and carries on 19 business as a property agent must not employ an executive 20 officer of the corporation as a property agent salesperson for 21 the business. 22 Maximum penalty-- 23 (a) for an individual guilty under chapter 2 of the Criminal 24 Code of an offence or for section 255--200 penalty 25 units; or 26 (b) for a corporation--1000 penalty units. 27 Page 96

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 113] Part 4 Resident letting agents 1 Division 1 Resident letting agent licence 2 113 What a resident letting agent licence authorises 3 (1) A resident letting agent licence authorises the holder of the 4 licence (resident letting agent) to perform the following 5 activities as an agent for others for reward-- 6 (a) letting lots in a building complex; 7 (b) collecting rents for lots in a building complex. 8 (2) A resident letting agent may perform the activities in the 9 carrying on of a business, either alone or with others, or as an 10 employee of someone else. 11 (3) The chief executive must, by condition of the licence, limit 12 the performance of the activities by the resident letting agent 13 to 1 or more stated building complexes. 14 (4) The chief executive may authorise the resident letting agent to 15 perform the activities in more than 1 building complex if-- 16 (a) the chief executive is satisfied-- 17 (i) each building complex is on land contiguous to 18 land on which another building complex for which 19 the letting agent is, or is to be, authorised to 20 perform the activities is situated; and 21 (ii) the resident letting agent has the approval of each 22 appropriate body corporate to carry on a business 23 of letting lots, and collecting rent for lots, in the 24 complex; or 25 (b) both of the following apply-- 26 (i) immediately before the commencement of the 27 repealed Act, section 607, a person held a resident 28 real estate agent's licence or corporation licence 29 (with a director holding a resident real estate 30 agent's licence) for all the building complexes; 31 Page 97

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 114] (ii) since the commencement, a person has been 1 authorised under a licence to perform the activities 2 of a resident letting agent for 1 or more of the 3 building complexes. 4 (5) For subsection (4)(a)(i), land is contiguous with other land 5 only if the parcels of land have a common boundary that is not 6 separated by a public road. 7 Division 2 Conduct provisions 8 Subdivision 1 Carrying on business 9 114 Carrying on of business under resident letting agent 10 licence 11 (1) An individual who carries on the business of a resident letting 12 agent with others is not required to hold a resident letting 13 agent licence or property agent licence if-- 14 (a) at least 1 of the persons with whom the individual 15 carries on business is a resident letting agent or property 16 agent; and 17 (b) the individual does not perform the activities of a 18 resident letting agent; and 19 (c) the individual is a suitable person to hold a licence. 20 (2) A resident letting agent who is an individual must reside 21 permanently in the building complex or, if the letting agent is 22 authorised to perform activities for more than 1 building 23 complex, 1 of the building complexes for which the letting 24 agent is authorised to perform activities. 25 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 26 (3) A resident letting agent that is a corporation must ensure an 27 individual who performs the activities of a resident letting 28 agent for the corporation resides permanently in the building 29 complex or, if the letting agent is authorised to perform 30 Page 98

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 115] activities for more than 1 building complex, 1 of the building 1 complexes for which the letting agent is authorised to perform 2 activities. 3 Maximum penalty-- 4 (a) for an individual guilty under chapter 2 of the Criminal 5 Code of an offence or for section 255--200 penalty 6 units; or 7 (b) for a corporation--1000 penalty units. 8 (4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to a resident letting agent 9 whose licence is deactivated. 10 115 Licensee to be in charge of a resident letting agent's 11 business at a place 12 (1) A resident letting agent who is an individual and a principal 13 licensee must be in charge of the agent's business at the 14 agent's registered office. 15 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 16 (2) A resident letting agent that is a corporation must ensure the 17 individual in charge of the agent's business at the agent's 18 registered office is a resident letting agent or property agent. 19 Maximum penalty-- 20 (a) for an individual guilty under chapter 2 of the Criminal 21 Code of an offence or for section 255--200 penalty 22 units; or 23 (b) for a corporation--1000 penalty units. 24 (3) If a resident letting agent who is a principal licensee-- 25 (a) is authorised under the resident letting agent licence to 26 carry on a business of letting lots in more than 1 27 building complex; and 28 (b) has a place of business in each building complex; 29 the resident letting agent must ensure another individual who 30 is a resident letting agent or property agent is in charge of the 31 agent's business at the other place. 32 Page 99

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 116] Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 1 (4) An individual must not be in charge of a resident letting 2 agent's business at more than 1 place of business. 3 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 4 Subdivision 2 Appointment 5 116 Appointment of resident letting agent 6 (1) A resident letting agent must not act as a resident letting agent 7 for a person (the client) to perform an activity (service) for the 8 client unless-- 9 (a) the client first appoints the letting agent in writing under 10 this section; or 11 (b) a previous appointment by the client is assigned to the 12 letting agent under the terms of that appointment or 13 under section 118 and the appointment is in force. 14 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 15 (2) The appointment may be for the performance of-- 16 (a) a particular service (single appointment); or 17 (b) a number of services over a period (continuing 18 appointment). 19 (3) The appointment must-- 20 (a) state the service to be performed by the letting agent and 21 how it is to be performed; and 22 (b) state-- 23 (i) in the way prescribed under a regulation, that fees, 24 charges and commission payable for the service 25 are negotiable up to any amount prescribed under a 26 regulation; and 27 (ii) for a single appointment, if commission is payable 28 and expressed as a percentage of rent, the amount 29 Page 100

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 116] of commission expressed in dollars based on the 1 listed rental charge; and 2 (c) state-- 3 (i) the fees, charges and commission payable for the 4 service; and 5 (ii) the expenses, including advertising and marketing 6 expenses, the letting agent is authorised to incur in 7 connection with the performance of the service; 8 and 9 (iii) the source and the estimated amount of any rebate, 10 discount, commission or benefit that the letting 11 agent may receive for any expenses that the letting 12 agent may incur in connection with the 13 performance of the service; and 14 (iv) any condition, limitation or restriction on the 15 performance of the service; and 16 (d) state when the fees, charges and commission for the 17 service become payable; and 18 (e) if a service to be performed is the letting of lots or the 19 collecting of rent and commission is payable for the 20 service and expressed as a percentage, state that the 21 commission is worked out only on the actual amount of 22 rent collected. 23 (4) A continuing appointment must state-- 24 (a) the date the appointment ends; and 25 (b) the appointment may be revoked on the giving of 90 26 days notice, or some lesser period (not less than 30 27 days) agreed by the parties. 28 (5) The notice revoking a continuing appointment must be by 29 signed writing given to the other party. 30 (6) The revocation of a continuing appointment does not affect 31 existing contracts entered into by the resident letting agent on 32 behalf of the client. 33 Page 101

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 117] (7) The appointment must be signed and dated by the client and 1 the letting agent or someone authorised or apparently 2 authorised to sign for the letting agent. 3 (8) The letting agent must give a copy of the signed appointment 4 to the client. 5 Maximum penalty for subsection (8)--200 penalty units. 6 117 Form of appointment 7 (1) The appointment must be in the approved form. 8 (2) The approved form must include a prominent statement that 9 the client should seek independent legal advice before signing 10 the appointment. 11 (3) An appointment that does not comply with subsection (1) is 12 ineffective from the time it is made. 13 118 Assignment of appointments 14 (1) This section applies if a resident letting agent who holds 15 appointments from clients to perform services for the clients 16 under section 116 for a building complex proposes to assign 17 the appointments to another person who is to become the 18 resident letting agent for the complex (proposed assignee) 19 without changing the terms of the appointment. 20 (2) However, this section does not apply to the assignment of an 21 appointment if-- 22 (a) the terms of the appointment authorise the assignment 23 of the appointment; and 24 (b) the assignment is made in compliance with the terms of 25 the appointment. 26 (3) At least 14 days before the resident letting agent assigns the 27 appointments, the letting agent must give each client written 28 notice of the proposed assignment and obtain the client's 29 written approval to the assignment. 30 (4) The notice must state the following-- 31 Page 102

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 119] (a) the proposed assignee's name; 1 (b) the appointments are to be assigned without changing 2 the terms of the appointment; 3 (c) the client may agree or refuse to agree to the proposed 4 assignment; 5 (d) when the proposed assignment is to take effect. 6 (5) If a client agrees to the assignment and the resident letting 7 agent assigns the appointment under this section, the 8 appointment is taken, for section 116, to be an appointment by 9 the client of the proposed assignee and to continue to have 10 effect according to its terms. 11 Subdivision 3 Recovery of reward or expense 12 119 Commission may be claimed only for actual amounts 13 (1) This section applies to a resident letting agent who performs, 14 for the payment of a commission, a service of letting lots or 15 collecting rents. 16 (2) The resident letting agent must not claim commission worked 17 out on an amount more than the actual amount collected. 18 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 19 120 Restriction on remedy for reward or expense 20 (1) A person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, a 21 reward or expense for the performance of an activity as a 22 resident letting agent unless, at the time the activity was 23 performed, the person-- 24 (a) held a resident letting agent licence; and 25 (b) was authorised under the person's licence to perform the 26 activity; and 27 (c) had been properly appointed under subdivision 2 by the 28 person to be charged with the reward or expense. 29 Page 103

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 121] (2) A person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, a 1 reward for the performance of an activity as a resident letting 2 agent that is more than the amount of the reward stated in the 3 appointment given under section 116. 4 (3) However, if the reward for the performance of the activity is 5 limited under a regulation, the person is not entitled to sue for, 6 or recover or retain, a reward more than the amount allowed 7 under a regulation. 8 (4) A person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, 9 expenses for the performance of an activity as a resident 10 letting agent that are more than the amount of the expenses 11 stated in the appointment given under section 116 and actually 12 expended. 13 (5) However, if the amount of expenses that may be incurred for 14 the performance of the activity is limited under a regulation, 15 the person is not entitled to sue for, or recover or retain, 16 expenses more than the amount allowed under a regulation. 17 (6) Subsection (3) does not prevent the person suing for, 18 recovering or retaining, in addition to the amount allowed 19 under a regulation for the reward, an amount for GST payable 20 for a supply. 21 (7) A person who sues for, or recovers or retains, a reward or 22 expense for the performance of an activity as a resident letting 23 agent other than as provided by this section commits an 24 offence. 25 Maximum penalty for subsection (7)--200 penalty units. 26 121 Excess fees etc. to be repaid 27 (1) This section applies if-- 28 (a) a person is convicted of an offence against section 29 119(2) or 120(7); and 30 (b) the court convicting the person is satisfied on the 31 balance of probabilities that the person, in connection 32 with the offence, has recovered or retained from 33 Page 104

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 122] someone (client) for whom the person performed an 1 activity an amount to which the person was not entitled. 2 (2) The court must order the person to pay the amount to the 3 client. 4 (3) The order must be made whether or not any penalty is 5 imposed for the offence. 6 (4) The client may file the order in a court having jurisdiction for 7 the recovery of a debt of an equal amount and the order may 8 be enforced as if it were a judgment of that court. 9 Subdivision 4 Code of conduct 10 122 Code of conduct 11 A regulation may prescribe a code of conduct about resident 12 letting agent practice that may include the following-- 13 (a) setting conduct standards for resident letting agents; 14 (b) establishing principles for fair trading; 15 (c) providing for a system of complaint resolution; 16 (d) providing that contraventions of some provisions of the 17 code are an offence. 18 123 Complaints about conduct and action chief executive 19 may take 20 (1) A person aggrieved by the conduct of a resident letting agent 21 may complain in writing to the chief executive about the 22 conduct. 23 (2) The chief executive may investigate the complaint and, if 24 satisfied the code of conduct has been breached, take the 25 action about the conduct allowed under this Act. 26 Note-- 27 Breach of the code of conduct may be an offence and is a ground for 28 starting disciplinary proceedings under section 197. 29 Page 105

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 124] (3) The investigation may take place and action may be taken 1 against a person who was a resident letting agent even though 2 the person is no longer a resident letting agent. 3 Division 3 General 4 124 Registered office 5 A resident letting agent's registered office is-- 6 (a) for a resident letting agent who is a principal licensee-- 7 (i) the place the letting agent states in the letting 8 agent's application for a resident letting agent 9 licence as the letting agent's principal place of 10 business; or 11 (ii) another place notified to the chief executive by the 12 letting agent in the approved form as the letting 13 agent's principal place of business; and 14 (b) for a resident letting agent who is an employed 15 licensee-- 16 (i) the place the letting agent states in the letting 17 agent's application for a resident letting agent 18 licence as the resident letting agent's business 19 address; or 20 (ii) another place notified to the chief executive by the 21 letting agent in the approved form as the resident 22 letting agent's business address. 23 125 Resident letting agent to notify chief executive of change 24 in place of business etc. 25 (1) A resident letting agent who is a principal licensee must-- 26 (a) notify the chief executive in the approved form of any 27 change in the letting agent's principal place of business 28 within 14 days after the change; and 29 Page 106

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 126] (b) notify the chief executive in the approved form of the 1 closure of any place where the letting agent carries on 2 business within 14 days after the closure; and 3 (c) notify the chief executive in the approved form of the 4 opening of any place where the letting agent carries on 5 business within 14 days after the opening. 6 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 7 (2) A resident letting agent who is a principal licensee must notify 8 the chief executive of any change in, or revocation of, the 9 body corporate's approval to the letting agent to carry on the 10 business of letting lots for a building complex within 14 days 11 after the change or revocation. 12 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 13 (3) A resident letting agent who is an employed licensee must 14 notify the chief executive in the approved form of any change 15 in the resident letting agent's business address within 14 days 16 after the change. 17 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 18 126 Display and publication of licensee's name 19 (1) A resident letting agent who is a principal licensee must 20 display at each place the resident letting agent carries on 21 business, in the way prescribed under a regulation-- 22 (a) the letting agent's name; and 23 (b) if the letting agent is not the person in charge of the 24 resident letting agent's business at the place, the name of 25 the resident letting agent who is in charge of the resident 26 letting agent's business at the place; and 27 (c) the other particulars prescribed under a regulation. 28 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 29 (2) A resident letting agent must not publish in a newspaper or 30 elsewhere an advertisement for the resident letting agent's 31 Page 107

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 127] business without stating in the advertisement the particulars 1 prescribed under a regulation. 2 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 3 127 Principal licensee must keep employment register 4 (1) A resident letting agent who is a principal licensee must keep 5 a register (employment register) at each place where the 6 letting agent carries on business. 7 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 8 (2) The resident letting agent must enter, and keep entered, in the 9 employment register the name, and the other particulars 10 prescribed under a regulation, of each person (employee) who 11 is employed as a resident letting agent at the place. 12 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 13 (3) The resident letting agent must enter the particulars about 14 each employee immediately after the employee is employed at 15 the place. 16 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 17 (4) The form of the register may be prescribed under a regulation. 18 128 Access to particular documents 19 (1) This section applies if a resident letting agent (existing letting 20 agent)-- 21 (a) is a letting agent for a community titles scheme; and 22 (b) enters into a contract to sell management rights for the 23 community titles scheme to another resident letting 24 agent (new letting agent). 25 (2) At least 14 days before the day management rights are to pass 26 to the buyer under the contract, the existing letting agent must 27 make available to the new letting agent the existing letting 28 agent's trust account records for the community titles scheme 29 to which the management rights relate for the prescribed 30 Page 108

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 4 Resident letting agents [s 129] period before the intended date of the sale of the management 1 rights. 2 (3) If the existing letting agent fails to comply with subsection 3 (2), the new letting agent may avoid the contract. 4 (4) In this section-- 5 prescribed period means-- 6 (a) 5 years; or 7 (b) if the existing resident letting agent has been the letting 8 agent for the community titles scheme for a shorter 9 period, the shorter period. 10 Division 4 Offences 11 129 Acting as resident letting agent 12 (1) A person must not, as an agent for someone else for reward, 13 perform an activity that may be done under the authority of a 14 resident letting agent licence unless the person-- 15 (a) holds a resident letting agent licence and the 16 performance of the activity is authorised under the 17 person's licence; or 18 (b) is otherwise permitted under this or another Act to 19 perform the activity. 20 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 21 imprisonment. 22 (2) A lawyer does not act as a resident letting agent only because 23 the lawyer collects rents in the lawyer's practice for lots in a 24 building complex if the lawyer complies with the 25 requirements of the Legal Profession Act 2007 for the rents. 26 (3) A person does not act as a resident letting agent only because 27 the person collects rents for the provider for rooming 28 accommodation, as an employee of the provider, if the rents 29 are collected in the course of the conduct of the service. 30 Page 109

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 130] 130 Resident letting agent must not act for more than 1 party 1 (1) A resident letting agent must not act for more than 1 party to a 2 transaction. 3 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 4 (2) If a resident letting agent acts for more than 1 party to a 5 transaction, an appointment to act for a party to the 6 transaction is ineffective from the time it is made. 7 131 Production of licence 8 A resident letting agent must, if asked by a person with whom 9 the letting agent is dealing, produce the resident letting agent 10 licence for inspection by the person. 11 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 12 Part 5 Employee registration as a 13 property agent salesperson 14 Division 1 Registered employees' 15 authorisation 16 132 What a registration certificate authorises 17 (1) A registration certificate authorises the holder of the 18 certificate to perform any activity that may be performed by 19 the property agent who employs the holder. 20 (2) However, the registration certificate does not authorise the 21 holder to perform an activity that the holder is not authorised 22 to perform because of a condition to which the certificate is 23 subject. 24 Page 110

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 133] Division 2 How to obtain registration 1 133 Steps involved in obtaining registration 2 (1) A person who wishes to obtain registration as a property agent 3 salesperson must be a suitable person to hold registration 4 under division 4. 5 (2) The person must apply for registration by-- 6 (a) giving the chief executive an application showing, 7 among other things, the person is eligible to obtain 8 registration; and 9 (b) paying the prescribed fees. 10 (3) In deciding the person's application, the chief executive must 11 have regard, among other things, to-- 12 (a) the person's suitability to hold a registration certificate 13 under this Act; and 14 (b) the person's eligibility to hold the registration 15 certificate. 16 Division 3 Applications for registration 17 134 Application for registration 18 (1) An applicant for registration must-- 19 (a) be an individual; and 20 (b) apply to the chief executive in the approved form; and 21 (c) state the term of the registration being applied for; and 22 (d) establish the applicant's suitability and eligibility for 23 registration as a property agent salesperson; and 24 (e) provide any information the chief executive reasonably 25 requires to decide whether the applicant is suitable and 26 eligible to be a property agent salesperson. 27 (2) The application must be accompanied by-- 28 Page 111

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 135] (a) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; and 1 (b) the registration issue fee prescribed under a regulation; 2 and 3 (c) if, before or when the application is made, a criminal 4 history costs requirement is made of the applicant--the 5 amount of the costs required to be paid. 6 135 Requirement to give chief executive information or 7 material about application 8 (1) The chief executive may, by written notice given to an 9 applicant for registration, require the applicant to give the 10 chief executive within a stated reasonable period information 11 or material the chief executive reasonably considers is needed 12 to consider the applicant's application for the registration. 13 (2) The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, 14 within the stated reasonable period, the applicant fails to 15 comply with the chief executive's requirement. 16 Division 4 Suitability of applicants 17 136 Suitability of applicants 18 (1) A person is not a suitable person to obtain registration as a 19 property agent salesperson if the person is-- 20 (a) a person who has been convicted, in Queensland or 21 elsewhere, within the preceding 5 years of a serious 22 offence; or 23 (b) currently disqualified from holding a licence or 24 registration certificate; or 25 (c) a person the chief executive decides under section 137 is 26 not a suitable person to obtain registration as a property 27 agent salesperson. 28 (2) An individual who is not a suitable person can not obtain 29 registration as a property agent salesperson. 30 Page 112

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 137] 137 Chief executive must consider suitability of applicants 1 (1) The chief executive must, when deciding whether a person is 2 a suitable person to obtain registration as a property agent 3 salesperson, consider all of the following things-- 4 (a) the person's character; 5 (b) whether the person held a licence or registration under a 6 relevant Act that was suspended or cancelled under the 7 relevant Act; 8 (c) whether an amount has been paid from the fund because 9 the person did, or omitted to do, something that gave 10 rise to the claim against the fund; 11 (d) whether the person has been disqualified under a 12 relevant Act from being-- 13 (i) the holder of a licence within the meaning of the 14 relevant Act; or 15 (ii) the holder of a registration certificate within the 16 meaning of the relevant Act; or 17 (iii) an executive officer of a corporation; 18 (e) whether, within the previous 5 years, QCAT, the former 19 tribunal or the District Court has made an order under 20 this Act or the repealed Act against the person because 21 of the person's involvement as a marketeer of residential 22 property; 23 (f) the person's criminal history; 24 (g) if the person is an insolvent under administration-- 25 (i) the circumstances giving rise to the person being 26 an insolvent under administration; and 27 (ii) whether the person took all reasonable steps to 28 avoid the coming into existence of the 29 circumstances that resulted in the person being an 30 insolvent under administration; and 31 Page 113

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 138] (iii) whether the person is in a position to influence 1 significantly the management of a licensee's 2 business; 3 (h) whether the person has been convicted of an offence 4 against a relevant Act or the Administration Act; 5 (i) whether the person is capable of satisfactorily 6 performing the activities of a registered property agent 7 salesperson; 8 (j) whether the person's name appears in the register of 9 disqualified company directors and other officers under 10 the Corporations Act; 11 Note-- 12 See the Corporations Act, section 1274AA (Register of 13 disqualified company directors and other officers). 14 (k) another thing the chief executive may consider under 15 this Act. 16 (2) If the chief executive decides a person is not a suitable person 17 to obtain registration as a property agent salesperson, the chief 18 executive must give the person an information notice about 19 the decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 20 (3) In this section-- 21 fund includes the claim fund under the repealed Act. 22 relevant Act means this Act, an Agents Act, the repealed Act 23 or a corresponding law. 24 138 Investigations about suitability of applicants 25 (1) The chief executive may make investigations about the 26 applicant to help the chief executive decide whether the 27 applicant is a suitable person to obtain registration as a 28 property agent salesperson. 29 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the chief executive may ask 30 the commissioner of the police service for a report about the 31 applicant's criminal history. 32 (3) The commissioner must give the report to the chief executive. 33 Page 114

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 139] (4) However, the report is required to contain only criminal 1 history in the commissioner's possession or to which the 2 commissioner has access. 3 (5) If the criminal history of the applicant includes a conviction 4 recorded against the applicant, the commissioner's report 5 must be written. 6 139 Costs of criminal history report 7 (1) The chief executive may require an applicant to pay the 8 reasonable, but no more than actual, costs of obtaining a 9 report under section 138 about the applicant. 10 (2) The requirement is a criminal history costs requirement. 11 (3) The requirement is sufficiently made of the applicant if it is 12 made generally of applicants for, or for the renewal or 13 restoration of, registration in the relevant approved form or 14 notified on the department's website for applications of that 15 type. 16 (4) The chief executive must refund to the applicant an amount 17 paid under the requirement if-- 18 (a) the chief executive refuses the application without 19 asking for the report; or 20 (b) the applicant withdraws the application before the chief 21 executive asks for the report. 22 (5) In this section-- 23 applicant includes proposed applicant. 24 140 Confidentiality of criminal history 25 (1) A public service employee performing functions under this 26 Act must not, directly or indirectly, disclose to anyone else a 27 report about a person's criminal history, or information 28 contained in the report, given under section 138. 29 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 30 (2) However, the person does not contravene subsection (1) if-- 31 Page 115

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 141] (a) disclosure of the report or information to someone else 1 is authorised by the chief executive to the extent 2 necessary to perform a function under or relating to this 3 Act; or 4 (b) the disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law. 5 (3) The chief executive must destroy a written report about a 6 person's criminal history as soon as practicable after 7 considering the person's suitability to obtain registration as a 8 property agent salesperson. 9 141 Requirement to give chief executive information or 10 material about suitability 11 (1) This section applies to an applicant for registration as a 12 property agent salesperson or the renewal or restoration of the 13 registration. 14 (2) The chief executive may, by written notice given to the 15 applicant, require the applicant to give the chief executive 16 within a stated reasonable period information or material the 17 chief executive reasonably considers is needed to establish the 18 applicant's suitability for the registration. 19 (3) The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, 20 within the stated reasonable period, the applicant fails to 21 comply with the chief executive's requirement. 22 Division 5 Eligibility for registration 23 142 Eligibility for registration as property agent salesperson 24 (1) An individual is eligible to obtain registration as a property 25 agent salesperson only if the individual-- 26 (a) is at least 18 years; and 27 (b) has the educational or other qualifications for 28 registration prescribed under a regulation. 29 Page 116

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 143] (2) An individual is to be taken to satisfy the requirement 1 mentioned in subsection (1)(b) if the chief executive is 2 satisfied the individual-- 3 (a) has a comparable qualification; or 4 (b) within 2 years before the day the individual's 5 application for registration is received by the chief 6 executive-- 7 (i) has been the holder of a registration certificate as a 8 property agent salesperson under this Act; or 9 (ii) has been the holder of a comparable certificate 10 under the repealed Act. 11 Division 6 Issue of registration certificate 12 143 Chief executive may issue or refuse to issue registration 13 certificate 14 (1) The chief executive may issue or refuse to issue a registration 15 certificate to an applicant. 16 (2) The chief executive may issue a registration certificate to an 17 applicant only if the chief executive is satisfied-- 18 (a) the applicant is a suitable person to obtain registration; 19 and 20 (b) the applicant is eligible to obtain registration; and 21 (c) the application is properly made. 22 (3) For subsection (2)(c), the application is properly made only if 23 it complies with section 134 and is accompanied by the things 24 mentioned in that section. 25 (4) If the chief executive refuses to issue the registration 26 certificate, the chief executive must give the applicant an 27 information notice about the decision within 14 days after the 28 decision is made. 29 Page 117

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 144] (5) If the applicant's application for a registration certificate is 1 refused, the applicant may not make another application for a 2 registration certificate-- 3 (a) for 3 months after the day the chief executive gives the 4 applicant the information notice under subsection (4); or 5 (b) if the applicant applies to QCAT to review the chief 6 executive's decision and the decision is confirmed, for 3 7 months after the day the decision is confirmed. 8 144 Registration certificate--conditions 9 (1) The chief executive may issue a registration certificate on the 10 conditions the chief executive considers necessary or 11 desirable-- 12 (a) for the proper performance of the activities authorised 13 by the certificate; or 14 (b) for another purpose consistent with the achievement of 15 the objects of this Act or the Administration Act. 16 Example-- 17 If the chief executive decides to issue a registration certificate to a 18 person who is or has been an insolvent under administration, the chief 19 executive may issue the certificate subject to a condition that the person 20 not receive, bank or otherwise be responsible for dealing with trust 21 account moneys. 22 (2) A condition may limit or prohibit the performance of an 23 activity authorised under this Act or the Administration Act. 24 (3) If the chief executive decides to issue the certificate on 25 condition, the chief executive must give the applicant an 26 information notice about the decision within 14 days after the 27 decision is made. 28 Page 118

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 145] Division 7 Renewal and restoration of 1 registration certificates 2 Subdivision 1 Renewal 3 145 Application for renewal 4 (1) A property agent salesperson may only apply for renewal of 5 the salesperson's registration certificate before the certificate 6 expires. 7 (2) The application must-- 8 (a) be made to the chief executive in the approved form; and 9 (b) state the term of the registration being applied for; and 10 (c) be accompanied by-- 11 (i) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; 12 and 13 (ii) the registration certificate renewal fee prescribed 14 under a regulation; and 15 (iii) if, before or when the application is made, a 16 criminal history costs requirement is made of the 17 property agent salesperson--the amount of the 18 costs required to be paid. 19 146 Chief executive may renew or refuse to renew registration 20 certificate 21 (1) The chief executive must consider the renewal application and 22 may renew or refuse to renew the registration certificate. 23 (2) The chief executive may renew the certificate only if the chief 24 executive is satisfied-- 25 (a) the property agent salesperson is a suitable person to 26 obtain registration; and 27 (b) the application is properly made; and 28 Page 119

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 147] (c) the property agent salesperson meets the eligibility 1 requirements for the certificate. 2 (3) For subsection (2)(b), an application is properly made only if 3 it complies with section 145(2) and is accompanied by the 4 things mentioned in that subsection. 5 (4) If the chief executive decides to refuse the application, the 6 chief executive must give the property agent salesperson an 7 information notice about the decision within 14 days after the 8 decision is made. 9 147 Registration certificate taken to be in force while 10 application for renewal is considered 11 If an application is made under section 145, the property agent 12 salesperson's registration certificate is taken to continue in 13 force from the day that it would, apart from this section, have 14 expired until the application for renewal is decided under 15 section 146 or taken to have been withdrawn under section 16 141(3). 17 Subdivision 2 Restoration 18 148 Application for restoration 19 (1) If a property agent salesperson's registration certificate 20 expires, the person (former salesperson) may apply for 21 restoration of the certificate. 22 (2) The application must-- 23 (a) be made within 3 months after the expiry; and 24 (b) be made to the chief executive in the approved form; and 25 (c) state the term of the registration being applied for; and 26 (d) be accompanied by-- 27 (i) the application fee prescribed under a regulation; 28 and 29 Page 120

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 149] (ii) the registration renewal fee prescribed under a 1 regulation; and 2 (iii) the registration restoration fee prescribed under a 3 regulation; and 4 (iv) if the former salesperson was required as a 5 condition of the former salesperson's registration 6 to hold insurance--proof of the currency of the 7 insurance; and 8 (v) if, before or when the application is made, a 9 criminal history costs requirement is made of the 10 former salesperson--the amount of the costs 11 required to be paid. 12 149 Chief executive may restore or refuse to restore 13 registration certificate 14 (1) The chief executive must consider the restoration application 15 and may restore or refuse to restore the registration certificate. 16 (2) The chief executive may restore the certificate only if the 17 chief executive is satisfied-- 18 (a) the property agent salesperson is a suitable person to 19 obtain registration; and 20 (b) the application is properly made; and 21 (c) the property agent salesperson meets the eligibility 22 requirements for the certificate. 23 (3) For subsection (2)(b), an application is properly made only if 24 it complies with section 148(2) and is accompanied by the 25 things mentioned in that subsection. 26 (4) If the chief executive decides to refuse the application, the 27 chief executive must give the applicant an information notice 28 about the decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 29 (5) If the chief executive decides to restore the certificate-- 30 (a) the certificate is taken to have been renewed on the day 31 it would, apart from section 150, have expired (the 32 initial expiry date); and 33 Page 121

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 150] (b) to remove any doubt, a thing done during the period 1 starting on the initial expiry date and ending on the day 2 the certificate is restored under this section is taken to 3 have been as validly done as it would have been if the 4 certificate had been renewed immediately before the 5 initial expiry date. 6 150 Registration certificate taken to be in force while 7 application for restoration is considered 8 If an application is made under section 148, the property agent 9 salesperson's registration certificate is taken to continue in 10 force from the day that it would, apart from this section, have 11 expired until the application for restoration is decided under 12 section 149 or taken to have been withdrawn under section 13 141(3). 14 Division 8 Dealings with registration 15 certificates 16 Subdivision 1 Transfer of registration certificate 17 151 Transfer of registration certificate prohibited 18 A registration certificate may not be transferred. 19 Subdivision 2 General 20 152 Amendment of registration certificate conditions 21 (1) The chief executive may amend the conditions of a 22 registration certificate-- 23 (a) on the property agent salesperson's application; or 24 (b) on the order of QCAT after a disciplinary hearing; or 25 Page 122

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 152] (c) on the chief executive's own initiative. 1 Note-- 2 QCAT may deal with the conditions of a person's registration certificate 3 under section 211. 4 (2) An application under subsection (1)(a) must be made to the 5 chief executive in the approved form and be accompanied by 6 the application fee prescribed under a regulation. 7 (3) Before making an amendment under subsection (1)(a), the 8 chief executive must be satisfied the property agent 9 salesperson meets the eligibility requirements the chief 10 executive considers relevant to the amendment of the 11 condition. 12 (4) Before making an amendment under subsection (1)(c), the 13 chief executive must-- 14 (a) give written notice to the property agent salesperson-- 15 (i) of the particulars of the proposed amendment; and 16 (ii) that the property agent salesperson may make 17 written submissions to the chief executive about 18 the proposed amendment before a stated day, not 19 later than 14 days after the notice is given to the 20 salesperson; and 21 (b) have regard to submissions made to the chief executive 22 by the property agent salesperson before the stated day. 23 (5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the chief executive decides 24 that the amendment must be made urgently to ensure 25 compliance with this Act or the Administration Act. 26 (6) If the chief executive decides to amend the conditions of a 27 registration certificate under subsection (1)(c), the chief 28 executive must give the property agent salesperson an 29 information notice about the decision within 14 days after the 30 decision is made. 31 (7) The amendment takes effect-- 32 (a) on the day the written notice of the amendment is given 33 to the property agent salesperson; or 34 Page 123

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 153] (b) if a later day is stated in the notice, on the stated day. 1 (8) If the chief executive decides to refuse to make an amendment 2 requested under subsection (1)(a), the chief executive must 3 give the property agent salesperson an information notice 4 about the decision within 14 days after the decision is made. 5 153 Return of registration certificate for amendment of 6 conditions 7 (1) If the chief executive amends the conditions of a registration 8 certificate under section 152, the chief executive may require 9 the property agent salesperson to produce the certificate for 10 amendment within a stated period of not less than 14 days. 11 (2) The property agent salesperson must comply with a 12 requirement under subsection (1), unless the person has a 13 reasonable excuse. 14 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 15 154 Surrender of registration certificate 16 (1) A property agent salesperson may surrender the salesperson's 17 registration certificate by giving written notice, and returning 18 the certificate, to the chief executive. 19 (2) A registration certificate surrendered under this section stops 20 having effect on the day it is surrendered. 21 Division 9 Immediate suspension and 22 cancellation of registration 23 certificates 24 155 Immediate suspension 25 (1) This section applies if the chief executive believes, on 26 reasonable grounds, that-- 27 (a) a property agent salesperson's registration certificate, or 28 a renewal or restoration of the registration certificate, 29 Page 124

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 156] was obtained because of materially incorrect or 1 misleading information; or 2 (b) both-- 3 (i) an irregularity or deficiency exists in a licensee's 4 trust account; and 5 (ii) a property agent salesperson of the licensee may be 6 responsible for the irregularity or deficiency; or 7 (c) a property agent salesperson-- 8 (i) has contravened or is contravening this Act or the 9 Administration Act; or 10 (ii) is likely or proposing to engage in conduct that 11 would contravene this Act or the Administration 12 Act. 13 (2) The chief executive may suspend the property agent 14 salesperson's registration certificate, whether or not 15 disciplinary proceedings have been started under this Act. 16 (3) The certificate may be suspended for the period (not more 17 than 28 days), and on the conditions, the chief executive 18 decides. 19 (4) The chief executive must give the property agent salesperson 20 an information notice about the suspension within 14 days 21 after suspending the registration. 22 (5) The property agent salesperson must return the certificate to 23 the chief executive within 14 days after receiving the notice, 24 unless the property agent salesperson has a reasonable excuse. 25 Maximum penalty for subsection (5)--100 penalty units. 26 156 Immediate cancellation 27 (1) The registration certificate of a property agent salesperson is 28 cancelled if the employee is convicted of a serious offence. 29 Page 125

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 157] (2) The property agent salesperson must return the certificate to 1 the chief executive within 14 days after the conviction, unless 2 the property agent salesperson has a reasonable excuse. 3 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 4 Division 10 General provisions about employee 5 registration 6 157 Form of registration certificate 7 (1) A registration certificate must be in the approved form. 8 (2) However, the chief executive may approve-- 9 (a) a form of certificate for office display purposes; and 10 Example-- 11 a form of certificate that may be framed and displayed in an 12 office 13 (b) a form of certificate for personal identification purposes. 14 (3) The certificate must contain the following particulars-- 15 (a) the name of the property agent salesperson; 16 (b) the date of issue of the certificate; 17 (c) the expiry date of the certificate; 18 (d) other particulars prescribed under a regulation. 19 158 Term of registration certificate 20 A registration certificate may be issued for a 1 year or 3 year 21 term. 22 159 Replacement certificates 23 (1) A property agent salesperson may apply to the chief executive 24 for the replacement of a lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged 25 registration certificate. 26 Page 126

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 5 Employee registration as a property agent salesperson [s 160] (2) The application must be made in the approved form and be 1 accompanied by the fee prescribed under a regulation. 2 (3) The chief executive must grant the application if the chief 3 executive is satisfied the certificate has been lost, stolen or 4 destroyed, or damaged in a way to require its replacement. 5 (4) If the chief executive grants the application, the chief 6 executive must issue another certificate to the applicant to 7 replace the lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged certificate. 8 160 Register of registration certificates 9 (1) The chief executive must keep a register of registration 10 certificates and applications for registration certificates 11 (registration certificate register). 12 (2) The registration certificate register may form part of the 13 licence register. 14 (3) The registration certificate register must contain the following 15 particulars-- 16 (a) for each applicant for a registration certificate-- 17 (i) the applicant's name; and 18 (ii) the date of the application; and 19 (iii) the application number; 20 (b) for each property agent salesperson-- 21 (i) the salesperson's name; and 22 (ii) the dates of issue and expiry of the salesperson's 23 current registration certificate; and 24 (iii) any conditions imposed on the certificate; and 25 (iv) the salesperson's registration certificate number; 26 and 27 (v) particulars of any surrender, suspension or 28 cancellation of the salesperson's registration 29 certificate or any licence or certificate issued to the 30 salesperson under this or the repealed Act. 31 Page 127

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 161] (4) A person may, on payment of the fee prescribed under a 1 regulation, inspect, or get a copy of details in, the part of the 2 register containing the particulars mentioned in subsection 3 (3)-- 4 (a) at a place or places decided by the chief executive; or 5 (b) by using a computer. 6 (5) A person may pay the fee, in advance or in arrears, under an 7 arrangement approved by the chief executive. 8 (6) The register may be kept in the way the chief executive 9 considers appropriate. 10 (7) In this section-- 11 contain includes record and store. 12 161 Property agent salespersons to notify chief executive of 13 changes in circumstances 14 (1) A property agent salesperson must give written notice to the 15 chief executive of a prescribed change in the salesperson's 16 circumstances within 14 days after the change. 17 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 18 (2) In this section-- 19 prescribed change means a change prescribed under a 20 regulation. 21 Part 6 Residential property sales 22 Division 1 Preliminary 23 162 Purposes of pt 6 24 The purposes of this part are-- 25 Page 128

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 163] (a) to give persons who enter into relevant contracts as 1 buyers a cooling-off period; and 2 (b) to require all proposed relevant contracts and relevant 3 contracts for the sale of residential property in 4 Queensland to have consumer protection information 5 attached, including information stating that a relevant 6 contract is subject to a cooling-off period; and 7 (c) to enhance consumer protection for buyers of residential 8 property by ensuring, as far as practicable, the 9 independence of lawyers acting for buyers; and 10 (d) to impose obligations on seller's agents about the 11 advertising and availability of information on 12 sustainable housing measures for the sale of particular 13 residential property. 14 163 Definitions for pt 6 15 In this part-- 16 attached, for a warning statement, any information sheet and 17 a proposed relevant contract or relevant contract, means-- 18 (a) if the documents are given other than by electronic 19 communication--attached in a secure way so that the 20 warning statement, any information sheet and the 21 proposed relevant contract or relevant contract appear to 22 be a single document; or 23 Examples of ways a warning statement and any information sheet 24 may be attached to a proposed relevant contract or relevant 25 contract-- 26 · binding 27 · stapling 28 (b) if the documents are given by electronic 29 communication--given by electronic communication at 30 the same time or, if the method of electronic 31 communication is by fax, as near as possible to the same 32 time having regard to the normal operation of fax 33 machines. 34 Page 129

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 163] Example-- 1 by including the documents in a single email 2 benefit means monetary or other benefit. 3 business day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or 4 public holiday. 5 buyer, for a matter, includes the buyer's agent authorised to 6 act for the buyer for the matter. 7 cooling-off period see section 172. 8 electronic communication see the Electronic Transactions 9 (Queensland) Act 2001, schedule 2. 10 formed on a sale by auction means formed on sale by 11 auction-- 12 (a) directly on the fall of the hammer, by outcry; or 13 (b) directly at the end of another similar type of competition 14 for purchase. 15 Examples-- 16 1 A contract for the sale of property is formed on a sale by auction 17 when the auctioneer declares the property sold on the fall of the 18 hammer. 19 2 A contract for the sale of property is not formed on a sale by 20 auction when the property is passed in at auction and a bidder 21 subsequently negotiates and purchases the property. 22 3 A contract for the sale of property is not formed on a sale by 23 auction when the contract arises directly out of a sale by tender 24 process. 25 information sheet means an information sheet in the form 26 approved under the Body Corporate and Community 27 Management Act 1997, section 206(6) or 213(5A). 28 relevant contract means a contract for the sale of residential 29 property in Queensland, other than a contract formed on a sale 30 by auction. 31 seller, for a matter, includes the seller's agent authorised to act 32 for the seller for the matter. 33 Page 130

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 164] termination penalty, for a relevant contract, means an amount 1 equal to 0.25% of the purchase price under the relevant 2 contract. 3 unit sale means a sale of a lot included in a community titles 4 scheme, or proposed to be included in a community titles 5 scheme. 6 warning statement means a statement in the approved form 7 that includes the information mentioned in section 168(1). 8 164 Relationship with Electronic Transactions (Queensland) 9 Act 2001 10 To remove any doubt, it is declared that the use of electronic 11 communication under this part is subject to the Electronic 12 Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001. 13 Note-- 14 For example, see the Electronic Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001, 15 section 11 for a requirement about consent and section 24 for rules 16 about when an electronic communication is received. 17 Division 2 Independence of lawyers, 18 disclosure of interests, and 19 particular valuations 20 165 Lawyer's disclosure to buyer about independence 21 (1) This section applies if a proposed buyer or buyer (in either 22 case, the buyer) engages a lawyer for the proposed purchase 23 or purchase of a residential property under a proposed relevant 24 contract or a relevant contract. 25 (2) The lawyer must give the buyer a lawyer's certificate in the 26 approved form and explain to the buyer the purpose and 27 nature of the certificate. 28 (3) The lawyer's certificate must be signed and dated by the 29 lawyer and must state-- 30 Page 131

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 166] (a) whether the lawyer is independent of the seller, the 1 seller's agents and anyone else involved in the sale, or 2 promotion of the sale, or provision of a service for the 3 sale, of the property and whether the lawyer has a 4 business, family or other relationship with any of those 5 persons; and 6 (b) whether the lawyer has received, is receiving, or expects 7 to receive a benefit relating to the sale, or for promoting 8 the sale, or for providing a service for the sale, of the 9 property, other than professional costs and 10 disbursements payable by the buyer; and 11 (c) the lawyer has explained to the buyer the purpose and 12 nature of the certificate. 13 166 Disclosures to prospective buyer 14 (1) A property developer marketing residential property must 15 disclose the following to any prospective buyer of the 16 property-- 17 (a) any relationship, and the nature of the relationship 18 (whether personal or commercial), the property 19 developer has with anyone to whom the property 20 developer refers the buyer for professional services 21 associated with the sale; 22 Examples of relationships for paragraph (a)-- 23 · a family relationship 24 · a business relationship, other than a casual business 25 relationship 26 · a fiduciary relationship 27 · a relationship in which 1 person is accustomed, or obliged, 28 to act in accordance with the directions, instructions, or 29 wishes of the other 30 (b) whether the property developer derives or expects to 31 derive any benefit from a person to whom the property 32 developer has referred the buyer and, if so, the amount, 33 value or nature of the benefit; 34 Page 132

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 167] (c) the amount, value or nature of any benefit any person 1 has received, receives, or expects to receive in 2 connection with the sale, or for promoting the sale, or 3 for providing a service in connection with the sale, of 4 the property. 5 Examples for paragraph (c) of persons who may receive a benefit-- 6 · finance broker 7 · financial adviser 8 · financier 9 · property valuer 10 · property developer 11 · seller 12 · solicitor 13 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 14 (2) The disclosure is effective for subsection (1) only if it is-- 15 (a) given to the prospective buyer in the approved form; and 16 (b) acknowledged by the prospective buyer in writing on the 17 approved form; and 18 (c) given and acknowledged before a contract for the sale of 19 the residential property is entered into. 20 (3) The approved form must include a statement that a property 21 developer marketing residential property must hold an interest 22 of at least 15% in the property. 23 (4) Also, for subsection (1)(c), disclosure in compliance with the 24 approved form is sufficient. 25 (5) In this section-- 26 benefit means monetary or other benefit. 27 167 Buyer to receive copy of property valuation buyer pays 28 for 29 (1) This section applies if, for a relevant contract-- 30 Page 133

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 168] (a) it is a term of the relevant contract that the buyer must 1 pay for a valuation of the property that, under the 2 relevant contract, is not required to have been given to 3 the buyer before the relevant contract is entered into; or 4 (b) the seller or the seller's agent otherwise requires that the 5 buyer must pay for a valuation of the property that is not 6 required to be given or to have been given to the buyer 7 before the relevant contract is entered into. 8 (2) Despite the term or requirement, the seller or seller's agent 9 commits an offence if the seller or agent fails to give the buyer 10 a copy of the valuation before the relevant contract is entered 11 into. 12 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 13 (3) The term or requirement is effective only if, before the 14 relevant contract was entered into by the buyer, the buyer 15 received the valuation and, in writing, acknowledged the 16 receipt. 17 (4) Subsection (3) does not affect subsection (2). 18 (5) A contravention of subsection (2) does not affect the validity 19 of the relevant contract. 20 Division 3 Warning statements for proposed 21 relevant contracts and relevant 22 contracts 23 168 Content and effectiveness of warning statement 24 (1) A warning statement for a proposed relevant contract or 25 relevant contract must include the following information-- 26 (a) the relevant contract is subject to a cooling-off period; 27 (b) when the cooling-off period starts and ends; 28 (c) a recommendation that the proposed buyer or buyer seek 29 independent legal advice about the proposed relevant 30 Page 134

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 169] contract or relevant contract before the cooling-off 1 period ends; 2 (d) a recommendation that the proposed buyer or buyer seek 3 an independent valuation of the property before the 4 cooling-off period ends; 5 (e) what will happen if the buyer terminates the relevant 6 contract before the cooling-off period ends; 7 (f) the percentage of the purchase price that will not be 8 refunded from the deposit if the relevant contract is 9 terminated before the cooling-off period ends; 10 (g) if the seller under the proposed relevant contract or 11 relevant contract is a property developer, that a person 12 who suffers financial loss because of, or arising out of, 13 the person's dealings with a property developer or the 14 property developer's employees can not make a claim 15 against the claim fund. 16 (2) A statement purporting to be a warning statement is of no 17 effect unless the words on the statement are presented in 18 substantially the same way as the words are presented on the 19 approved form. 20 169 Warning statement etc. if proposed relevant contract is 21 given to buyer for signing 22 (1) This section applies-- 23 (a) if a proposed relevant contract is given to a proposed 24 buyer by a seller for signing; and 25 (b) whether or not the proposed relevant contract has been 26 signed by the seller. 27 (2) When the seller gives the proposed relevant contract to the 28 proposed buyer the seller must-- 29 (a) have a warning statement attached to the proposed 30 relevant contract; and 31 Page 135

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 169] (b) if the proposed relevant contract relates to a unit sale, 1 have an information sheet attached to the proposed 2 relevant contract; and 3 (c) give the proposed buyer a clear statement directing the 4 proposed buyer's attention to-- 5 (i) the warning statement and proposed relevant 6 contract; and 7 (ii) if the proposed relevant contract relates to a unit 8 sale, the information sheet. 9 Example of a clear statement-- 10 Suppose that when a proposed relevant contract for a unit sale, 11 warning statement and information sheet are given to a proposed 12 buyer those documents are accompanied by a covering letter. 13 The letter could include a clear statement as follows-- 14 `Your attention is drawn to the warning statement, information 15 sheet and proposed relevant contract accompanying this letter.'. 16 (3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that a person contravenes 17 subsection (2)(c)(i) or (ii) if at the time the statement is given 18 the warning statement or information sheet is not attached to 19 the proposed relevant contract. 20 (4) For this section a proposed relevant contract does not become 21 another proposed relevant contract merely because, as a result 22 of negotiations, the terms and conditions of the proposed 23 relevant contract change if the residential property concerned 24 and the parties remain the same. 25 (5) For subsection (4) it is immaterial whether the proposed 26 relevant contract is textually amended to show the changed 27 terms and conditions or another proposed relevant contract 28 form is prepared that incorporates the changes. 29 (6) If subsection (2) is contravened-- 30 (a) if the seller personally gave the proposed relevant 31 contract--the seller personally; or 32 (b) if the seller's agent gave the proposed relevant 33 contract--the seller's agent; 34 commits an offence. 35 Page 136

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 170] Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 1 (7) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against 2 subsection (6) for the seller or the seller's agent to prove that 3 the seller or the seller's agent gave notice to the proposed 4 buyer under section 170. 5 (8) If there are 2 or more proposed buyers relating to the proposed 6 relevant contract and subsection (2) is complied with for at 7 least 1 of the proposed buyers, the subsection is taken to have 8 been complied with for each of the proposed buyers. 9 170 Defence for s 169(6) 10 (1) This section applies if, before a proposed relevant contract 11 becomes a relevant contract, the seller or the seller's agent 12 contravenes a requirement of section 169(2) for the proposed 13 relevant contract. 14 (2) For the defence mentioned in section 169(7), the seller or the 15 seller's agent may notify the proposed buyer of the failure to 16 comply at any time before the proposed relevant contract 17 becomes a relevant contract. 18 (3) The notice must identify the failure to comply and-- 19 (a) state that the proposed relevant contract is withdrawn; 20 and 21 (b) advise whether new documents complying with the 22 requirements of section 169(2) will be given to the 23 proposed buyer. 24 171 Warning statement must be attached to relevant contract 25 (1) This section applies when a seller gives a buyer a copy of the 26 relevant contract. 27 (2) The seller must-- 28 (a) have the warning statement mentioned in section 29 169(2)(a) attached to the relevant contract; and 30 Page 137

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 172] (b) if the relevant contract relates to a unit sale, have the 1 information sheet mentioned in section 169(2)(b) 2 attached to the relevant contract. 3 (3) If subsection (2) is contravened-- 4 (a) if the seller personally gave the buyer a copy of the 5 relevant contract--the seller personally; or 6 (b) if the seller's agent gave the buyer a copy of the relevant 7 contract--the seller's agent; 8 commits an offence. 9 Maximum penalty for subsection (3)--200 penalty units. 10 Division 4 Waiving and shortening cooling-off 11 periods 12 172 Cooling-off period 13 (1) The cooling-off period, for a relevant contract, is a period of 5 14 business days-- 15 (a) starting on-- 16 (i) the day the buyer receives a copy of the relevant 17 contract from the seller; or 18 (ii) if the buyer receives a copy of the relevant contract 19 from the seller on a day other than a business day, 20 the first business day after the day the buyer 21 receives the copy from the seller; and 22 (b) ending at 5p.m. on the fifth business day. 23 Example-- 24 Assume the buyer receives a copy of the relevant contract from the seller 25 at any time on a Monday. Assume also that the cooling-off period is not 26 affected by a day that is not a business day. The cooling-off period ends 27 at 5p.m. on the following Friday. 28 (2) For subsection (1), if the buyer signs the relevant contract 29 after the seller signed it, the buyer is taken to have received a 30 copy of the relevant contract from the seller when the buyer 31 Page 138

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 173] has both signed the relevant contract and communicated the 1 buyer's acceptance of the seller's offer to the seller. 2 173 Waiving cooling-off period 3 (1) A person who proposes to enter into a relevant contract as a 4 buyer (the buyer) may only waive the cooling-off period for 5 the relevant contract by giving the seller under the proposed 6 relevant contract a lawyer's certificate in the approved form. 7 (2) The lawyer's certificate must be given to the seller before the 8 buyer and the seller enter into the relevant contract. 9 (3) The lawyer's certificate must be signed and dated by the 10 lawyer giving the certificate and confirm the following by 11 stating-- 12 (a) the lawyer is independent of the seller, the seller's 13 agents and anyone else involved in the sale, or 14 promotion of the sale, or provision of a service for the 15 sale, of the property and has no business, family or other 16 relationship with any of those persons; 17 (b) the lawyer has not received, is not receiving, and does 18 not expect to receive a benefit for the sale, or for 19 promoting the sale, or for providing a service for the 20 sale, of the property, other than professional costs and 21 disbursements payable by the buyer; 22 (c) the lawyer has explained to the buyer-- 23 (i) the effect of a relevant contract in terms of the 24 proposed relevant contract; and 25 (ii) the purpose and nature of the certificate; and 26 (iii) the legal effect of the buyer giving the certificate to 27 the seller. 28 174 Shortening cooling-off period 29 (1) A buyer under a relevant contract may only shorten the 30 cooling-off period for the relevant contract by giving the seller 31 a lawyer's certificate in the approved form. 32 Page 139

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 175] (2) The lawyer's certificate must be signed and dated by the 1 lawyer giving the certificate and confirm the following by 2 stating-- 3 (a) the lawyer is independent of the seller, the seller's 4 agents and anyone else involved in the sale, or 5 promotion of the sale, or provision of a service for the 6 sale, of the property and has no business, family or other 7 relationship with any of those persons; 8 (b) the lawyer has not received, is not receiving, and does 9 not expect to receive a benefit relating to the sale, or for 10 promoting the sale, or for providing a service for the 11 sale, of the property, other than professional costs and 12 disbursements payable by the buyer; 13 (c) the lawyer has explained to the buyer-- 14 (i) the effect of the relevant contract; and 15 (ii) the purpose and nature of the certificate; and 16 (iii) the legal effect of the buyer giving the certificate to 17 the seller. 18 (3) The giving of a lawyer's certificate under this section is 19 effective to shorten the period to 5p.m. (or another stated 20 time) on the day stated in the certificate. 21 Division 5 Terminating relevant contracts 22 175 Buyer may terminate relevant contract in certain 23 circumstance if clear statement is not given under s 24 169(2)(c)(i) 25 (1) This section applies if a seller personally or a seller's agent 26 fails to comply with section 169(2)(c)(i). 27 (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), if the proposed relevant 28 contract concerned becomes a relevant contract, the buyer 29 may terminate the relevant contract at any time before it 30 settles by giving a signed, dated notice of termination to the 31 seller. 32 Page 140

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 176] (3) The buyer may not terminate the relevant contract if the buyer 1 signed the warning statement attached to the proposed 2 relevant contract under section 169(2)(a) before the buyer 3 signed the proposed relevant contract. 4 (4) The termination must happen not later than 90 days after the 5 day the buyer receives a copy of the relevant contract from the 6 seller. 7 (5) The notice of termination must state that the relevant contract 8 is terminated under this section. 9 (6) If the relevant contract is terminated, the seller must, within 10 14 days after the termination, refund any deposit paid under 11 the relevant contract to the buyer. 12 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 13 (7) If the relevant contract is terminated, the seller personally or 14 the seller's agent is liable to the buyer for the buyer's 15 reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by the buyer for 16 the relevant contract after the buyer signed the relevant 17 contract. 18 (8) An amount payable to the buyer under this section is 19 recoverable as a debt. 20 176 Terminating relevant contract during cooling-off period 21 (1) A buyer who has not waived the cooling-off period for a 22 relevant contract under section 173 may terminate the contract 23 at any time during the cooling-off period or, if that period has 24 been shortened under section 174, the shortened period, by 25 giving a signed, dated notice of termination to the seller. 26 (2) The notice of termination must state that the relevant contract 27 is terminated under this section. 28 (3) The seller may deduct from any deposit paid under the 29 relevant contract an amount not greater than the termination 30 penalty. 31 (4) The seller must, within 14 days after the relevant contract is 32 terminated, refund to the buyer-- 33 Page 141

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 177] (a) any deposit paid under the relevant contract; or 1 (b) the balance of any deposit paid under the relevant 2 contract after deducting an amount of not more than the 3 termination penalty. 4 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 5 (5) An amount payable to the buyer under subsection (4) is 6 recoverable as a debt. 7 Division 6 Accounting requirements for 8 relevant contracts 9 177 Application of div 6 10 This division applies if-- 11 (a) the seller under a relevant contract is a property 12 developer; and 13 (b) a relevant contract provides for the payment by the 14 buyer under the relevant contract of an amount (part 15 payment) for the purchase of property; and 16 (c) the buyer is not entitled under the relevant contract to 17 receive a registrable instrument of transfer of the 18 property in exchange for the part payment. 19 Example of part payment-- 20 a deposit payable under the relevant contract 21 178 Part payments must be paid to particular persons 22 (1) The part payment must be paid directly to-- 23 (a) the public trustee; or 24 (b) a law practice; or 25 (c) a property agent; 26 within 3 business days after the amount is paid by the buyer. 27 Page 142

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 179] (2) If the property developer receives a part payment and fails to 1 comply with subsection (1), the property developer commits 2 an offence. 3 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 1 year's 4 imprisonment. 5 (3) A provision of the relevant contract is void if it provides for 6 payment of the part payment other than in accordance with 7 subsection (1). 8 (4) A provision of an instrument made in connection with the 9 relevant contract is void if it provides for payment of the part 10 payment other than in accordance with subsection (1). 11 (5) In this section-- 12 law practice means any of the following, within the meaning 13 of the Legal Profession Act 2007, that has an office in 14 Queensland-- 15 (a) an Australian legal practitioner who is a sole practitioner 16 but not a barrister under that Act; 17 (b) a law firm; 18 (c) an incorporated legal practice; 19 (d) a multi-disciplinary partnership. 20 179 Part payment to be held in trust 21 (1) The part payment must be held-- 22 (a) if the part payment is paid to the public trustee, by the 23 public trustee in a trust account kept for this Act by the 24 public trustee; or 25 (b) if the part payment is paid to an individual, by the 26 individual in a trust account kept for this Act by-- 27 (i) the individual; or 28 (ii) if the individual is a member of a firm or 29 partnership, the firm or partnership of which the 30 individual is a member. 31 Page 143

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 180] (2) The part payment must be dealt with by the public trustee, 1 individual, firm or partnership in accordance with the law 2 governing the operation of the public trustee's, individual's, 3 firm's or partnership's trust account. 4 Division 7 Advertising sale of particular 5 properties--sustainability 6 declarations 7 Subdivision 1 Preliminary 8 180 Definitions for div 7 9 In this division-- 10 Building Act means the Building Act 1975. 11 current sustainability declaration, for a residential dwelling, 12 means the current sustainability declaration for the dwelling 13 under the Building Act, chapter 8A, part 1. 14 publish includes-- 15 (a) publish on the internet; and 16 (b) cause to be published. 17 relevant advertisement means an advertisement in any form 18 or medium, other than-- 19 (a) an advertisement published in a newspaper or magazine; 20 or 21 (b) a sign advertising the sale of a residential dwelling, if 22 the sign was not prepared specifically to advertise the 23 sale of the particular dwelling. 24 residential dwelling means a class 1a building or class 2 25 building under the Building Act for which a sustainability 26 declaration must be prepared under chapter 8A, part 1, 27 division 2 of that Act. 28 Page 144

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 181] Examples of a class 1a building-- 1 detached house, terrace house and town house 2 Example of a class 2 building-- 3 a building containing 2 or more sole-occupancy units that are separate 4 dwellings 5 seller's agent see section 181(1). 6 Subdivision 2 Requirements about advertising 7 sale, and inspection, of residential 8 dwellings 9 181 Application of sdiv 2 10 (1) This subdivision applies to an entity (the seller's agent) 11 appointed to sell a residential dwelling under a written 12 agreement under this Act by the person authorising the sale of 13 the dwelling. 14 (2) However, this subdivision applies to the seller's agent only 15 until the earlier of the following days-- 16 (a) the day a contract for the sale of the dwelling settles; 17 (b) the day the dwelling is withdrawn from sale. 18 182 Requirements about advertising sale of residential 19 dwelling 20 (1) The seller's agent must not publish a relevant advertisement 21 for the sale of the residential dwelling unless the 22 advertisement includes information about where a person may 23 obtain a copy of the current sustainability declaration for the 24 dwelling. 25 Example-- 26 An advertisement published on the internet might include a link to a 27 website at which a person may obtain a copy of the declaration. 28 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 29 Page 145

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 183] (2) The seller's agent must not give a person a document 1 advertising the sale of the residential dwelling unless-- 2 (a) the person has a copy of the current sustainability 3 declaration for the dwelling; or 4 (b) a copy of the declaration accompanies the document. 5 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 6 (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to the seller's agent if the 7 document is given to the person at-- 8 (a) the residential dwelling; and 9 (b) a time it is generally open to the public for inspection by 10 potential buyers of the dwelling. 11 183 Requirements about inspection of residential dwelling 12 (1) At any time the residential dwelling is generally open to the 13 public for inspection by potential buyers of the dwelling, the 14 seller's agent must ensure a copy of the current sustainability 15 declaration for the dwelling is conspicuously displayed so 16 anyone entering the dwelling can easily read the declaration. 17 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 18 (2) If a person enters the residential dwelling to inspect it as a 19 potential buyer of the dwelling, other than at a time mentioned 20 in subsection (1), the seller's agent must ensure-- 21 (a) the person has a copy of the current sustainability 22 declaration before the person enters the dwelling; or 23 (b) a copy of the declaration is readily available for 24 inspection by the person before the person enters the 25 dwelling and the person is advised by the seller's agent 26 that a copy is available for inspection; or 27 (c) a copy of the declaration is conspicuously displayed at 28 the dwelling so the person can easily read it. 29 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 30 Page 146

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 6 Residential property sales [s 184] 184 Requirement to give copy of sustainability declaration 1 If a person who is a potential buyer of the residential dwelling 2 asks the seller's agent for a copy of the current sustainability 3 declaration for the dwelling, the seller's agent must give the 4 person a copy as soon as practicable. 5 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 6 185 Breach of obligation does not give rise to civil right or 7 remedy 8 A breach of an obligation under this subdivision does not of 9 itself give rise to an action for breach of statutory duty or 10 another civil right or remedy. 11 Subdivision 3 Publishing or giving incomplete or 12 false or misleading sustainability 13 declaration 14 186 Application of sdiv 3 15 This subdivision applies if-- 16 (a) a seller's agent-- 17 (i) publishes a relevant advertisement for the sale of a 18 residential dwelling that includes information 19 about a current sustainability declaration for the 20 dwelling; or 21 (ii) gives or makes available to a person a current 22 sustainability declaration for the dwelling; and 23 (b) the declaration is incomplete or contains information 24 that is false or misleading; and 25 (c) if the declaration contains information that is false or 26 misleading--the information was not included in the 27 declaration by the seller's agent, or because of any 28 representation made by or for the seller's agent, after the 29 seller signs it. 30 Page 147

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 7 Trust accounts [s 187] 187 No right to terminate contract for publishing or giving 1 declaration 2 The buyer under a relevant contract, or a contract formed on a 3 sale by auction, for the sale of the residential dwelling can not 4 terminate the contract only because the declaration is 5 incomplete or contains information that is false or misleading. 6 188 Publishing or giving declaration does not contravene 7 particular provisions 8 (1) It is declared that the mere publication of the advertisement or 9 the giving of or making available the declaration does not 10 constitute a contravention of any of the following provisions 11 by the seller's agent-- 12 (a) section 233, 234, 235 or 238(1); 13 (b) the Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 18, 14 20, 29, 30, 151 or 152. 15 (2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that merely publishing the 16 advertisement, or giving or making available the declaration, 17 does not constitute a contravention of section 233, 234(1), 18 235(1) or 238(1) for which a person may make a claim against 19 the fund. 20 (3) Subsection (2) applies despite section 192(1)(a). 21 Part 7 Trust accounts 22 189 Opening and maintaining trust accounts 23 (1) A principal licensee must open and maintain a trust account 24 under the Administration Act if an amount is likely to be 25 received by the licensee for a transaction, or with written 26 direction for its use, when performing the activities of a 27 property agent. 28 Page 148

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 8 Claims against the fund [s 190] Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 1 imprisonment. 2 (2) In this section-- 3 amount-- 4 (a) includes deposit and purchase money for a transaction; 5 but 6 (b) does not include an amount payable to the licensee for a 7 transaction in refund of an expense the licensee was 8 authorised to incur and did incur and for which the 9 licensee holds a receipt. 10 Part 8 Claims against the fund 11 Division 1 Preliminary 12 190 Definitions for pt 8 13 In this part-- 14 financial loss, suffered by a person, if evidenced by a 15 judgment of a court, does not include interest awarded on the 16 judgment. 17 licensee includes a former licensee and a person who is not 18 licensed, but who acts as a licensee. 19 marketeering contravention means a contravention of any of 20 the following by a relevant person-- 21 (a) section 233, 234 or 235; 22 (b) section 573A, 573B or 573C of the repealed Act. 23 relevant person means-- 24 (a) a licensee; or 25 Page 149

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 8 Claims against the fund [s 191] (b) a licensee's employee or agent, or a person carrying on 1 business with the licensee; or 2 (c) a person having charge or control, or apparent charge or 3 control, of a licensee's registered office or business. 4 191 What is the purchase of a non-investment residential 5 property 6 A person purchases a non-investment residential property 7 only if-- 8 (a) the property is a residential property; and 9 (b) either of the following has been assessed for the 10 purchase-- 11 (i) a concession, under the Duties Act 2001, chapter 2, 12 part 9, for transfer duty; 13 (ii) a concession, under the repealed Stamp Act 1894, 14 section 55A, for stamp duty. 15 Division 2 Claims against the fund 16 192 Claims 17 (1) A person may make a claim, in the way provided under the 18 Administration Act, against the fund if the person suffers 19 financial loss because of the happening of any of the 20 following events-- 21 (a) the contravention of any of the following provisions by a 22 relevant person-- 23 · section 91 24 · section 92 25 · section 96(1) 26 · section 189 27 · section 232 28 Page 150

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 8 Claims against the fund [s 193] · section 233 1 · section 234 2 · section 235 3 · section 238; 4 Note-- 5 See, however, see section 188 for particular activities that do not 6 constitute a contravention of section 233, 234, 235 or 238(1) for 7 which a person may make a claim against the fund. 8 (b) a contravention of any of the following provisions of the 9 Land Sales Act 1984 by a licensee appointed by the 10 owner of land to which that Act applies or a relevant 11 person employed by the licensee-- 12 · section 9 13 · section 11 14 · section 12 15 · section 21 16 · section 23 17 · section 24; 18 (c) a stealing, misappropriation or misapplication by a 19 relevant person of property entrusted to the person as 20 agent for someone else in the person's capacity as a 21 relevant person. 22 (2) A person may make a claim against the fund under subsection 23 (1) even if the person has made another claim for the loss 24 against a receiver and the receiver has not considered or has 25 refused the other claim. 26 193 Persons who can not claim 27 (1) A person who suffers financial loss because of, or arising out 28 of, the stealing, misappropriation or misapplication of an 29 amount that a relevant person was directed to invest under the 30 Administration Act, section 13(1)(c) can not make a claim 31 against the fund. 32 Page 151

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 9 Jurisdiction of QCAT [s 194] (2) The following persons can not make a claim against the fund 1 for any of the following financial losses-- 2 (a) a relevant person who suffers financial loss in the course 3 of performing an activity, or carrying on business, as a 4 relevant person; 5 (b) a person holding a licence, however described, under a 6 corresponding law that is similar to a licence under this 7 Act who suffers financial loss in the course of 8 performing an activity, or carrying on business, under 9 the person's licence; 10 (c) a person who suffers financial loss because of a failure 11 to disclose or make effective disclosure under section 12 84; 13 (d) a person who suffers financial loss because of, or arising 14 out of, a marketeering contravention relating to the 15 purchase by the person of a residential property, other 16 than a non-investment residential property. 17 194 Claims limited to realised loss 18 (1) A person may make a claim against the fund for financial loss 19 relating to a non-investment residential property purchased by 20 the person because of, or arising out of, a marketeering 21 contravention only to the extent the loss is capital loss. 22 (2) Also, capital loss mentioned in subsection (1) may be claimed 23 only if the loss has been realised as mentioned in the 24 Administration Act, section 102. 25 Part 9 Jurisdiction of QCAT 26 195 Definitions for pt 9 27 In this part-- 28 Page 152

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 196] former licensee means a person who held a licence under this 1 or the repealed Act at any time within 3 years before a 2 proceeding under this part is started involving the person. 3 former registered employee means a person who was a 4 registered employee, or the holder of a certificate of 5 registration under the repealed Act, at any time within 1 year 6 before a proceeding under this part is started involving the 7 person. 8 licensee includes a former licensee. 9 196 Jurisdiction 10 For this Act, QCAT has the following jurisdiction-- 11 (a) to hear and decide disciplinary matters involving a 12 licensee, property agent salesperson or a former 13 registered employee; 14 (b) to hear and decide applications under this Act relating to 15 marketeers; 16 (c) to review decisions of the chief executive relating to 17 licensing or registration. 18 Part 10 Proceedings 19 Division 1 Disciplinary proceedings 20 197 Grounds for starting disciplinary proceedings 21 (1) The following are grounds for starting a disciplinary 22 proceeding against a licensee or property agent salesperson-- 23 (a) the licensee or salesperson has been convicted of an 24 indictable offence or an offence against this Act or the 25 Administration Act; 26 Page 153

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 197] (b) the licensee or salesperson has contravened or 1 breached-- 2 (i) this Act, including a code of conduct; or 3 (ii) the Administration Act; or 4 (iii) an undertaking given under part 11, division 2; or 5 (iv) a corresponding law; 6 (c) the licensee or salesperson has been disqualified from 7 holding a licence under a corresponding law; 8 (d) an amount has been paid from the fund because the 9 licensee or salesperson did, or omitted to do, something 10 that gave rise to a claim against the fund; 11 (e) the licensee or salesperson fraudulently or improperly 12 obtained, or helped someone else to fraudulently or 13 improperly obtain, a licence or registration certificate; 14 (f) the licensee or salesperson has failed to comply with an 15 order made by a court, the former tribunal or QCAT; 16 (g) for a licensee-- 17 (i) the licensee is not a suitable person to hold a 18 licence; or 19 (ii) the licensee has carried on, or is carrying on, 20 business under a licence with someone who is not a 21 suitable person to hold a licence; or 22 (iii) the licensee has, in carrying on a business or 23 performing an activity, been incompetent or acted 24 in an unprofessional way; or 25 (iv) the licensee has failed to ensure the licensee's 26 employed licensees or property agent salespersons, 27 or employees under the licensee's supervision-- 28 (A) are properly supervised in the performance 29 of their duties; or 30 (B) comply with this Act; or 31 Page 154

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 198] (v) the licensee has failed to comply with a condition 1 of the licensee's licence; or 2 (vi) the licensee is an executive officer of a corporation 3 for whom QCAT finds grounds exist to take 4 disciplinary action under section 211; or 5 (vii) if the licensee is a corporation-- 6 (A) an executive officer of the corporation is not 7 a suitable person to be an executive officer of 8 a corporation; or 9 (B) an executive officer of the corporation is 10 disqualified under this Act from being an 11 executive officer of a corporation; 12 (h) for a property agent salesperson-- 13 (i) the salesperson is not eligible to be employed as a 14 property agent salesperson; or 15 (ii) the salesperson has--in performing an activity of a 16 licensee, been incompetent or acted in an 17 unprofessional way. 18 (2) The chief executive must not start a disciplinary proceeding 19 against an executive officer under subsection (1)(g)(vi) if the 20 chief executive is satisfied-- 21 (a) the act or omission relevant to the proceeding against 22 the corporation was done or made without the executive 23 officer's knowledge; and 24 (b) the executive officer could not, with reasonable 25 diligence, have prevented the doing of the act or the 26 making of the omission. 27 198 Starting disciplinary proceedings 28 The chief executive may apply to QCAT to conduct a 29 proceeding to decide whether grounds exist under section 197 30 for taking disciplinary action against a licensee or property 31 agent salesperson. 32 Page 155

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 199] Division 2 Marketeer proceedings 1 199 Grounds for starting marketeer proceeding 2 The following are grounds for starting a proceeding against a 3 marketeer for orders under section 213 (marketeer 4 proceeding)-- 5 (a) the marketeer has contravened or is contravening section 6 233, 234 or 235; 7 (b) the marketeer is likely or proposing to engage in 8 conduct that would contravene section 233, 234 or 235; 9 (c) the marketeer is reasonably suspected of anything 10 mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b). 11 200 How to start a proceeding 12 (1) The chief executive may apply, as provided under the QCAT 13 Act, to QCAT to conduct a marketeer proceeding. 14 (2) The application must state-- 15 (a) the grounds for starting the proceeding; and 16 (b) the conduct constituting the grounds; and 17 (c) that an application will be made for 1 or more orders 18 under section 213. 19 Division 3 Review proceedings 20 201 Person dissatisfied with chief executive's decision may 21 seek review 22 A person who is dissatisfied with a decision of the chief 23 executive made under a provision mentioned in schedule 1 24 may apply to QCAT to have the decision reviewed. 25 Page 156

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 202] 202 Stay of operation of decisions 1 (1) A decision of the chief executive, other than a decision made 2 under section 65 or 155, being reviewed is stayed for the 3 purpose of securing the effectiveness of the review. 4 (2) However, the period of a stay does not extend past the time 5 when QCAT decides the application. 6 203 QCAT may extend time 7 (1) QCAT may extend the time within which to seek review of a 8 decision of the chief executive if it is satisfied-- 9 (a) the application is made within 42 days after the person 10 receives notice of the decision to be reviewed; and 11 (b) it is appropriate to extend time having regard to-- 12 (i) the application generally; and 13 (ii) the justice of the matter generally. 14 (2) No appeal lies against QCAT's decision under this section. 15 Division 4 Proceedings generally 16 Subdivision 1 Reference committee 17 204 Reference committee 18 (1) A reference committee is established. 19 (2) The reference committee consists of-- 20 (a) the commissioner for fair trading; and 21 (b) 2 community representatives who are not public service 22 employees. 23 (3) One of the community representatives must have a 24 demonstrated interest in civil liberties and the other must be a 25 Page 157

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 205] person the Minister considers has appropriate and relevant 1 experience in fair trading issues. 2 (4) Community representatives are to be appointed by the 3 Governor in Council. 4 (5) The community representatives' appointment term and 5 conditions are as decided by the Governor in Council. 6 205 Reference committee functions 7 The reference committee's function is to decide whether 8 conduct of a marketeer that is being investigated under this 9 Act should be the subject of an application to QCAT for a 10 public examination. 11 206 Reference committee may authorise application for 12 public examination 13 (1) If the chief executive considers that a public examination may 14 help the chief executive decide whether or not to start a 15 marketeer proceeding against a marketeer, the chief executive 16 may refer the conduct to the reference committee. 17 (2) After considering all relevant issues, the reference committee 18 may authorise the chief executive to make an application to 19 QCAT for a public examination under subdivision 2. 20 (3) The reference committee must not authorise the chief 21 executive to make the application unless satisfied-- 22 (a) it is unlikely further investigation of the conduct by an 23 inspector will be effective for deciding whether to start a 24 marketeer proceeding; and 25 (b) a public examination may help find out whether a 26 marketeer has contravened section 233, 234 or 235; and 27 (c) it is in the public interest to make the application. 28 Page 158

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 207] Subdivision 2 Public examinations 1 207 QCAT may conduct public examination 2 (1) QCAT may, on the chief executive's application, conduct a 3 public examination that investigates the conduct of a 4 marketeer to find out whether the marketeer has contravened 5 section 233, 234 or 235. 6 (2) The application may be made whether or not a marketeer 7 proceeding has been started. 8 (3) This division applies to a public examination as if it were a 9 hearing before QCAT. 10 208 Procedure before public examination starts 11 (1) Before the start of a public examination, QCAT must be 12 satisfied each person to be examined has received written 13 grounds for the public examination. 14 (2) On being satisfied under subsection (1), QCAT must-- 15 (a) decide a time and place for the public examination; and 16 (b) issue an attendance notice to each person to be 17 examined. 18 (3) If a person to be examined is a corporation QCAT must issue 19 the attendance notice requiring a named executive officer of 20 the corporation to attend QCAT for examination. 21 (4) The attendance notice must state-- 22 (a) the time and place for the public examination decided by 23 QCAT; and 24 (b) the person may make oral and written submissions at the 25 public examination. 26 (5) The chief executive must serve the attendance notice on the 27 person to whom it was issued. 28 Page 159

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 209] 209 Person must answer particular questions 1 (1) This section applies if a person being examined at a public 2 examination refuses to answer any question put to the person. 3 (2) If QCAT requires the person to answer the question, QCAT 4 must advise the person of the following-- 5 (a) that if the answer might incriminate the person, the 6 person may claim, before giving the answer, that giving 7 the answer might incriminate the person; 8 (b) the effect that making the claim will have on the 9 admissibility of the answer in any proceeding against 10 the person. 11 (3) The person must answer the question, unless the person has a 12 reasonable excuse. 13 Maximum penalty--500 penalty units. 14 (4) It is not a reasonable excuse to fail to answer the question that 15 answering might tend to incriminate the person. 16 (5) The answer is not admissible in any criminal or civil 17 proceeding against the person, other than-- 18 (a) the public examination of a person; or 19 (b) a proceeding to review a reviewable decision; or 20 (c) an appeal against QCAT's decision to require the 21 answer; or 22 (d) a perjury proceeding. 23 (6) In this section-- 24 perjury proceeding means a proceeding in which the falsity or 25 misleading nature of the answer is relevant. 26 reviewable decision means a decision of the chief executive 27 mentioned in schedule 1. 28 Page 160

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 210] Subdivision 3 Stopping particular conduct 1 210 Stopping particular conduct 2 (1) This section applies if a marketeer proceeding has been 3 started against a marketeer and, on the chief executive's 4 application, QCAT is satisfied, or is satisfied there is a 5 reasonable suspicion, that the marketeer-- 6 (a) has contravened or is contravening section 233, 234 or 7 235; or 8 (b) is likely or proposing to engage in conduct that would 9 contravene section 233, 234 or 235. 10 (2) QCAT may, by order, prohibit the marketeer from engaging in 11 conduct that, alone or together with other conduct, is a 12 contravention of section 233, 234 or 235, until the end of the 13 marketeer proceeding. 14 (3) QCAT may make an order under this section on the chief 15 executive's application made without notice to the marketeer 16 but, in that case, QCAT must allow the marketeer a reasonable 17 opportunity to show cause why the order should not be 18 confirmed. 19 (4) If QCAT, after considering the marketeer's evidence and 20 representations, if any, and any further evidence or 21 representations of the chief executive, is not satisfied the order 22 should continue in force, QCAT must cancel the order. 23 (5) A person must not contravene an order under this section. 24 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 25 (6) In a proceeding against a person under this Act, the making of 26 an order under this section is evidence of the facts or 27 circumstances giving rise to the making of the order. 28 (7) An order under this section has effect on the giving of a copy 29 of the order to the marketeer. 30 Page 161

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 211] Subdivision 4 QCAT's orders 1 211 Orders QCAT may make on disciplinary hearing 2 (1) QCAT may make 1 or more of the following orders against a 3 person for whom QCAT finds grounds exist to take 4 disciplinary action under this Act-- 5 (a) an order reprimanding the person; 6 (b) an order that the person pay to the State, within the 7 period stated in the order, a fine of not more than-- 8 (i) for an individual--200 penalty units; or 9 (ii) for a corporation--1000 penalty units; 10 (c) an order that the person pay compensation (inclusive of 11 any commission to which the person is not entitled) to 12 someone else who has suffered loss or damage because 13 of the act or omission that resulted in the finding; 14 (d) an order that the person's licence or registration 15 certificate be suspended for the period stated in the 16 order; 17 (e) an order-- 18 (i) if the person is the holder of a licence or 19 registration certificate when the order is 20 made--that the licence or registration certificate be 21 cancelled; or 22 (ii) whether or not the person is the holder of a licence 23 or registration certificate when the order is 24 made--that the person be disqualified 25 permanently, or for the period stated in the order, 26 from holding a licence or registration certificate; 27 (f) an order, for a licensed individual who is an executive 28 officer of a corporation, that the individual be 29 disqualified permanently, or for the period stated in the 30 order, from being an executive officer of a corporation 31 that holds a licence; 32 Page 162

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 212] (g) an order imposing conditions on, or amending or 1 revoking the conditions of, the person's licence or 2 registration certificate; 3 (h) another order QCAT considers appropriate to ensure the 4 person complies with this Act. 5 (2) QCAT may not make an order under subsection (1)(e)(ii) 6 disqualifying the person from holding a licence or registration 7 certificate if QCAT is satisfied a court has, for the matter 8 giving rise to the disciplinary proceeding-- 9 (a) been asked to make an order under section 256(2) 10 disqualifying the person from holding a licence or 11 registration certificate; and 12 (b) declined to do so. 13 (3) The chief executive may recover a fine, ordered by QCAT to 14 be paid by the person to the chief executive, as a debt owing 15 to the chief executive in a court with jurisdiction to recover 16 debts up to the amount of the fine. 17 212 Stopping contraventions 18 (1) This section applies if QCAT is satisfied, on application by 19 the chief executive, that a person is doing, or is about to do, 20 something in contravention of this Act. 21 (2) This section does not apply if section 210 applies. 22 (3) QCAT may, by order, prohibit the person who is doing, or is 23 about to do, the thing (the prohibited person) from starting or 24 continuing to do the thing. 25 (4) QCAT may make an order under this section on the chief 26 executive's application made without notice to the prohibited 27 person but, in that case, QCAT must allow the prohibited 28 person a reasonable opportunity to show cause why the order 29 should not be confirmed. 30 (5) If QCAT, after considering the prohibited person's evidence 31 and submissions, if any, and any further evidence or 32 Page 163

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 213] submissions of the chief executive, is not satisfied the order 1 should continue in force, QCAT must rescind the order. 2 (6) A person must not contravene an order under this section. 3 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 4 (7) An order under this section has effect on the giving of a copy 5 of the order to the prohibited person. 6 213 Orders QCAT may make in a marketeer proceeding 7 (1) This section applies if, in a marketeer proceeding, QCAT is 8 satisfied a marketeer has contravened section 233, 234 or 235. 9 (2) QCAT may make 1 or more of the following orders against 10 the marketeer-- 11 (a) an order that the person pay to the chief executive, 12 within the period stated in the order, an amount of not 13 more than the money value of-- 14 (i) for an individual--200 penalty units; or 15 (ii) for a corporation--1000 penalty units; 16 (b) an order that the person's licence or registration 17 certificate, if any, be suspended for the period stated in 18 the order; 19 (c) an order-- 20 (i) if the person is the holder of a licence or 21 registration certificate when the order is 22 made--that the licence or registration certificate be 23 cancelled; or 24 (ii) whether or not the person is the holder of a licence 25 or registration certificate when the order is 26 made--that the person be disqualified, for the 27 period stated in the order, of not more than 5 years, 28 from holding a licence or registration certificate; 29 (d) an order that an individual be disqualified, for the period 30 stated in the order, of not more than 5 years, from being 31 Page 164

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 213] an executive officer of any corporation that holds a 1 licence; 2 (e) an order imposing conditions on, or amending or 3 revoking the conditions of, the person's licence or 4 registration certificate, if any; 5 (f) an order prohibiting a person from being involved in any 6 way in the business of the sale, or promotion of the sale, 7 or provision of a service in connection with the sale, of 8 residential property in Queensland for the period stated 9 in the order, of not more than 5 years; 10 (g) an order restricting the way the person conducts the 11 business of the sale, or promotion of the sale, or 12 provision of a service in connection with the sale, of 13 residential property in Queensland for the period stated 14 in the order, of not more than 5 years; 15 (h) an order to pay to a person who has suffered financial 16 loss, as compensation, an amount, decided by QCAT, up 17 to the limit of a Magistrates Court's civil jurisdiction; 18 (i) another order QCAT considers appropriate to ensure the 19 person complies with this Act. 20 (3) However, QCAT may make an order under subsection (2)(a) 21 or (h) against a person who is not licensed or a property agent 22 salesperson only on the basis of evidence, submissions and 23 other information received in accordance with the evidentiary 24 law and practice applicable to a civil proceeding in a 25 Magistrates Court. 26 (4) If-- 27 (a) QCAT proposes to order a marketeer to pay an amount 28 to the chief executive under subsection (2)(a)(i) and 29 compensation under subsection (2)(h); and 30 (b) the marketeer does not have enough financial resources 31 to pay both; 32 QCAT must prefer to make an order for compensation. 33 (5) If-- 34 Page 165

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 214] (a) QCAT orders a corporation to pay an amount to the 1 chief executive under subsection (2)(a)(ii) or 2 compensation under subsection (2)(h); and 3 (b) the corporation does not have enough financial 4 resources to pay either or both; 5 the executive officers of the corporation are jointly and 6 severally liable to pay any amount not paid by the corporation. 7 (6) It is a defence to a liability under subsection (5) for an 8 executive officer to prove that-- 9 (a) if the officer was in a position to influence the conduct 10 of the corporation relating to the conduct in 11 question--the officer took all reasonable steps to ensure 12 the corporation did not contravene section 233, 234 or 13 235; or 14 (b) the officer was not in a position to influence the conduct 15 of the corporation relating to the conduct in question. 16 (7) For subsection (6)(a), it is sufficient for the executive officer 17 to prove that the act or omission that was the conduct in 18 question was done or made without the officer's knowledge 19 despite the officer having taken all reasonable steps to ensure 20 the corporation did not contravene section 233, 234 or 235. 21 214 Criteria for deciding amount to be ordered 22 To decide the amount a person may be ordered to pay under 23 section 213, QCAT must consider-- 24 (a) the person's conduct before and after the contravention; 25 and 26 (b) whether the conduct was deliberate; and 27 (c) the period over which the conduct happened; and 28 (d) the amount of financial loss caused by the 29 contravention; and 30 (e) any similar past conduct of the person, including 31 conduct happening before the commencement of this 32 section; and 33 Page 166

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 10 Proceedings [s 215] (f) the person's financial position; and 1 (g) whether the conduct could have been prevented; and 2 (h) if the person is a corporation--the extent to which the 3 executive officers of the corporation knew or should 4 have known of the contravention; and 5 (i) any action the person took to remedy the contravention 6 including, for example, compensating persons who 7 suffered financial loss because of it; and 8 (j) the extent to which the person cooperated with the chief 9 executive to remedy the contravention and prevent 10 future contraventions; and 11 (k) any other relevant factor. 12 Subdivison 5 Chief executive's right of appeal 13 215 Appeal 14 (1) The chief executive may appeal to the appeal tribunal against 15 any decision of QCAT, but only on the ground of error of law. 16 (2) In this section-- 17 appeal tribunal means QCAT as constituted under the QCAT 18 Act, section 166 for the purposes of an appeal. 19 Page 167

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 216] Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, 1 preservation of assets and civil 2 penalties 3 Division 1 Injunctions 4 216 Injunctions 5 An injunction under this division may be granted by the 6 District Court against a person (respondent) at any time. 7 217 Who may apply for injunction 8 The following persons may apply to the District Court for an 9 injunction-- 10 (a) the chief executive; 11 (b) a person aggrieved by the respondent's conduct. 12 218 Grounds for injunction 13 The District Court may grant an injunction if the court is 14 satisfied a person has engaged, or is proposing to engage, in 15 conduct that constitutes or would constitute-- 16 (a) a contravention of this Act or the code of conduct; or 17 (b) attempting to contravene this Act or the code of 18 conduct; or 19 (c) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a person to 20 contravene this Act or the code of conduct; or 21 (d) inducing or attempting to induce, whether by threats, 22 promises or otherwise, a person to contravene this Act 23 or the code of conduct; or 24 (e) being in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly 25 concerned in, or party to, the contravention by a person 26 of this Act or the code of conduct; or 27 Page 168

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 219] (f) conspiring with others to contravene this Act or the code 1 of conduct. 2 219 Court's powers for injunctions 3 (1) The power of the District Court to grant an injunction 4 restraining a person from engaging in conduct may be 5 exercised-- 6 (a) whether or not it appears to the court that the person 7 intends to engage again, or to continue to engage, in 8 conduct of that kind; and 9 (b) whether or not the person has previously engaged in 10 conduct of that kind. 11 (2) The power of the court to grant an injunction requiring a 12 person to do an act or thing may be exercised-- 13 (a) whether or not it appears to the court that the person 14 intends to fail again, or to continue to fail, to do the act 15 or thing; and 16 (b) whether or not the person has previously failed to do the 17 act or thing. 18 (3) An interim injunction may be granted under this part until the 19 application is finally decided. 20 (4) The District Court may rescind or vary an injunction at any 21 time. 22 220 Terms of injunction 23 (1) The District Court may grant an injunction in the terms the 24 court considers appropriate. 25 (2) Without limiting the court's power under subsection (1), an 26 injunction may be granted restraining a person from carrying 27 on a business as a licensee (whether or not the person is 28 licensed or the business is carried on as part of, or incidental 29 to, the carrying on of another business)-- 30 (a) for a stated period; or 31 Page 169

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 221] (b) other than on stated terms and conditions. 1 (3) Also, the court may grant an injunction requiring a person to 2 take stated action, including action to disclose information or 3 publish advertisements, to remedy any adverse consequences 4 of the person's contravention of this Act or the code of 5 conduct. 6 221 Undertakings as to costs 7 If the chief executive applies for an injunction under this 8 division, no undertaking as to damages or costs may be 9 required or made. 10 Division 2 Undertakings 11 222 Chief executive may seek undertaking after 12 contravention 13 (1) If the chief executive believes on reasonable grounds a person 14 has contravened or been involved in a contravention of this 15 Act or the code of conduct, the chief executive may, by 16 written notice given to the person-- 17 (a) state the act or omission the chief executive believes is 18 the contravention; and 19 (b) ask the person to give the chief executive a written 20 undertaking that the person will not continue or repeat 21 the act or omission. 22 (2) If-- 23 (a) the person gives the undertaking and, if the 24 contravention is conduct consisting of a series of acts or 25 omissions, the person stops the conduct; and 26 (b) the chief executive accepts the undertaking; 27 the chief executive can not start an offence proceeding against 28 the person for the contravention, unless the chief executive 29 withdraws the undertaking under section 224. 30 Page 170

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 223] 223 Undertaking about other matter 1 Without limiting section 222, the chief executive may accept 2 an undertaking given by a person about anything for which the 3 chief executive or an inspector has a function or power. 4 Example of type of undertaking for this section-- 5 an undertaking to publish corrective advertising 6 224 Variation and withdrawal of undertakings 7 (1) If the chief executive accepts the undertaking, it may be 8 varied or withdrawn at any time by-- 9 (a) the person who gave it, but only if the chief executive 10 agrees to the variation or withdrawal; or 11 (b) the chief executive, if the chief executive believes, on 12 reasonable grounds-- 13 (i) that, before it was accepted, the person who gave it 14 contravened this Act in a way unknown to the chief 15 executive; and 16 (ii) had the chief executive known about the 17 contravention, the chief executive would not have 18 accepted the undertaking or would not have 19 accepted it unless its terms were changed. 20 (2) The chief executive may also withdraw the undertaking if the 21 chief executive believes, on reasonable grounds, it is no 22 longer necessary. 23 (3) If the chief executive varies or withdraws, or agrees to the 24 variation or withdrawal of, the undertaking, the chief 25 executive must give the person who gave it written notice of 26 its variation or withdrawal. 27 (4) The variation or withdrawal takes effect when written notice 28 of the variation or withdrawal is received by the person. 29 Page 171

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 225] 225 Enforcement of undertakings 1 (1) If the chief executive believes on reasonable grounds a person 2 has contravened a term of an undertaking, the chief executive 3 may apply to the District Court for an order under this section. 4 (2) If the District Court is satisfied the person has contravened the 5 term, the court may make 1 or more of the following orders-- 6 (a) an order directing the person to comply with the term; 7 (b) an order directing the person to pay to the State an 8 amount that is not more than the direct or indirect 9 financial benefit obtained by the person from, and 10 reasonably attributable to, the contravention; 11 (c) an order directing the person to pay compensation to 12 someone else who has suffered loss or damage because 13 of the contravention; 14 (d) an order directing the person to give a security bond to 15 the State for a stated period; 16 (e) another order the court considers appropriate. 17 (3) The District Court may order the forfeiture to the State of all 18 or part of a security bond given by a person under subsection 19 (2)(d) if-- 20 (a) the chief executive applies to the court for the order; and 21 (b) the court is satisfied the person contravened the 22 undertaking during the period for which the bond was 23 given. 24 226 Register of undertakings 25 (1) The chief executive must keep a register of each undertaking 26 given to the chief executive by a person under this division. 27 (2) The register must contain a copy of the undertaking. 28 (3) The chief executive may publish the information contained in 29 the register on the department's website. 30 (4) A person may, on payment of the fee prescribed under a 31 regulation, inspect, or get a copy of details in, the register-- 32 Page 172

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 227] (a) at a place or places decided by the chief executive; or 1 (b) by using a computer. 2 (5) A person may pay the fee, in advance or in arrears, under an 3 arrangement approved by the chief executive. 4 (6) The register may be kept in the way the chief executive 5 considers appropriate. 6 Division 3 Preservation of assets 7 227 Powers of court for preservation of assets 8 (1) This section applies if any of the following proceedings have 9 been started against a marketeer-- 10 (a) a proceeding before the District Court for the grant of an 11 injunction; 12 (b) a proceeding before the District Court about a 13 contravention of an undertaking; 14 (c) a marketeer proceeding; 15 (d) a proceeding before the District Court under division 4 16 for a civil penalty. 17 (2) On the chief executive's application, the District Court may 18 make an order mentioned in subsection (3) if satisfied-- 19 (a) it is necessary or desirable to preserve property held by 20 or for the marketeer because the marketeer is or may 21 become liable under this Act-- 22 (i) to pay an amount to the chief executive; or 23 (ii) to pay compensation; or 24 (iii) to refund an amount; or 25 (iv) to transfer, sell or return other property; and 26 (b) it will not unduly prejudice the rights and interests of 27 any other person. 28 (3) The orders the court may make are-- 29 Page 173

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 227] (a) an order prohibiting a person who owes an amount to 1 the marketeer or an associate of the marketeer from 2 paying all or part of the amount to, or to another person 3 at the request of, the marketeer or associate; and 4 (b) an order prohibiting a person holding property for the 5 marketeer or an associate of the marketeer from 6 transferring all or any of the property to, or to another 7 person at the request of, the marketeer or associate; and 8 (c) an order prohibiting the taking by any person of the 9 property of the marketeer or an associate of the 10 marketeer out of the State; and 11 (d) if the marketeer is an individual--an order appointing, 12 with the powers stated in the order, a receiver or trustee 13 of all or part of the property of the marketeer or an 14 associate of the marketeer. 15 (4) Subject to subsection (5), the order may be expressed to 16 operate-- 17 (a) for a stated period; or 18 (b) until proceedings under any other provision of this Act 19 for which the order was made have ended. 20 (5) An application and an order may be made under this section 21 without notice to, and in the absence of, the marketeer or the 22 associate, but in that case the order must not be made for a 23 period of more than 30 days. 24 (6) A person to whom an order is directed under this section must 25 comply with the order. 26 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 27 (7) In this section-- 28 associate, of a marketeer, means-- 29 (a) a person holding property for the marketeer; or 30 (b) if the marketeer is a body corporate--a wholly-owned 31 subsidiary of the marketeer. 32 prohibit means prohibit absolutely or on conditions. 33 Page 174

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 228] request includes direction. 1 take includes the following-- 2 (a) send; 3 (b) transfer. 4 transferring means transferring, paying or otherwise parting 5 with possession of. 6 Division 4 Civil penalties and compensation 7 orders for particular contraventions 8 228 Application of div 4 9 This division applies if a person contravenes section 233, 234 10 or 235. 11 229 Application for order imposing civil penalties 12 (1) The chief executive may apply to the District Court (court) for 13 an order requiring the person-- 14 (a) to pay to the State a money penalty; or 15 (b) to pay to a person who suffered financial loss because of 16 the contravention an amount as compensation. 17 (2) The application may be made together with any other 18 application the chief executive may make under this part. 19 230 Orders District Court may make 20 (1) This section applies if the court is satisfied the person has 21 contravened section 233, 234 or 235. 22 (2) The court may order the person to pay to the State, as a money 23 penalty, an amount up to the limit of the court's civil 24 jurisdiction for each contravention. 25 (3) If satisfied another person has suffered financial loss because 26 of the contravention, the court may order the person to pay to 27 Page 175

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 230] the other person, as compensation, an amount, decided by the 1 court, up to the limit of the court's civil jurisdiction. 2 (4) If-- 3 (a) the court proposes to order an individual to pay a money 4 penalty under subsection (2) and compensation under 5 subsection (3); and 6 (b) the person does not have the resources to pay both; 7 the court must prefer to make an order for compensation. 8 (5) If-- 9 (a) the court orders a corporation to pay a money penalty 10 under subsection (2) or compensation under subsection 11 (3); and 12 (b) the corporation does not have enough financial 13 resources to pay either or both; 14 the executive officers of the corporation are jointly and 15 severally liable to pay any amount not paid by the corporation. 16 (6) It is a defence to a liability under subsection (5) for an 17 executive officer to prove that-- 18 (a) if the officer was in a position to influence the conduct 19 of the corporation relating to the conduct in 20 question--the officer took all reasonable steps to ensure 21 the corporation did not contravene section 233, 234 or 22 235; or 23 (b) the officer was not in a position to influence the conduct 24 of the corporation relating to the conduct in question. 25 (7) For subsection (6)(a), it is sufficient for the executive officer 26 to prove that the act or omission that was the conduct in 27 question was done or made without the officer's knowledge 28 despite the officer having taken all reasonable steps to ensure 29 the corporation did not contravene section 233, 234 or 235. 30 Page 176

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 11 Injunctions, undertakings, preservation of assets and civil penalties [s 231] 231 Criteria for deciding amount to be ordered 1 To decide an amount a person may be ordered to pay under 2 section 230, the court must consider-- 3 (a) the person's conduct before and after the contravention; 4 and 5 (b) whether the conduct was deliberate; and 6 (c) the period over which the conduct happened; and 7 (d) the amount of financial loss caused by the 8 contravention; and 9 (e) any similar past conduct of the person, including 10 conduct happening before the commencement of this 11 section; and 12 (f) the person's financial position; and 13 (g) whether the conduct could have been prevented; and 14 (h) if the person is a corporation--the extent to which the 15 executive officers of the corporation knew or should 16 have known of the contravention; and 17 (i) any action the person took to remedy the contravention 18 including, for example, compensating persons who 19 suffered financial loss because of it; and 20 (j) the extent to which the person cooperated with the chief 21 executive to remedy the contravention and prevent 22 future contraventions; and 23 (k) any other relevant factor. 24 Page 177

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 232] Part 12 General contraventions, 1 evidentiary matters and legal 2 proceedings 3 Division 1 General contraventions 4 232 Wrongful conversion and false accounts 5 (1) This section applies if a licensee, in the performance of the 6 activities of a licensee-- 7 (a) receives an amount belonging to someone else; or 8 (b) falsely accounts for money. 9 (2) A licensee who-- 10 (a) dishonestly converts the amount to the licensee's own or 11 someone else's use; or 12 (b) dishonestly renders an account of the amount knowing it 13 to be false in a material particular; 14 commits a crime. 15 Maximum penalty--1000 penalty units or 5 years 16 imprisonment. 17 (3) For a prosecution under subsection (2)(a), it is enough for the 18 prosecution to prove that the licensee dishonestly converted 19 an amount belonging to someone else to the licensee's own 20 use or someone else's use without having to prove that the 21 amount belonged to a particular person. 22 (4) A licensee, in the performance of the activities of a licensee, 23 must not, including by the rendering of an account, represent 24 that the licensee has received an amount from someone else 25 when the licensee had not in fact received the amount. 26 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 27 (5) In this section-- 28 Page 178

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 233] licensee includes a former licensee and a person who is not 1 licensed, but who acts as a licensee. 2 233 Misleading conduct 3 A marketeer must not, in connection with the sale, or for 4 promoting the sale, or for providing a service in connection 5 with the sale, of residential property in Queensland, engage in 6 conduct that is misleading or is likely to mislead. 7 Note-- 8 For remedies for a contravention, see part 11 (Injunctions, undertakings, 9 preservation of assets and civil penalties). 10 234 Unconscionable conduct 11 (1) A marketeer must not, in connection with the sale, or for 12 promoting the sale, or for providing a service in connection 13 with the sale, of residential property in Queensland, engage in 14 conduct that is, in all the circumstances, unconscionable. 15 Note-- 16 For remedies for a contravention, see part 11 (Injunctions, undertakings, 17 preservation of assets and civil penalties). 18 (2) Without limiting the matters to which regard may be had to 19 decide whether a marketeer has contravened subsection (1), 20 regard may be had to-- 21 (a) the relative strengths of the bargaining positions of the 22 marketeer and the buyer of the property; and 23 (b) whether, because of conduct engaged in by the 24 marketeer, the buyer was required to comply with 25 conditions that were not reasonably necessary for the 26 protection of the legitimate interests of the marketeer; 27 and 28 (c) whether the buyer was able to understand any 29 documents relating to the sale, or promotion of the sale, 30 or provision of a service in connection with the sale, of 31 the property; and 32 Page 179

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 234] (d) whether any undue influence or pressure was exerted on, 1 or any unfair tactics were used against, the buyer or the 2 person acting for the buyer by the marketeer in 3 connection with the marketing of the property; and 4 (e) the amount for which, and the circumstances under 5 which, the buyer could have acquired an equivalent or 6 similar property from another person; and 7 (f) the extent to which the marketeer's conduct towards the 8 buyer was consistent with the marketeer's conduct in 9 similar transactions between the marketeer and other 10 like buyers; and 11 (g) the requirements of any applicable code of conduct; and 12 (h) the extent to which the marketeer unreasonably failed to 13 disclose to the buyer-- 14 (i) any intended conduct of the marketeer that might 15 affect the interests of the buyer; and 16 (ii) any risks to the buyer arising from the marketeer's 17 intended conduct, if the risks are risks the 18 marketeer should have foreseen would not be 19 apparent to the buyer; and 20 (i) the extent to which the marketeer failed to disclose to 21 the buyer-- 22 (i) any relationships of the marketeer to other 23 marketeers in connection with the sale, or for 24 promoting the sale, or for providing a service in 25 connection with the sale, of the property; or 26 (ii) anything required to be disclosed under this Act; 27 and 28 (j) the extent to which the marketeer was unwilling to 29 negotiate the terms and conditions of any contract for 30 the sale of the property with the buyer; and 31 (k) whether or not it was reasonably practicable for the 32 buyer to negotiate for the alteration of, or to reject, any 33 of the provisions of the contract for the property; and 34 Page 180

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 235] (l) whether or not the buyer or a person who represented 1 the buyer was reasonably able to protect the interests of 2 the buyer because of the age or physical or mental 3 condition of the buyer or the person who represented the 4 buyer; and 5 (m) whether or not, and if so when, the buyer obtained, or an 6 opportunity was made available to the buyer to obtain, 7 independent legal, valuation or other expert advice; and 8 (n) the extent to which the provisions of the contract and the 9 contract's legal and practical effect were accurately 10 explained to the buyer and whether or not the buyer 11 understood those provisions and their effect; and 12 (o) whether the marketeer took measures to ensure the 13 buyer understood the nature and implications of the 14 transaction and, if so, the adequacy of those measures; 15 and 16 (p) whether at the time the contract was entered into, the 17 marketeer knew, or could have ascertained by 18 reasonable inquiry of the buyer at the time, that the 19 buyer could not pay in accordance with its terms or not 20 without substantial hardship; and 21 (q) the extent to which the marketeer and the buyer acted in 22 good faith; and 23 (r) any other relevant factor. 24 235 False representations and other misleading conduct 25 relating to residential property 26 (1) A marketeer must not, in connection with the sale, or for 27 promoting the sale, or for providing a service in connection 28 with the sale, of residential property in Queensland, represent 29 in any way to someone else anything that is false or 30 misleading. 31 Note-- 32 For remedies for a contravention, see part 11 (Injunctions, undertakings, 33 preservation of assets and civil penalties). 34 Page 181

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 235] (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a marketeer must not, in 1 connection with the sale, or for promoting the sale, or for 2 providing a service in connection with the sale, of residential 3 property, or the possible sale of residential property in 4 Queensland-- 5 (a) represent that the person has a sponsorship, approval or 6 affiliation the person does not have; or 7 (b) make a false or misleading representation about-- 8 (i) the nature of the interest in the property; or 9 (ii) the price payable for the property; or 10 (iii) the location of the property; or 11 (iv) the characteristics of the property; or 12 (v) the use to which the property is capable of being 13 put or may lawfully be put; or 14 (vi) the existence or availability of facilities associated 15 with the property; or 16 (vii) the value of the property at the date of the sale; or 17 (viii) the potential income from the leasing of the 18 property; or 19 (ix) if the property has been previously sold, the date of 20 the sale and the consideration for the sale; or 21 (x) how the purchase of the property may affect the 22 incidence of income taxation on the buyer; or 23 (c) offer gifts, prizes or other free items with the intention 24 of not providing them or of not providing them as 25 offered. 26 Note-- 27 For remedies for a contravention see part 11 (Injunctions, undertakings, 28 preservation of assets and civil penalties). 29 (3) Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), a representation is 30 taken, for the subsection, to be false or misleading if it would 31 reasonably tend to lead to a belief in the existence of a state of 32 Page 182

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 236] affairs that does not in fact exist, whether or not the 1 representation indicates that state of affairs does exist. 2 (4) Also, if a person makes a representation relating to a matter 3 and the person does not have reasonable grounds for making 4 the representation, the representation is taken to be 5 misleading. 6 (5) The onus of establishing that the person had reasonable 7 grounds for making the representation is on the person. 8 (6) It is not a defence to a proceeding for a contravention of 9 subsection (1) or (2) for the marketeer to prove that an 10 agreement with the person was terminated or that the person 11 did not enter into an agreement because of the representation. 12 (7) This section does not limit another Act or law about false or 13 misleading representations. 14 Example-- 15 Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 30 (False or 16 misleading representations about sale etc. of land) 17 (8) In this section-- 18 false or misleading, for a representation, includes the wilful 19 concealment of a material fact in the representation. 20 236 Application of ss 234, 235 and 236 21 (1) Sections 233, 234 and 235 are in addition to, and do not limit, 22 any other law, written or unwritten, about conduct mentioned 23 in them. 24 (2) Sections 233, 234 and 235 apply to conduct, whether 25 happening in or outside Queensland, relating to residential 26 property in Queensland. 27 237 Offensive conduct relating to residential property 28 (1) A marketeer must not unduly harass another person in 29 connection with the sale or possible sale of residential 30 property in Queensland. 31 Page 183

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 238] Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 1 (2) In this section-- 2 unduly harass includes the following-- 3 (a) the use of any physical force; 4 (b) coercion. 5 238 False representations about property 6 (1) A licensee or property agent salesperson must not represent in 7 any way to someone else anything that is false or misleading 8 relating to the letting, exchange or sale of property. 9 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 10 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a licensee or property agent 11 salesperson must not, in connection with the sale, or the 12 possible sale, of an interest in land or in connection with the 13 promotion in any way of the sale of an interest in land, 14 represent in any way to someone else anything that is false or 15 misleading relating to-- 16 (a) the value of the land at the date of sale; or 17 (b) the potential income from the leasing of the land; or 18 (c) if the land has been previously sold, the date of the sale 19 and the consideration for the sale; or 20 (d) how the purchase of the land may affect the incidence of 21 income taxation on the buyer. 22 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 23 (3) Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), a representation is 24 taken, for the subsection, to be false or misleading if it would 25 reasonably tend to lead to a belief in the existence of a state of 26 affairs that does not in fact exist, whether or not the 27 representation indicates that the state of affairs does exist. 28 (4) Also, if a person makes a representation relating to a matter 29 and the person does not have reasonable grounds for making 30 the representation, the representation is taken to be 31 misleading. 32 Page 184

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 239] (5) The onus of establishing that the person had reasonable 1 grounds for making the representation is on the person. 2 (6) It is not a defence to a prosecution under subsection (1) or (2) 3 for the defendant to prove that an agreement with the person 4 was terminated or that the person did not enter into an 5 agreement because of the representation. 6 (7) This section does not limit another Act or law about false or 7 misleading representations. 8 Example-- 9 Australian Consumer Law (Queensland), section 30 (False or 10 misleading representations about sale etc. of land) 11 (8) In this section-- 12 false or misleading, for a representation, includes the wilful 13 concealment of a material fact in the representation. 14 239 Representation of price of property to seller--property 15 agent 16 (1) This section applies if a person wanting to sell residential 17 property (seller) asks a property agent for information about 18 the price at which residential property that is to be, or may be, 19 offered for sale by auction (offered property) is likely to be 20 sold if it is sold by auction. 21 (2) The property agent must give the seller a written notice stating 22 that if the seller does not set a price at which the seller agrees 23 to sell the offered property (reserve price), the offered 24 property will be sold for the price offered by the highest of 25 any bids made when the property is auctioned. 26 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 27 (3) If the seller appoints the property agent to sell the offered 28 property, the property agent must obtain from the seller before 29 the offered property is auctioned a written notice stating the 30 following-- 31 (a) if the seller sets a reserve price--the reserve price; 32 Page 185

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 240] (b) if the seller does not set a reserve price--that the seller 1 understands that the offered property will be sold for the 2 highest of any bids made when the offered property is 3 auctioned. 4 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units. 5 (4) A property agent must not help a seller decide the reserve 6 price for offered property unless, before the seller decides the 7 price, the property agent gives the seller-- 8 (a) a copy of a comparative market analysis for the offered 9 property; or 10 (b) if a comparative market analysis can not be prepared for 11 the offered property, a written explanation showing how 12 the property agent decided the market value of the 13 property. 14 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 15 (5) In this section-- 16 comparative market analysis, for an offered property, means 17 a document comparing the offered property with at least 3 18 properties sold within the previous 6 months that are of a 19 similar standard or condition to the offered property and are 20 within 5km of that property. 21 240 Property agent not to indicate reserve or other price to 22 bidder 23 (1) This section applies if a person (bidder) wanting to bid for 24 residential property that is to be, or may be, offered for sale by 25 auction (offered property) asks a property agent for 26 information about the price at which the offered property is 27 likely to be sold when it is auctioned. 28 (2) The property agent must not in any way disclose to the 29 bidder-- 30 (a) whether the seller has set a reserve price for the offered 31 property under section 239; or 32 Page 186

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 241] (b) the reserve price set under section 239 for the offered 1 property; or 2 (c) an amount the property agent considers is a price likely 3 to result in a successful or acceptable bid for the offered 4 property. 5 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 6 (3) However, the property agent does not commit an offence 7 against subsection (2) if, on the seller's written instructions, 8 the property agent gives the bidder whichever of the following 9 was given to the seller-- 10 (a) the comparative market analysis for the offered 11 property; 12 (b) the written explanation showing how the property agent 13 decided the market value of the property. 14 241 Representation of price of property--property agent 15 (1) This section applies if a person wanting to sell residential 16 property asks a property agent for information about the price 17 at which residential property that is to be, or may be, offered 18 for sale, whether or not by auction, (offered property) is likely 19 to be sold. 20 (2) If the property agent decides to give the person the 21 information, the property agent must, when giving the person 22 the information, give the person-- 23 (a) a copy of a comparative market analysis for the offered 24 property; or 25 (b) if a comparative market analysis can not be prepared for 26 the offered property, a written explanation showing how 27 the property agent decided the market value of the 28 property. 29 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 30 Page 187

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 242] 242 Property agent not to indicate reserve price to potential 1 buyer 2 (1) This section applies if a person wanting to buy residential 3 property (potential buyer) asks a property agent for 4 information about the price at which residential property that 5 is to be, or may be, offered for sale, whether or not by auction, 6 (offered property) is likely to be sold or is, or is likely to be, 7 offered for sale. 8 (2) If the offered property is to be offered for sale by auction, the 9 property agent must not disclose to the potential buyer-- 10 (a) whether the seller has set a reserve price for the offered 11 property; or 12 (b) the reserve price set for the offered property; or 13 (c) an amount the property agent considers is a price likely 14 to result in a successful or acceptable bid for the offered 15 property. 16 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 17 (3) If the property is not to be offered for sale by auction and the 18 seller has instructed the property agent not to disclose the 19 price at which the seller is willing to sell the offered property, 20 the property agent must not disclose to the potential buyer the 21 price at which the seller is willing to sell the offered property. 22 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 23 (4) However, the property agent does not commit an offence 24 against subsection (2) or (3) if, on the seller's written 25 instructions, the property agent gives the potential buyer a 26 copy of whichever of the following was given to the seller-- 27 (a) the comparative market analysis for the offered 28 property; 29 (b) the written explanation showing how the property agent 30 decided the market value of the property. 31 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 32 Page 188

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 243] 243 Chief executive's power to ask for substantiation of 1 representations made by licensees or property agent 2 salespersons 3 (1) This section applies if the chief executive believes, on 4 reasonable grounds, that a licensee or property agent 5 salesperson has made a representation in contravention of 6 section 238(1) or (2). 7 (2) The chief executive may, by written notice, ask the person to 8 give to the chief executive written proof that supports the 9 representation. 10 (3) The notice must-- 11 (a) state a day, at least 14 days after the day the notice is 12 given to the person, by which the person must give the 13 proof to the chief executive; and 14 (b) warn the person it is an offence to fail to comply with 15 the notice by the stated day, unless the person has a 16 reasonable excuse for the failure to comply. 17 (4) The person must comply with the notice by the stated day, 18 unless the person has a reasonable excuse for the failure to 19 comply. 20 Maximum penalty--100 penalty units. 21 (5) It is a reasonable excuse for an individual to fail to comply 22 with subsection (4) that complying with the subsection might 23 tend to incriminate the individual. 24 244 Chief executive to ask for substantiation of 25 representations made by marketeers 26 (1) This section applies if the chief executive believes, on 27 reasonable grounds, that a marketeer has made a 28 representation in contravention of section 235(1) or (2). 29 (2) The chief executive may, by written notice, ask the person to 30 give to the chief executive written proof that supports the 31 representation. 32 Page 189

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 245] (3) The notice must-- 1 (a) state a day, at least 14 days after the day the notice is 2 given to the person, by which the person must give the 3 proof to the chief executive; and 4 (b) warn the person it is an offence to fail to comply with 5 the notice by the stated day, unless the person has a 6 reasonable excuse for the failure to comply. 7 (4) The person must comply with the notice by the stated day, 8 unless the person has a reasonable excuse for the failure to 9 comply. 10 Maximum penalty--540 penalty units. 11 (5) It is a reasonable excuse for an individual to fail to comply 12 with subsection (4) that complying with the subsection might 13 tend to incriminate the individual. 14 245 Offence to charge fee for providing documents etc. 15 (1) A licensee or property agent salesperson must not charge a fee 16 for the provision, preparation or completion of a document for 17 a transaction relating to, or arising out of, the performance of 18 a licensee's activities. 19 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 1 year's 20 imprisonment. 21 (2) Subsection (1) does not limit the Legal Profession Act 2007, 22 section 24 or 25. 23 246 Offence to ask for, or receive, excess or improper 24 remuneration 25 (1) If an amount is prescribed under a regulation as the maximum 26 amount allowed to a licensee for the performance of a 27 licensee's activities relating to a stated transaction, a licensee 28 must not ask for, or receive, a commission or reward for the 29 transaction greater than the amount allowed under the 30 regulation. 31 Page 190

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 247] Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 1 year's 1 imprisonment. 2 (2) If, in a proceeding under subsection (1), an amount is alleged 3 to be payable to the licensee for recouping expenditure 4 lawfully incurred by the licensee in connection with the 5 transaction, the licensee must establish to the court's 6 satisfaction, on the balance of probabilities, that the 7 expenditure was lawfully incurred. 8 (3) If a licensee is convicted of an offence against subsection (1) 9 or fails to satisfy the court under subsection (2) about 10 expenditure incurred, the convicting court must also order the 11 licensee to refund the amount to which the licensee was not 12 entitled to the person from whom it was obtained. 13 (4) Subsection (1) does not prevent the licensee asking for or 14 receiving an amount more than the maximum amount allowed 15 under the regulation if the amount is for GST payable for a 16 supply relating to the transaction. 17 247 Offence to lend or borrow licence 18 (1) A licensee must not-- 19 (a) lend or hire out the licensee's licence to someone else; 20 or 21 (b) notify or advertise that a licence is available for sale, 22 loan or hire, or on another basis, to someone else, 23 whether licensed or not; or 24 (c) permit or allow someone else to hold out that the person 25 is the holder of the licence issued to the licensee. 26 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 27 imprisonment. 28 (2) A person must not borrow, hire or buy a licensee's licence. 29 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 30 imprisonment. 31 (3) If a person who is not the holder of an appropriate licence or 32 the licensee's substitute has the effective or apparent 33 Page 191

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 248] management or control of a licensee's business, the licensee is 1 taken to have lent, and the person is taken to have borrowed, 2 the licensee's licence. 3 248 False or misleading statements 4 A person must not, for this Act, state anything to an official 5 the person knows is false or misleading in a material 6 particular. 7 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 8 imprisonment. 9 249 False or misleading documents 10 (1) A person must not, for this Act, give an official a document 11 containing information the person knows is false or 12 misleading in a material particular. 13 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 14 imprisonment. 15 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person if the person, when 16 giving the document-- 17 (a) informs the official, to the best of the person's ability, 18 how it is false or misleading; and 19 (b) if the person has, or can reasonably obtain, the correct 20 information, gives the correct information. 21 (3) A person must not make an entry in a document required or 22 permitted to be made or kept under this Act knowing the entry 23 to be false or misleading in a material particular. 24 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 25 imprisonment. 26 250 Prohibited practices 27 (1) A person must not, for reward, supply, or undertake to supply, 28 or advertise, or hold out in any way, that the person will 29 supply to any person addresses or other particulars of-- 30 Page 192

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 251] (a) places of residence that are to let; or 1 (b) places of residence or land or interests in places of 2 residence or land that are for sale. 3 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 1 year's 4 imprisonment. 5 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a property agent that has 6 been appointed by the landlords or sellers of the places of 7 residence or land or interests in the places of residence or land 8 to perform an activity and has the landlord's or seller's 9 consent to supply the particulars. 10 (3) A person must not make an unsolicited invitation to another 11 person to attend a property information session unless the 12 person is a property developer or a property agent or someone 13 acting for the developer or agent. 14 Maximum penalty--200 penalty units or 2 years 15 imprisonment. 16 Division 2 Evidentiary matters 17 251 Evidentiary provisions 18 (1) This section applies to a proceeding under this Act. 19 (2) The appointment or power of an inspector must be presumed 20 unless a party, by reasonable notice, requires proof of-- 21 (a) the appointment; or 22 (b) the power to do anything under this Act. 23 (3) A signature purporting to be the signature of the chief 24 executive or an inspector is evidence of the signature it 25 purports to be. 26 (4) A certificate purporting to be signed by the chief executive, a 27 member of QCAT, the registrar or an inspector stating any of 28 the following matters is evidence of the matter-- 29 (a) a stated document is-- 30 Page 193

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 252] (i) an order, direction, requirement or decision, or a 1 copy of an order, direction, requirement or 2 decision, given or made under this Act; or 3 (ii) a notice, or a copy of a notice, given under this 4 Act; or 5 (iii) a record, or a copy of a record, kept under this Act; 6 or 7 (iv) a document, or a copy of a document, kept under 8 this Act; 9 (b) on a stated day, a stated person-- 10 (i) was, or was not, the holder of a stated licence or 11 registration certificate under this Act; or 12 (ii) was given a stated notice, order, requirement or 13 direction under this Act. 14 252 Entries in licensee's documents 15 An entry in a document kept by or belonging to a licensee or 16 found in the licensee's premises is evidence that the entry has 17 been made by or with the authority of the licensee. 18 Division 3 Proceedings 19 253 Proceedings for an offence 20 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a proceeding for an offence against 21 this Act must be taken in a summary way under the Justices 22 Act 1886 within the later of the following-- 23 (a) 1 year after the offence is committed; 24 (b) 6 months after the commission of the offence comes to 25 the complainant's knowledge, but within 2 years after 26 the commission of the offence. 27 (2) A proceeding for an indictable offence may be taken, at the 28 prosecution's election-- 29 Page 194

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 253] (a) by way of summary proceedings under the Justices Act 1 1886; or 2 (b) on indictment. 3 (3) A proceeding against a person for an indictable offence must 4 be before a magistrate if it is a proceeding-- 5 (a) for the summary conviction of the person; or 6 (b) for an examination of witnesses for the charge. 7 (4) If a proceeding for an indictable offence is brought before a 8 justice who is not a magistrate, jurisdiction is limited to taking 9 or making a procedural action or order within the meaning of 10 the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners for Declarations 11 Act 1991. 12 (5) If-- 13 (a) a person charged with an indictable offence asks at the 14 start of a summary proceeding for the offence that the 15 charge be prosecuted on indictment; or 16 (b) the magistrate hearing a charge of an indictable offence 17 considers the charge should be prosecuted on 18 indictment; 19 the magistrate-- 20 (c) must not decide the charge as a summary offence; and 21 (d) must proceed by way of a committal proceeding. 22 (6) If a magistrate acts under subsection (5)-- 23 (a) any plea of the person charged, made at the start of the 24 proceeding, must be disregarded; and 25 (b) any evidence brought in the proceeding before the 26 magistrate decided to act under subsection (5) is taken to 27 be evidence in the proceeding for the committal of the 28 person for trial or sentence; and 29 (c) before committing the person for trial or sentence, the 30 magistrate must make a statement to the person under 31 the Justices Act 1886, section 104(2)(b). 32 Page 195

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 254] (7) The maximum penalty that may be imposed on a summary 1 conviction of an indictable offence is 200 penalty units or 1 2 year's imprisonment. 3 (8) In this section-- 4 indictable offence means an offence against this Act for 5 which the maximum penalty of imprisonment is more than 2 6 years. 7 254 Responsibility for acts or omissions of representatives 8 (1) This section applies in a proceeding for an offence against this 9 Act. 10 (2) If it is relevant to prove a person's state of mind about a 11 particular act or omission, it is enough to show-- 12 (a) the act was done or omitted to be done by a 13 representative of the person within the scope of the 14 representative's actual or apparent authority; and 15 (b) the representative had the state of mind. 16 (3) An act done or omitted to be done for a person by a 17 representative of the person within the scope of the 18 representative's actual or apparent authority is taken to have 19 been done or omitted to be done also by the person, unless the 20 person proves the person could not, by the exercise of 21 reasonable diligence, have prevented the act or omission. 22 (4) In this section-- 23 offence includes a contravention of this Act for which an 24 amount may be ordered by the District Court or QCAT to be 25 paid as a money penalty. 26 representative means-- 27 (a) of a corporation--an executive officer, employee or 28 agent of the corporation; or 29 (b) of an individual--an employee or agent of the 30 individual. 31 state of mind, of a person, includes-- 32 Page 196

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 255] (a) the person's knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or 1 purpose; and 2 (b) the person's reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or 3 purpose. 4 255 Executive officers must ensure corporation complies 5 with Act 6 (1) The executive officers of a corporation must ensure the 7 corporation complies with this Act. 8 (2) If a corporation commits an offence against a provision of this 9 Act, each of the executive officers of the corporation also 10 commits an offence, namely, the offence of failing to ensure 11 the corporation complies with the provision. 12 Maximum penalty--the penalty for the contravention of the 13 provision by an individual or, if the penalty is expressed to be 14 for this section, the expressed penalty. 15 (3) Evidence that the corporation has been convicted of an 16 offence against a provision of this Act is evidence that each of 17 the executive officers committed the offence of failing to 18 ensure the corporation complies with the provision. 19 (4) However, it is a defence for an executive officer to prove 20 that-- 21 (a) if the officer was in a position to influence the conduct 22 of the corporation relating to the offence--the officer 23 took all reasonable steps to ensure the corporation 24 complied with the provision; or 25 (b) the officer was not in a position to influence the conduct 26 of the corporation relating to the offence. 27 (5) For subsection (4)(a), it is sufficient for the executive officer 28 to prove that the act or omission that was the offence was 29 done or made without the officer's knowledge despite the 30 officer having taken all reasonable steps to ensure the 31 corporation complied with the provision. 32 Page 197

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 12 General contraventions, evidentiary matters and legal proceedings [s 256] 256 Power of court 1 (1) A court may, in addition to any other penalty it may impose, 2 order that a licensee's licence or a property agent 3 salesperson's registration certificate be suspended for a stated 4 period or cancelled if the licensee or property agent 5 salesperson has been convicted of an offence against this Act. 6 (2) The court may also order that a person convicted of an offence 7 against this Act be disqualified from holding a licence or 8 registration certificate under this Act for a stated period or 9 permanently. 10 (3) The court may make an order under subsection (1) or (2)-- 11 (a) on the chief executive's application; or 12 (b) on its own initiative. 13 (4) If an order is made by a court under this section on the court's 14 own initiative, the court must cause a copy of the order to be 15 given to the chief executive. 16 (5) This section does not apply to an offence against section 17 227(6), 237(1) or 244(4). 18 257 Power of court for particular offences 19 (1) A court may, in addition to any other penalty it may impose on 20 a person convicted of an offence against section 227(6), 21 237(1) or 244(4), order that-- 22 (a) if the person is a licensee or a property agent 23 salesperson-- 24 (i) the licensee's licence or property agent 25 salesperson's registration certificate be suspended 26 for a stated period or cancelled; or 27 (ii) the person be disqualified from holding a licence 28 or registration certificate under this Act for a stated 29 period or permanently; or 30 (b) whether or not the person is a licensee or a property 31 agent salesperson--the person be disqualified from 32 Page 198

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 13 General [s 258] holding a licence or registration certificate under this 1 Act for a stated period or permanently. 2 (2) The court may also make any other order QCAT may make in 3 a marketeer proceeding. 4 Note-- 5 For the orders QCAT may make, see section 213. 6 (3) However, if the court makes an order for compensation, the 7 court may order the payment of an amount up to the limit of 8 the court's civil jurisdiction. 9 (4) The court may make an order under this section-- 10 (a) on the chief executive's application; or 11 (b) on its own initiative. 12 (5) If an order is made by a court under this section on the court's 13 own initiative, the court must cause a copy of the order to be 14 given to the chief executive. 15 258 Allegations of false or misleading representations or 16 statements etc. 17 In any proceeding for an offence against this Act involving a 18 false or misleading statement, representation or entry, or false 19 or misleading information, it is enough for a charge to state 20 that the statement, representation, entry or information was 21 `false or misleading'. 22 Part 13 General 23 259 Public warning statements 24 (1) The Minister or chief executive may make or issue a public 25 statement identifying and giving warnings or information 26 about any of the following-- 27 Page 199

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 13 General [s 260] (a) contraventions of the code of conduct that have resulted 1 in disciplinary action and persons who commit the 2 contraventions; 3 (b) business practices regulated under this Act that are 4 unfair and persons who engage in the unfair practices; 5 (c) the commission of offences against this Act and persons 6 who commit the offences. 7 (2) The statement may identify particular contraventions, 8 business practices, offences and persons. 9 (3) The Minister or chief executive must not make or issue a 10 statement under this section unless satisfied it is in the public 11 interest to do so. 12 260 Civil remedies not affected 13 Nothing in this Act affects or limits any civil remedy that a 14 person may have against a licensee or another person in 15 relation to any matter. 16 261 Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2002 not limited 17 Nothing in this Act limits the Criminal Proceeds Confiscation 18 Act 2002. 19 262 Delegation--chief executive 20 (1) The chief executive may delegate the chief executive's 21 powers, other than power under section 259, to an 22 appropriately qualified public service employee. 23 (2) In subsection (1)-- 24 appropriately qualified includes having the qualifications, 25 experience or standing appropriate to exercise the power. 26 Example of standing-- 27 the level at which a person is employed within the department 28 Page 200

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 13 General [s 263] 263 Approved forms 1 The chief executive may approve forms for use under this Act. 2 264 Review of Act 3 (1) The Minister must ensure the operation of this Act is 4 reviewed. 5 (2) The review must be finished within 3 years after the 6 commencement of this section. 7 (3) The Minister must table in the Legislative Assembly a report 8 on the outcome of the review as soon as practicable after the 9 review is finished. 10 265 Regulation-making power 11 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations under this 12 Act. 13 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a regulation may be made 14 about the following-- 15 (a) fees, including the refunding of fees payable under this 16 Act; 17 (b) the amount of fees and rate of commission that may be 18 charged for transactions by licensees; 19 (c) imposing a penalty for a contravention of a regulation of 20 not more than 20 penalty units; 21 (d) imposing a penalty for a contravention of the code of 22 conduct of not more than 20 penalty units; 23 (e) imposing limits on out-of-pocket expenses incurred in 24 the performance of activities under a licence; 25 (f) the keeping of records, including the form in which a 26 record is kept; 27 (g) the keeping of receipts and evidence of expenditure; 28 (h) the length of time a document required to be kept under 29 this Act is to be kept. 30 Page 201

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 14 Repeal [s 266] Part 14 Repeal 1 266 Repeal 2 The Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, No. 62 is 3 repealed. 4 Part 15 Transitional and saving 5 provisions 6 Division 1 Preliminary 7 267 Definitions for pt 15 8 In this part-- 9 Chattel Auctioneers Act means the Motor Dealers and 10 Chattel Auctioneers Act 2010. 11 commencement means the day this section commences. 12 existing licence means any of the following licences under the 13 repealed Act-- 14 (a) an auctioneer's licence; 15 (b) a pastoral house licence; 16 (c) a pastoral house auctioneer's licence; 17 (d) a pastoral house director's licence; 18 (e) a pastoral house manager's licence; 19 (f) a real estate agent's licence; 20 (g) a resident letting agent's licence. 21 existing registration certificate means a registration 22 certificate as a real estate salesperson, pastoral house 23 Page 202

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 268] salesperson, property developer salesperson or trainee 1 auctioneer under the repealed Act. 2 transitioned licence see section 268(2). 3 transitioned registration certificate see section 269(2). 4 Division 2 Transitional provisions 5 Subdivision 1 Licences and registration 6 certificates 7 268 Existing licences 8 (1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before the 9 commencement, held an existing licence. 10 (2) The person, on the commencement, is taken to be the holder 11 of the following licence or licences (each a transitioned 12 licence)-- 13 (a) if the existing licence was a pastoral house or pastoral 14 house director's licence--a property agent licence and a 15 chattel auctioneer licence; 16 (b) if the existing licence was a real estate agent's licence or 17 pastoral house manager's licence and the person also 18 held an existing licence that was an auctioneer's licence 19 immediately before the commencement--a property 20 agent licence and a chattel auctioneer licence; 21 (c) if the existing licence was a real estate agent's licence or 22 pastoral house manager's licence and the person did not 23 hold an existing licence that was an auctioneer's licence 24 immediately before the commencement--a property 25 agent licence that is subject to the condition that the 26 activities authorised to be performed under the licence 27 do not include the sale, attempted sale or offering for 28 sale or resale, of any property by way of auction; 29 Page 203

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 268] (d) if the existing licence was an auctioneer's licence or a 1 pastoral house auctioneer's licence-- 2 (i) either-- 3 (A) if the person also held an existing licence 4 that was a real estate agent's licence 5 immediately before the commencement--a 6 property agent licence; or 7 (B) if the person did not hold an existing licence 8 that was a real estate agent's licence 9 immediately before the commencement--a 10 property agent licence that is subject to the 11 condition that the activities authorised to be 12 performed under the licence are limited to 13 the sale, attempted sale or offering for sale or 14 resale of any property by way of auction; and 15 (ii) a chattel auctioneer licence; 16 (e) if the existing licence was a resident letting agent's 17 licence--a resident letting agent licence. 18 (3) If the existing licence held by the person immediately before 19 the commencement was subject to a condition (the current 20 condition), the transitioned licence is also taken to be subject 21 to a condition in the same terms, so far as practicable, as the 22 current condition. 23 (4) A transitioned licence expires on the day it would have 24 expired under the repealed Act unless it is sooner cancelled. 25 (5) The chief executive may deal with-- 26 (a) a transitioned licence that is a chattel auctioneer licence 27 as if it were a chattel auctioneer licence issued under the 28 Chattel Auctioneers Act; or 29 (b) another transitioned licence as if it were a licence issued 30 under this Act. 31 Example of dealing with a transitioned licence under this Act-- 32 the chief executive amending the conditions of the transitioned 33 licence under section 60 34 Page 204

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 269] 269 Existing registration certificates 1 (1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before the 2 commencement, held an existing registration certificate under 3 the repealed Act. 4 (2) The person, on the commencement, is taken to be the holder 5 of the following registration certificate or certificates (each a 6 transitioned registration certificate)-- 7 (a) if the existing registration certificate was held as a real 8 estate salesperson or pastoral house salesperson and the 9 person also held an existing registration certificate as a 10 trainee auctioneer immediately before the 11 commencement--a registration certificate as a property 12 agent salesperson and a registration certificate as a 13 trainee chattel auctioneer under the Chattel Auctioneers 14 Act; 15 (b) if the existing registration certificate was held as a real 16 estate salesperson or pastoral house salesperson and the 17 person did not hold an existing registration certificate as 18 a trainee auctioneer immediately before the 19 commencement--a registration certificate as a property 20 agent salesperson that is subject to the condition that the 21 activities authorised to be performed under the licence 22 do not include the sale, attempted sale or offering for 23 sale or resale of any property by way of auction; 24 (c) if the existing registration certificate was held as a 25 trainee auctioneer-- 26 (i) either-- 27 (A) if the person also held an existing 28 registration certificate as a real estate agent 29 salesperson immediately before the 30 commencement--a registration certificate as 31 a property agent salesperson; or 32 (B) if the person did not hold an existing 33 registration certificate as a real estate agent 34 salesperson immediately before the 35 commencement--a registration certificate as 36 Page 205

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 269] a property agent salesperson that is subject to 1 the condition that the activities authorised to 2 be performed under the licence are limited to 3 the sale, attempted sale or offering for sale or 4 resale of any property by way of auction; and 5 (ii) a registration certificate as a trainee chattel 6 auctioneer under the Chattel Auctioneers Act; 7 (d) if the existing registration certificate was held as a 8 property developer salesperson--a registration 9 certificate as a property agent salesperson that is subject 10 to the condition that the activities authorised to be 11 performed under the licence do not include the sale, 12 attempted sale or offering for sale or resale of any 13 property by way of auction. 14 (3) If the existing registration certificate held by the person 15 immediately before the commencement was subject to a 16 condition (the current condition), the transitioned registration 17 certificate for the person is also taken to be subject to a 18 condition in the same terms, so far as practicable, as the 19 current condition. 20 (4) A transitioned registration certificate expires on the day it 21 would have expired under the repealed Act unless it is sooner 22 cancelled. 23 (5) The chief executive may deal with-- 24 (a) a transitioned registration certificate that is a registration 25 certificate as a trainee chattel auctioneer as if it were a 26 registration certificate as a trainee chattel auctioneer 27 issued under the Chattel Auctioneers Act; or 28 (b) another transitioned registration certificate as if it were a 29 registration certificate issued under this Act. 30 Example of dealing with a transitioned registration certificate 31 under this Act-- 32 the chief executive amending the conditions of the transitioned 33 registration certificate under section 152 34 Page 206

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 270] 270 Expiry of particular licences and certificate 1 On the commencement, the following licences and certificate 2 under the repealed Act end-- 3 (a) a property developer licence; 4 (b) a property developer director's licence; 5 (c) a registration certificate as a property developer 6 salesperson. 7 271 Existing applications 8 (1) This section applies to the following applications made under 9 the repealed Act but not decided before the commencement-- 10 (a) an application for the issue of an existing licence or 11 existing registration certificate; 12 (b) an application for the renewal of an existing licence or 13 existing registration certificate; 14 (c) an application for the restoration of an existing licence 15 or existing registration certificate; 16 (d) an application about amending an existing licence or 17 existing registration certificate; 18 (e) an application about appointing a nominated person 19 mentioned in section 64(3) or 65(4) of the repealed Act 20 as a licensee's substitute licensee. 21 (2) If the application is about the issue, renewal, restoration or 22 amendment of an existing licence or appointment of a 23 substitute licensee for an existing licence, the application is 24 taken to be about the issue, renewal, restoration or amendment 25 of, or appointment of a substitute licensee for, the transitioned 26 licence (the relevant transitioned licence) for the existing 27 licence. 28 (3) If the application is about the issue, renewal, restoration or 29 amendment of an existing registration certificate, the 30 application is taken to be about the issue, renewal, restoration 31 or amendment of the transitioned registration certificate (the 32 Page 207

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 271] relevant transitioned certificate) for the existing registration 1 certificate. 2 (4) To the extent, if any, the relevant transitioned licence is a 3 property agent licence or resident letting agent licence or the 4 relevant transitioned certificate is a registration certificate as a 5 property agent salesperson-- 6 (a) the application must be decided under this Act; and 7 (b) the provisions of this Act, relevant to the application, 8 apply to the application. 9 (5) To the extent, if any, the relevant transitioned licence is a 10 chattel auctioneer licence or the relevant transitioned 11 certificate is a registration certificate as a trainee chattel 12 auctioneer-- 13 (a) the application must be decided under the Chattel 14 Auctioneers Act; and 15 (b) the provisions of that Act, relevant to the application, 16 apply to the application. 17 (6) However, the provisions of this Act or the Chattel 18 Auctioneers Act dealing with making an application in the 19 approved form and paying an application fee do not apply for 20 deciding an application for subsection (4) or (5). 21 (7) If the application is about the renewal or restoration of an 22 existing licence, the relevant transitioned licence is taken to 23 continue in force from the day the licence would, apart from 24 this subsection, expire until the application for renewal or 25 restoration is decided or withdrawn. 26 (8) If the application is about the renewal or restoration of an 27 existing registration certificate, the relevant transitioned 28 registration certificate is taken to continue in force from the 29 day the certificate would, apart from this subsection, expire 30 until the application for renewal or restoration is decided or 31 withdrawn. 32 Page 208

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 272] 272 Restoration of expired existing licences 1 (1) This section applies if a person's existing licence expired 2 within 3 months before the commencement. 3 (2) To the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the existing 4 licence would have been a property agent's licence or resident 5 letting agent's licence if the existing licence had been in force, 6 the person may apply under section 51 for restoration of the 7 licence as if the existing licence were a property agent licence 8 or resident letting agent licence. 9 Note-- 10 Section 51(2)(a) requires that an application for restoration be made 11 within 3 months after the expiry. 12 (3) However, if the chief executive decides to grant the 13 application, the chief executive must, instead of restoring the 14 existing licence, issue the person the licence that would be the 15 transitioned licence for the existing licence. 16 (4) To the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the existing 17 licence would have been a chattel auctioneer licence if the 18 existing licence had been in force, the person may apply under 19 the Chattel Auctioneers Act, section 42 for restoration of the 20 licence as if the existing licence were a chattel auctioneer 21 licence. 22 (5) However, if the chief executive decides to grant the 23 application, the chief executive must, instead of restoring the 24 existing licence, issue the person a chattel auctioneer licence. 25 (6) If the existing licence was subject to a condition, the licence 26 issued under subsection (3) or (5) is also taken to be subject to 27 a condition in the same terms, so far as practicable, as that 28 condition. 29 (7) To remove any doubt, it is declared that-- 30 (a) to the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the 31 existing licence is a property agent licence or resident 32 letting agent licence, section 53 applies to the existing 33 licence; and 34 Page 209

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 273] (b) to the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the 1 existing licence is a chattel auctioneer licence, the 2 Chattel Auctioneers Act, section 44 applies to the 3 existing licence. 4 273 Restoration of expired existing registration certificates 5 (1) This section applies if a person's existing registration 6 certificate expired within 3 months before the 7 commencement. 8 (2) To the extent the transitioned registration certificate for the 9 existing registration certificate would have been a registration 10 certificate as a property agent salesperson if the registration 11 certificate had been in force, the person may apply under 12 section 148 for restoration of the existing registration 13 certificate as if it were a property agent salesperson's 14 registration certificate. 15 Note-- 16 Section 148(2)(a) requires that an application for restoration be made 17 within 3 months after the expiry. 18 (3) However, if the chief executive decides to grant the 19 application, the chief executive must, instead of restoring the 20 existing registration certificate, issue the person a registration 21 certificate as a property agent salesperson. 22 (4) To the extent, if any, the transitioned registration certificate 23 for the existing registration certificate would have been a 24 registration certificate as a trainee chattel auctioneer if the 25 registration certificate had been in force, the person may 26 apply under the Chattel Auctioneers Act, section 197 for 27 restoration of the existing registration certificate as if it were a 28 trainee chattel auctioneer's registration certificate. 29 (5) However, if the chief executive decides to grant the 30 application, the chief executive must, instead of restoring the 31 existing registration certificate, issue the person a registration 32 certificate as a trainee chattel auctioneer. 33 (6) If the existing registration certificate was subject to a 34 condition, the registration certificate issued under subsection 35 Page 210

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 274] (3) or (5) is also taken to be subject to a condition in the same 1 terms, so far as practicable, as that condition. 2 (7) To remove any doubt, it is declared that-- 3 (a) to the extent the transitioned registration certificate for 4 the existing registration certificate is a registration 5 certificate as a property agent salesperson, section 150 6 applies to the existing registration certificate; and 7 (b) to the extent, if any, the transitioned registration 8 certificate for the existing registration certificate is a 9 registration certificate as a trainee chattel auctioneer, the 10 Chattel Auctioneers Act, section 199 applies to the 11 existing registration certificate. 12 274 Previous refusals of applications 13 (1) This section applies to a person who made an application for 14 an existing licence or existing registration certificate under the 15 repealed Act and the application was refused before the 16 commencement. 17 (2) The person can not make an application for a licence or 18 registration certificate under this Act-- 19 (a) for 3 months after the day the chief executive gave the 20 person an information notice for the refusal; or 21 (b) if the applicant applies to QCAT to review the chief 22 executive's decision and the decision is confirmed--for 23 3 months after the day the decision is confirmed. 24 (3) This section does not apply to a person if-- 25 (a) the person is a corporation; and 26 (b) the person satisfies the chief executive that, because of a 27 genuine sale-- 28 (i) no person who was a shareholder of, or held a 29 beneficial interest in, the corporation when the 30 refused application was made is a shareholder of, 31 or holds a beneficial interest in, the corporation; 32 and 33 Page 211

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 275] (ii) no person who was in a position to control or 1 influence the affairs of the corporation when the 2 refused application was made is in a position to 3 control or influence the affairs of the corporation. 4 275 Deactivated existing licences 5 (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply to an existing licence that, 6 immediately before the commencement, was deactivated 7 under the repealed Act. 8 (2) To the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the existing 9 licence (the relevant transitioned licence) is a property agent 10 licence or resident letting agent licence-- 11 (a) the existing licence continues to be deactivated under 12 this Act; and 13 (b) section 63 applies to the existing licence as if it were a 14 licence deactivated under this Act. 15 (3) To the extent, if any, the relevant transitioned licence is a 16 chattel auctioneer licence-- 17 (a) the existing licence continues to be deactivated under 18 the Chattel Auctioneers Act; and 19 (b) section 54 of that Act applies to the existing licence as if 20 it were a chattel auctioneer licence deactivated under 21 that Act. 22 (4) Subsections (5) and (6) apply to a request to deactivate an 23 existing licence, made under the repealed Act and not decided 24 before the commencement. 25 (5) To the extent, if any, the relevant transitioned licence is a 26 property agent licence or resident letting agent licence-- 27 (a) the request must be decided under this Act; and 28 (b) section 63 applies to the request. 29 (6) To the extent, if any, the relevant transitioned licence is a 30 chattel auctioneer licence-- 31 Page 212

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 276] (a) the request must be decided under the Chattel 1 Auctioneers Act; and 2 (b) section 54 of that Act applies to the request. 3 276 Suspended existing licences and existing registration 4 certificates 5 (1) This section applies to an existing licence or existing 6 registration certificate that was, immediately before the 7 commencement, suspended under the repealed Act. 8 (2) Subsections (3) to (5) apply-- 9 (a) to the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the 10 existing licence would have been a property agent 11 licence or resident letting agent licence if the existing 12 licence had been in force; or 13 (b) to the extent, if any, the transitioned registration 14 certificate for the existing registration certificate would 15 have been a registration certificate as a property agent 16 salesperson if the registration certificate had been in 17 force. 18 (3) The existing licence or existing registration certificate 19 continues to be suspended under this Act. 20 (4) The provisions of this Act relating to the suspension of a 21 licence apply to the existing licence as if the existing licence 22 were a licence under this Act. 23 (5) The provisions of this Act relating to the suspension of a 24 certificate of registration apply to the existing registration 25 certificate as if the existing registration certificate were a 26 certificate of registration under this Act. 27 (6) Subsections (7) to (9) apply-- 28 (a) to the extent, if any, the transitioned licence for the 29 existing licence would have been a chattel auctioneer 30 licence if the existing licence had been in force; or 31 (b) to the extent, if any, the transitioned registration 32 certificate for the existing registration certificate would 33 Page 213

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 277] have been a registration certificate as a trainee chattel 1 auctioneer if the registration certificate had been in 2 force. 3 (7) The existing licence or existing registration certificate 4 continues to be suspended under the Chattel Auctioneers Act. 5 (8) The provisions of the Chattel Auctioneers Act relating to the 6 suspension of a chattel auctioneer licence apply to the existing 7 licence as if the existing licence were a chattel auctioneer 8 licence. 9 (9) The provisions of the Chattel Auctioneers Act relating to the 10 suspension of a certificate of registration as a trainee chattel 11 auctioneer apply to the existing registration certificate as if the 12 existing registration certificate were a certificate of 13 registration as a trainee chattel auctioneer. 14 Subdivision 2 Miscellaneous provisions 15 277 Existing appointments 16 (1) Subsections (2) to (7) apply to an appointment, engagement or 17 agreement mentioned in any of subsections (2) to (5) to act as 18 a particular agent under the repealed Act (each an existing 19 appointment), if the appointment, engagement or 20 agreement-- 21 (a) was in force immediately before the commencement; 22 and 23 (b) complied with the repealed Act. 24 (2) If the existing appointment was as a pastoral house or pastoral 25 house director, the existing appointment is taken to be as a 26 property agent and a chattel auctioneer. 27 (3) If the existing appointment was as a real estate agent or 28 pastoral house manager and the appointee also held an 29 existing licence that was an auctioneer's licence immediately 30 before the commencement, the existing appointment is taken 31 to be as a property agent and a chattel auctioneer. 32 Page 214

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 277] (4) If the existing appointment was as a real estate agent or 1 pastoral house manager and the person did not hold an 2 existing licence that was an auctioneer's licence immediately 3 before the commencement, the existing appointment is taken 4 to be as a property agent subject to the condition that the 5 activities authorised to be performed under the licence do not 6 include the sale, attempted sale or offering for sale or resale, 7 of any property by way of auction. 8 (5) If the existing appointment was as an auctioneer or a pastoral 9 house auctioneer, the existing appointment is taken to be as-- 10 (a) either-- 11 (i) if the person also held an existing licence that was 12 a real estate agent's licence immediately before the 13 commencement--a property agent; or 14 (ii) if the person did not hold an existing licence that 15 was a real estate agent's licence immediately 16 before the commencement--a property agent on 17 the condition that the activities authorised to be 18 performed under the licence are limited to the sale, 19 attempted sale or offering for sale or resale, of any 20 property by way of auction; and 21 (b) a chattel auctioneer. 22 (6) To the extent an existing appointment is taken to be as a 23 property agent under subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5)-- 24 (a) the appointment continues to be a valid appointment 25 under this Act according to its terms; and 26 (b) if the appointment is for an exclusive agency, or sole 27 agency, within the meaning of the repealed Act, the 28 appointment ends on the earlier of the following-- 29 (i) the day it ends according to its terms; 30 (ii) the end of 60 days after the commencement. 31 (7) To the extent an existing appointment is taken to be as a 32 chattel auctioneer under subsection (2), (3) or (5), the 33 appointment continues to be a valid appointment under the 34 Chattel Auctioneers Act according to its terms. 35 Page 215

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 278] (8) Subsections (9) and (10) apply to an appointment, under the 1 repealed Act, by the chief executive of a nominated person 2 mentioned in section 64(3) or 65(4) of the repealed Act as an 3 existing licensee's substitute licensee that is in force 4 immediately before the commencement. 5 (9) To the extent, if any, the appointment relates to an existing 6 licence for which the transitioned licence is a property agent 7 licence or resident letting agent licence, the appointment 8 continues to be a valid appointment under this Act according 9 to its terms. 10 (10) To the extent, if any, the appointment relates to an existing 11 licence for which the transitioned licence is a chattel 12 auctioneer licence, the appointment continues to be a valid 13 appointment under the Chattel Auctioneers Act according to 14 its terms. 15 278 Disciplinary action relating to pre-commencement 16 conduct 17 (1) If, before the commencement, a ground existed for starting 18 disciplinary action against a person under the repealed Act, 19 disciplinary action may be taken against the person on that 20 ground under this Act as if the ground were a ground for 21 starting disciplinary proceedings under this Act. 22 (2) If, before the commencement, QCAT had started but not 23 finished disciplinary action under the repealed Act, the action 24 may be finished under the repealed Act as if that Act had not 25 been repealed. 26 279 Marketeer proceeding relating to pre-commencement 27 conduct 28 (1) If, before the commencement, a ground existed for starting a 29 marketeer proceeding against a person under the repealed Act, 30 a marketeer proceeding may be taken against the person on 31 that ground under the repealed Act as if that Act had not been 32 repealed. 33 Page 216

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 280] (2) If, before the commencement, QCAT had started but not 1 finished disciplinary action under the repealed Act, the action 2 may be finished under the repealed Act as if that Act had not 3 been repealed. 4 280 Continuation of reviews under the repealed Act 5 (1) Subsection (2) applies if-- 6 (a) a person applied to QCAT, under the repealed Act, 7 section 501, for a review of a decision of the chief 8 executive; and 9 (b) the review had not been decided before the 10 commencement. 11 (2) QCAT may hear, or continue to hear, and decide the review 12 under the repealed Act as if that Act had not been repealed. 13 (3) Subsections (4) and (5) apply if-- 14 (a) a person could have applied, under the repealed Act, 15 section 501, for a review of a decision of the chief 16 executive; but 17 (b) the person had not applied before the commencement. 18 (4) The person may apply for a review of the decision under the 19 repealed Act as if that Act had not been repealed. 20 (5) QCAT may hear and decide the review under the repealed 21 Act. 22 281 Injunctions relating to pre-commencement conduct 23 (1) Subsections (2) to (5) apply to an injunction granted by the 24 District Court under the repealed Act and in force 25 immediately before the commencement. 26 (2) The injunction continues to be a valid injunction under this 27 Act according to its terms. 28 (3) The provisions of this Act relating to injunctions apply to the 29 injunction. 30 Page 217

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 282] (4) If the injunction was granted against a person to whom section 1 270 applies and relates to the person's existing licence, from 2 the commencement, the injunction is taken to relate to the 3 person's transitioned licence under section 268(2). 4 (5) If the injunction was granted against a person to whom section 5 269 applies and relates to the person's existing registration 6 certificate, from the commencement, the injunction is taken to 7 relate to the person's transitioned registration certificate under 8 section 269(2). 9 (6) In addition to section 218, the District Court may also grant an 10 injunction if the court is satisfied a person has, before the 11 commencement, engaged in conduct that constituted-- 12 (a) a contravention of the repealed Act or the repealed code 13 of conduct; or 14 (b) an attempt to contravene the repealed Act or the 15 repealed code of conduct; or 16 (c) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a person to 17 contravene the repealed Act or the repealed code of 18 conduct; or 19 (d) inducing or attempting to induce, whether by threats, 20 promises or otherwise, a person to contravene the 21 repealed Act or the repealed code of conduct; or 22 (e) being in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly 23 concerned in, or party to, the contravention by a person 24 of the repealed Act or the repealed code of conduct; or 25 (f) conspiring with others to contravene the repealed Act or 26 the repealed code of conduct. 27 (7) Subsection (6) does not limit section 218. 28 282 Undertakings relating to pre-commencement conduct 29 (1) Subsections (2) to (5) apply to an undertaking given by a 30 person to the chief executive under the repealed Act. 31 (2) The undertaking continues to be a valid undertaking under 32 this Act according to its terms. 33 Page 218

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 283] (3) The provisions of this Act relating to undertakings apply to 1 the undertaking. 2 (4) If the undertaking was given by a person to whom section 268 3 applies and relates to the person's existing licence, from the 4 commencement, the undertaking is taken to relate to the 5 person's transitioned licence under section 268(2). 6 (5) If the undertaking was given by a person to whom section 269 7 applies and relates to the person's existing registration 8 certificate, from the commencement, the undertaking is taken 9 to relate to the person's transitioned registration certificate 10 under section 269(2). 11 (6) Section 222 also applies if the chief executive reasonably 12 believes a person has, before the commencement, contravened 13 or been involved in a contravention of the repealed Act or 14 repealed code of conduct. 15 (7) If, before the commencement, the chief executive applied to 16 the District Court for an order under the repealed Act, section 17 571 and the District Court has not decided the application, the 18 application may be heard under the repealed Act as if that Act 19 had not been repealed. 20 283 Proceedings for particular offences under repealed Act 21 (1) This section applies if a person is alleged to have committed 22 an offence against a provision of any of the following 23 provisions of the repealed Act before the commencement-- 24 (a) chapter 2, parts 9, 10 and 11; 25 (b) chapter 3, parts 9, 10 and 11; 26 (c) chapter 4, parts 2, 3 and 4; 27 (d) chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12; 28 (e) chapter 14, part 2; 29 (f) chapter 15; 30 (g) chapter 16, part 3; 31 (h) chapter 17, parts 1 and 3. 32 Page 219

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 284] (2) Without limiting the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 20, 1 proceedings for the offence may be started or continued, and a 2 court may hear and decide the proceedings, as if the repealed 3 Act had not been repealed. 4 (3) Subsection (2) applies despite the Criminal Code, section 11. 5 284 Existing infringement notice offences 6 (1) This section applies if-- 7 (a) an infringement notice offence under the State Penalties 8 Enforcement Act 1999 was committed by a person 9 before the commencement; and 10 (b) no infringement notice under that Act had been served 11 before the commencement on the person for the offence. 12 (2) Without limiting the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 20, 13 an infringement notice may be served on the person and the 14 infringement notice may be dealt with as if the repealed Act 15 had not been repealed. 16 (3) Subsection (2) applies despite the Criminal Code, section 11. 17 285 Existing delegations 18 On the commencement, a delegation of power made by the 19 chief executive under the repealed Act, section 597 continues 20 to have effect according to its terms as a delegation made 21 under section 262 of the power under this Act that is 22 equivalent or substantially similar to the delegated power 23 under the repealed Act. 24 286 Reference committee--marketeers 25 (1) If a reference committee has been formed under the repealed 26 Act, section 528AA and is still current immediately before the 27 commencement, each appointment to the reference committee 28 as a community representative continues under this Act for 29 the unexpired term of the appointment. 30 Page 220

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 287] (2) If the appointment was subject to a condition, the person 1 appointed is taken to be subject to a condition in the same 2 terms. 3 (3) If, under the repealed Act, section 528AC, the reference 4 committee has authorised the chief executive to make an 5 application to QCAT for a public examination under chapter 6 14, part 5, division 8 of the repealed Act, the authorisation 7 continues under this Act. 8 287 Existing registers 9 (1) On the commencement-- 10 (a) the licence register kept under the repealed Act is taken 11 to be the licence register under this Act; and 12 (b) the registration certificate register kept under the 13 repealed Act is taken to be the registration certificate 14 register under this Act; and 15 (c) the register kept under the repealed Act, section 572 is 16 taken to be the register of undertakings. 17 (2) In this section-- 18 register of undertakings means the register kept under section 19 226. 20 288 Existing fines and fees 21 (1) A fine ordered to be paid to the chief executive under the 22 repealed Act that has not been paid before the commencement 23 may be recovered after the commencement as a debt owing to 24 the chief executive in a court with jurisdiction to recover debts 25 up to the amount of the fine. 26 (2) A fee incurred under the repealed Act that has not been paid 27 before the commencement may be recovered after the 28 commencement as a debt owing to the chief executive in a 29 court with jurisdiction to recover debts up to the amount of the 30 fee. 31 Page 221

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 289] 289 Return of beneficial interest if in form of commission 1 (1) Subsection (2) applies if, under section 283, a person is 2 convicted of an offence against the repealed Act, section 3 145(2) or (3) after the commencement. 4 (2) The repealed Act, section 145A applies to the person and the 5 court convicting the person as if the repealed Act had not been 6 repealed. 7 (3) Subsection (4) applies if, under section 283, a person is 8 convicted of an offence against the repealed Act, section 9 184(2) or (3) after the commencement. 10 (4) The repealed Act, section 184A applies to the person and the 11 court convicting the person as if the repealed Act had not been 12 repealed. 13 (5) Subsection (6) applies if, under section 283, a person is 14 convicted of an offence against the repealed Act, section 15 222(2) or (3) after the commencement. 16 (6) The repealed Act, section 222A applies to the person and the 17 court convicting the person as if the repealed Act had not been 18 repealed. 19 290 Buyer's rights if notice about land is not given under 20 repealed Act or is materially defective 21 From the commencement, the repealed Act, sections 150 and 22 189 continue to apply to a contract for the sale of land entered 23 into before the commencement as if the repealed Act had not 24 been repealed. 25 291 Transitional regulation-making power 26 (1) A regulation (a transitional regulation) may make provision 27 of a saving or transitional nature-- 28 (a) for which it is necessary to make provision to allow or 29 facilitate the continuation of the enforcement provisions 30 of the repealed Act under section 292; and 31 Page 222

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 15 Transitional and saving provisions [s 292] (b) for which this Act does not make provision or sufficient 1 provision. 2 (2) A transitional regulation may have retrospective operation to a 3 day that is not earlier than the commencement. 4 (3) A transitional regulation must declare it is a transitional 5 regulation. 6 (4) This section and any transitional regulation expire 1 year after 7 the commencement. 8 Division 3 Savings provision for repealed Act 9 292 Saving of enforcement provisions 10 (1) The enforcement provisions as in force immediately before 11 the commencement continue in force for the purposes of this 12 Act, the Administration Act, the Chattel Auctioneers Act and 13 the Commercial Agents Act 2010 despite the repeal of the 14 repealed Act. 15 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a person who held an 16 appointment as an inspector under the repealed Act 17 immediately before the commencement continues to hold 18 office as an inspector on the conditions stated in the person's 19 instrument of appointment. 20 (3) For applying subsection (1), a reference in the enforcement 21 provisions to licensee, as defined in the repealed Act, 22 schedule 2, is taken-- 23 (a) for this Act--to be a reference to the holder of a 24 property agent licence, or a resident letting agent 25 licence, that is in force; or 26 (b) for the Administration Act--to be a reference to the 27 holder of a licence under an Agents Act or this Act, that 28 is in force; or 29 (c) for the Chattel Auctioneers Act--to be a reference to the 30 holder of a motor dealer or chattel auctioneer licence 31 that is in force; or 32 Page 223

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Part 16 Minor and consequential amendments [s 293] (d) for the Commercial Agents Act 2010--to be a reference 1 to the holder of a commercial agent licence that is in 2 force. 3 (4) This section does not limit the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, 4 section 20. 5 (5) In this section-- 6 enforcement provisions means-- 7 (a) the repealed Act, chapter 15, other than section 8 558(1)(b) and (c); and 9 (b) any provisions of the repealed Act, chapter 1 or 10 schedule 2, that are relevant to the provisions mentioned 11 in paragraph (a). 12 Part 16 Minor and consequential 13 amendments 14 293 Minor and consequential amendments 15 Schedule 2 amends the legislation it mentions. 16 Page 224

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 1 Schedule 1 Decisions subject to review 1 section 201 2 section 27(2) (Chief executive must consider suitability of applicants and licensees) section 40(1) (Chief executive may issue or refuse to issue licence) section 44(1) (Licence--conditions) section 49(1) (Chief executive may renew or refuse to renew licence) section 52(1) (Chief executive may restore or refuse to restore licence) section 57(1) (Chief executive may appoint or refuse to appoint substitute licensee) section 60(1) (Amendment of licence conditions) section 64(2) (Immediate suspension) section 137(2) (Chief executive must consider suitability of applicants) section 143(1) (Chief executive may issue or refuse to issue registration certificate) section 144(1) (Registration certificate--conditions) section 146(1) (Chief executive may renew or refuse to renew registration certificate) section 149(1) (Chief executive may restore or refuse to restore registration certificate) section 152(1) (Amendment of registration certificate conditions) section 155(2) (Immediate suspension) Page 225

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 Schedule 2 Minor and consequential 1 amendments 2 section 293 3 Part 1 Amendments of this Act 4 1 Long title, from `practices, and to make'-- 5 omit, insert-- 6 `practices'. 7 2 Section 9, `schedule 3'-- 8 omit, insert-- 9 `schedule 2'. 10 3 Schedule 3-- 11 renumber as schedule 2. 12 Part 2 Other amendments 13 Body Corporate and Community Management Act 14 1997 15 1 Section 16(2), `Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 16 2000'-- 17 omit, insert-- 18 `Property Agents Act 2010'. 19 Page 226

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 2 Section 205A, definition residential property, `Property 1 Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, section 17'-- 2 omit, insert-- 3 `Property Agents Act 2010, section 14'. 4 3 Sections 206(6) and 213(5A), note, `Property Agents and 5 Motor Dealers Act 2000, section 364'-- 6 omit, insert-- 7 `Property Agents Act 2010, section 163'. 8 4 Sections 206A and 213A, heading, `the Property Agents 9 and Motor Dealers Act 2000, s 368A(2)(c)(ii)'-- 10 omit, insert-- 11 `Property Agents Act 2010, s 169(2)(c)(ii)'. 12 5 Sections 206A(1) and 213A(1), `Property Agents and 13 Motor Dealers Act 2000, section 368A(2)(c)(ii)'-- 14 omit, insert-- 15 `Property Agents Act 2010, section 169(2)(c)(ii)'. 16 6 Sections 206A(3) and 213A(3), `Property Agents and 17 Motor Dealers Act 2000, section 368A(2)(b)'-- 18 omit, insert-- 19 `Property Agents Act 2010, section 169(2)(b)'. 20 7 Sections 206A(9), and 213A(9), definition contract form, 21 `Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, section 22 368A'-- 23 omit, insert-- 24 `Property Agents Act 2010, section 169'. 25 Page 227

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 Building Act 1975 1 1 Section 246I(1)(b), from `Property' to `division 2'-- 2 omit, insert-- 3 `Property Agents Act 2010, part 6, division 7, subdivision 2'. 4 Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980 5 1 Sections 39(3)(k) and 53(14), from `real' to `2000'-- 6 omit, insert-- 7 `property agent, or resident letting agent, under the Property 8 Agents Act 2010'. 9 Integrated Resort Development Act 1987 10 1 Section 175F(2)(a), `Property Agents and Motor Dealers 11 Act 2000'-- 12 omit, insert-- 13 `Property Agents Act 2010'. 14 Land Sales Act 1984 15 1 Section 6, definition real estate agent-- 16 omit. 17 Page 228

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 2 Section 6-- 1 insert-- 2 `property agent means a property agent under the Property 3 Agents Act 2010.'. 4 3 Sections 11(1)(b) and (c) and 23(1)(b) and (c)-- 5 omit, insert-- 6 `(b) a property agent; or 7 (c) a real estate agency in which a property agent carries on 8 the business of property agent;'. 9 Legal Profession Act 2007 10 1 Section 24(3A) to (3E), `PAMDA'-- 11 omit, insert-- 12 `PAA'. 13 2 Section 24(3D), `Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 14 2000, section 578'-- 15 omit, insert-- 16 `Property Agents Act 2010, section 245'. 17 3 Section 24(7), definition other document, `PAMDA'-- 18 omit, insert-- 19 `PAA'. 20 4 Section 24(7), definitions PAMDA employee and PAMDA 21 licensee-- 22 omit, insert-- 23 Page 229

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 `PAA employee means a property agent salesperson under the 1 Property Agents Act 2010, whether or not the property agent 2 salesperson is also a property agent. 3 PAA licensee means a property agent or resident letting agent 4 under the Property Agents Act 2010.'. 5 5 Section 24(7), definition property contract, paragraph 6 (a)-- 7 omit, insert-- 8 `(a) a form of contract or agreement generally recognised 9 and accepted for use by PAA licensees when carrying 10 out activities authorised by the Property Agents Act 11 2010 in dealing with real property or an interest in real 12 property; or'. 13 Personal Property Securities (Ancillary Provisions) 14 Act 2010 15 1 Chapter 4, parts 32 and 33-- 16 omit. 17 Retirement Villages Act 1999 18 1 Sections 46(1)(c), 64(2) and 68(2), `real estate agent'-- 19 omit, insert-- 20 `property agent'. 21 Page 230

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 2 Section 68(2), `real estate agent's'-- 1 omit, insert-- 2 `property agent's'. 3 3 Schedule, definition real estate agent-- 4 omit. 5 4 Schedule-- 6 insert-- 7 `property agent means a property agent under the Property 8 Agents Act 2010.'. 9 Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985 10 1 Section 94C(2)(a), `Property Agents and Motor Dealers 11 Act 2000'-- 12 omit, insert-- 13 `Property Agents Act 2010'. 14 Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003 15 1 Section 6(2)-- 16 insert-- 17 `(k) a property agent under the Property Agents Act 2010.'. 18 Page 231

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 2 2 Section 6(4)-- 1 insert-- 2 `(d) a property agent under the Property Agents Act 2010.'. 3 3 Section 35(2)-- 4 insert-- 5 `(c) carrying on business at a public auction conducted by a 6 property agent licensed under the Property Agents Act 7 2010.'. 8 South Bank Corporation Act 1989 9 1 Schedule 4, sections 39(3)(k) and 53(14), from `real' to 10 `2000'-- 11 omit, insert-- 12 `property agent, or resident letting agent, under the Property 13 Agents Act 2010'. 14 Page 232

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 Schedule 3 Dictionary 1 section 9 2 actually expended, for expenses, means the amount actually 3 incurred after deducting-- 4 (a) the amount of any benefit, received or receivable, 5 directly or indirectly, in connection with the expenses by 6 the person seeking to sue for, recover or retain the 7 expenses; or 8 (b) if the benefit has no fixed amount--the market value of 9 the benefit. 10 Administration Act means the Agents Financial 11 Administration Act 2010. 12 Agents Act means-- 13 (a) the Commercial Agents Act 2010; or 14 (b) the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2010. 15 approved form see section 263. 16 arrangement includes agreement, promise, scheme, 17 transaction (with or without consideration), understanding 18 and undertaking (whether express or implied). 19 associate, of a person, means-- 20 (a) a spouse, parent, brother, sister or child of the person; or 21 (b) a child of the person's spouse. 22 attached, for part 6, see section 163. 23 attendance notice means an attendance notice issued under 24 this Act. 25 audit period see the Administration Act, section 30. 26 audit report see the Administration Act, section 30. 27 beneficial interest, other than for section 40(6)(b)(i), see 28 section 10. 29 Page 233

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 benefit, for part 6, see section 163. 1 body corporate means-- 2 (a) a body corporate under the Building Units and Group 3 Titles Act 1980; or 4 (b) a body corporate for a leasehold building units plan 5 under the South Bank Corporation Act 1989; or 6 (c) a body corporate under the Body Corporate and 7 Community Management Act 1997. 8 Building Act, for part 6, division 7, see section 180. 9 building complex means-- 10 (a) a building on a single building units plan under the 11 Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980; or 12 (b) a building or buildings on a single group titles plan 13 under the Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980; or 14 (c) a building or buildings shown on a single leasehold 15 building units plan under the South Bank Corporation 16 Act 1989; or 17 (d) a building or buildings on scheme land in a single 18 community titles scheme or a layered arrangement of 19 community title schemes under the Body Corporate and 20 Community Management Act 1997. 21 business address, of a licensee, see section 21(1)(b). 22 business associate, of an applicant for a licence or a licensee, 23 means a person with whom the applicant or licensee carries 24 on, or intends carrying on, business under a licence. 25 business day, for part 6, see section 163. 26 business of letting includes the collecting or receiving of rents 27 by an agent for a principal, whether or not the agent has let the 28 place of residence, land, estate or business concerned. 29 buyer, for part 6, see section 163. 30 caravan means a trailer fitted, equipped, or used principally-- 31 (a) for camping; or 32 Page 234

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (b) as a dwelling; or 1 (c) for carrying on any trade or business. 2 chattel auctioneer means a chattel auctioneer under the Motor 3 Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2010. 4 chattel auctioneer licence means a chattel auctioneer licence 5 under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2010. 6 Chattel Auctioneers Act, for part 15, see section 267. 7 civil jurisdiction, for an amount that is the limit of a court's 8 civil jurisdiction, means an amount equal to the maximum 9 amount that may be claimed in a personal action in the civil 10 jurisdiction of the court. 11 code of conduct means a code of conduct under section 102 or 12 122. 13 commencement, for part 15, see section 267. 14 commissioner for fair trading means the commissioner for 15 fair trading under the Fair Trading Act 1989. 16 community titles scheme see the Body Corporate and 17 Community Management Act 1997, section 10. 18 comparable certificate means a certificate of registration as 19 any of the following-- 20 (a) real estate agent salesperson; 21 (b) pastoral house salesperson; 22 (c) property developer salesperson; 23 (d) trainee auctioneer. 24 comparable licence-- 25 (a) for a property agent licence means any of the following 26 licences-- 27 (i) real estate agent's licence; 28 (ii) pastoral house auctioneer's licence; 29 (iii) pastoral house licence; 30 (iv) pastoral house director's licence; 31 Page 235

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (v) pastoral house manager's licence; 1 (vi) auctioneer's licence; or 2 (b) for a resident letting agent licence, means a resident 3 letting agent licence. 4 comparative market analysis, for an offered property, see 5 section 239(5). 6 completes a residential property sale see section 11. 7 computer means a mechanical, electronic or other device for 8 the processing of data. 9 conviction includes a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt by a 10 court, but does not include a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt 11 by a court if no conviction is recorded by the court. 12 cooling-off period, for part 6, see section 163. 13 corresponding law means a law of another State or New 14 Zealand that provides for the same matter as this Act or a 15 provision of this Act. 16 criminal history, of a person, means the person's criminal 17 history as defined under the Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of 18 Offenders) Act 1986, other than for a conviction-- 19 (a) to which the rehabilitation period under the Criminal 20 Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986 has expired 21 under that Act; and 22 (b) that is not revived as prescribed by section 11 of that 23 Act. 24 criminal history costs requirement see-- 25 (a) generally for an applicant or licensee--section 32(2); or 26 (b) for an applicant for, or for the renewal or restoration of, 27 registration as a property agent salesperson--section 28 139(2). 29 current sustainability declaration, for part 6, division 7, see 30 section 180. 31 electronic communication, for part 6, see section 163. 32 employ includes-- 33 Page 236

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (a) engage on a contract for services or commission and use 1 the services of, whether or not for reward; and 2 (b) directly engage a person as an independent contractor; 3 and 4 (c) engage a person from a labour hire provider. 5 employed licensee means a licensee who performs the 6 activities of a licensee as the employee of someone else. 7 employment register-- 8 (a) of a property agent, see section 107(1); or 9 (b) of a resident letting agent, see section 127(1). 10 exclusive agency see section 16. 11 executive officer, for a corporation, means any person, by 12 whatever name called and whether or not the person is a 13 director of the corporation, who is concerned, or takes part, in 14 the management of the corporation. 15 existing licence, for part 15, see section 267. 16 existing registration certificate, for part 15, see section 267. 17 financial loss, for part 8 and part 11, division 4, see section 18 190. 19 formed on a sale by auction, for part 6, see section 163. 20 former licensee-- 21 (a) generally, means a person who held a licence under this 22 or the repealed Act; and 23 (b) for part 9, see section 195. 24 former registered employee, for part 9, see section 195. 25 former tribunal means the tribunal under the repealed 26 Commercial and Consumer Tribunal Act 2003. 27 fund means the claim fund established under the 28 Administration Act, section 76. 29 holder-- 30 Page 237

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (a) of a property agent licence, means the person in whose 1 name the licence is issued; or 2 (b) of a registration certificate as a property agent 3 salesperson, means the person in whose name the 4 certificate is issued. 5 in charge see section 12. 6 information notice means a notice complying with the QCAT 7 Act, section 157(2). 8 information sheet, for part 6, see section 163. 9 insolvent under administration means a person who is 10 insolvent under administration under the Corporations Act, 11 section 9. 12 inspector means a person whose appointment as an inspector 13 is continued under section 292. 14 labour hire provider means an entity that conducts a business 15 that is or includes the supply of labour to others. 16 land includes-- 17 (a) a lot or proposed lot under the Land Title Act 1994; and 18 (b) a lot shown on a leasehold building units plan registered 19 or to be registered under the South Bank Corporation 20 Act 1989; and 21 (c) land under the South Bank Corporation Act 1989; and 22 (d) an interest in land. 23 lawyer means an Australian lawyer who, under the Legal 24 Profession Act 2007, may engage in legal practice in this 25 State. 26 letting includes every form of leasing or letting of places of 27 residence, land, estates, or businesses. 28 letting agent see the Body Corporate and Community 29 Management Act 1997, section 16. 30 licence means a property agent licence or a resident letting 31 agent licence. 32 licence register see section 70(1). 33 Page 238

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 licensed, for a person, means licensed under this Act. 1 licensee-- 2 (a) generally, means the holder of a property agent licence, 3 or a resident letting agent licence, that is in force; or 4 (b) for part 8, see section 190; or 5 (c) for part 9, see section 195. 6 management rights see the Body Corporate and Community 7 Management Act 1997, schedule 6. 8 market, residential property, means take action to sell the 9 property, other than by appointing a property agent to sell the 10 property. 11 marketeer-- 12 (a) means a person directly or indirectly involved in any 13 way in the sale, or promotion of the sale, or provision of 14 a service in connection with the sale, of residential 15 property, alone, or with others under a formal or 16 informal arrangement, and whether or not-- 17 (i) the person derives a direct or indirect benefit from 18 the sale, or promotion of the sale, or provision of a 19 service in connection with the sale, of the property; 20 or 21 (ii) the way the property is marketed includes offering 22 potential buyers of the property inducements 23 intended to encourage them to purchase the 24 property; or 25 (iii) any of the persons is licensed or is a property agent 26 salesperson; or 27 (iv) the sale, or promotion of the sale, or provision of a 28 service in connection with the sale, of property is, 29 or is part of, a business the person ordinarily 30 conducts; and 31 (b) includes a person who-- 32 Page 239

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (i) causes or arranges for the sale, or promotion of the 1 sale, or provision of a service in connection with 2 the sale, of residential property; or 3 (ii) provides advisory, management, legal, accounting, 4 administrative or other services in connection with 5 the sale, or for promoting the sale, or for providing 6 a service in connection with the sale, of residential 7 property. 8 marketeering contravention, for part 8, see section 190. 9 marketeer proceeding see section 199. 10 misleading includes deceptive. 11 non-investment residential property, for part 8, see section 12 191. 13 obtain, for part 3, division 2, subdivision 6, see section 90. 14 official means-- 15 (a) the chief executive; or 16 (b) an inspector; or 17 (c) a public service employee. 18 open listing see section 13. 19 option to purchase includes a right granted or purportedly 20 granted, but not immediately exercisable, to purchase or to be 21 given an option to purchase. 22 part payment see section 177. 23 place of residence-- 24 (a) means-- 25 (i) a building or part of a building used, or currently 26 designed for use, as a single dwelling only; and 27 (ii) any outbuildings or other appurtenances incidental 28 to the use of the building or part as a single 29 dwelling; but 30 (b) does not include-- 31 Page 240

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (i) a building or part of a building used, or currently 1 designed for use, for temporary accommodation; 2 or 3 (ii) any outbuildings or other appurtenances incidental 4 to the use of the building or part as temporary 5 accommodation. 6 Examples for paragraph (b)-- 7 · motel 8 · caravan park 9 · hostel 10 principal licensee means a licensee that carries on business 11 under the licensee's licence on the licensee's own behalf. 12 promote, the sale of residential property, means take action to 13 increase awareness of the property with a view to increasing 14 the likelihood of sale. 15 property agent see section 72(1). 16 property agent licence means a property agent licence (real 17 estate agent and auctioneer). 18 property agent licence (real estate agent and auctioneer) 19 means a property agent licence (real estate agent and 20 auctioneer) issued under this Act. 21 property agent salesperson means-- 22 (a) a person who has obtained registration as a property 23 agent salesperson under this Act; or 24 (b) a person who has obtained a property agent licence and 25 is employed, as an independent contractor, by a property 26 agent as a property agent salesperson. 27 property developer means-- 28 (a) a person who completes more than 6 residential 29 property sales in any 12 month period; or 30 (b) a person who markets residential property in which the 31 person has an interest of at least 15%. 32 Page 241

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 property information session means a presentation (however 1 described) given to 1 or more persons that has as a significant 2 purpose the purchase of residential property in Queensland by 3 1 or more persons attending the presentation. 4 provider see the Residential Tenancies and Rooming 5 Accommodation Act 2008, schedule 2. 6 public examination means a public examination conducted 7 under part 10, division 4, subdivision 2. 8 publish, for part 6, division 7, see section 180. 9 reference committee means the reference committee 10 established under section 204. 11 registered office-- 12 (a) of a property agent, see section 104; or 13 (b) of a resident letting agent, see section 124. 14 registrar means the principal registrar under the QCAT Act. 15 registration certificate means a registration certificate issued 16 under section 143. 17 registration certificate register see section 160(1). 18 relevant advertisement, for part 6, division 7, see section 180. 19 relevant contract, for part 6, see section 163. 20 relevant person, for part 8, see section 190. 21 repealed Act means the repealed Property Agents and Motor 22 Dealers Act 2000. 23 repealed code of conduct means any of the following codes of 24 conduct-- 25 (a) Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Auctioneering 26 Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001; 27 (b) Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Property 28 Developer Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001; 29 (c) Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Real Estate 30 Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001; 31 Page 242

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (d) Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Restricted Letting 1 Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulation 2001. 2 representation includes a statement, promise, publication and 3 other representation made in any way. 4 residential dwelling, for part 6, division 7, see section 180. 5 residential property see section 14. 6 resident letting agent see section 113(1). 7 resident letting agent licence means a resident letting agent 8 licence issued under this Act. 9 resident letting agent's business see section 99. 10 respondent, for part 11, division 1, see section 216. 11 reward includes remuneration of any kind including, for 12 example, any fee, commission or gain. 13 rooming accommodation see the Residential Tenancies and 14 Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, schedule 2. 15 sale by auction means the sale of property in any way 16 commonly known and understood to be by auction. 17 sell includes agree to sell, advertise or display for sale, 18 attempt to sell, have for sale, negotiate for a sale, and in any 19 way be concerned in selling. 20 seller, for part 6, see section 163. 21 seller's agent, for part 6, division 7, see section 180. 22 serious offence means any of the following offences 23 punishable by 3 or more years imprisonment-- 24 (a) an offence involving fraud or dishonesty; 25 (b) an offence involving the trafficking of drugs; 26 (c) an offence involving the use or threatened use of 27 violence; 28 (d) an offence of a sexual nature; 29 (e) extortion; 30 (f) arson; 31 Page 243

 


 

Property Agents Bill 2010 Schedule 3 (g) unlawful stalking. 1 sole agency see section 16. 2 termination penalty, for part 6, see section 163. 3 trainee chattel auctioner means a trainee chattel auctioneer 4 under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2010. 5 transitioned licence, for part 15, see section 267. 6 transitioned registration certificate, for part 15, see section 7 267. 8 trust account means a trust account kept under the 9 Administration Act. 10 unit sale, for part 6, see section 163. 11 unsolicited invitation see section 15. 12 vacant land, for part 3, division 2, subdivision 7, see section 13 94. 14 warning statement, for part 6, see section 163. 15 © State of Queensland 2010 Page 244

 


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