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Real estate agent Myles Pearce is undergoing investigation by authorities for selling properties in South Australia without a real estate licence.
Mr Pearce, an undischarged bankrupt and husband of failed property developer Cathy Jane, was advised by the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA) to cease trading on Wednesday following an inquiry from The Advertiser, who spotted Mr Pearce’s profile and description on a real estate website.
Mr Pearce had been working for Peter Burns Real Estate in Brighton, South Australia after the couple had moved back from Queensland.
A spokesperson from OCBA told the paper that Mr Pearce was not licensed to sell property in South Australia.
"Myles Pearce does not currently hold registration as a land agent or a sales representative in SA," the spokesperson said.
"A person who is not licensed cannot act as a land agent - maximum penalty $20,000.”
"It is also an offence for a person to work as a land sales representative without registration - maximum penalty $5000."
The spokesman said a land agent who employs an unregistered sales representative can also be fined up to $20,000.
"OCBA is making inquiries in relation to Myles Pearce's registration status and real estate sales activity, and is unable to comment while those inquiries are under way," he said.
Mr Pearce as defended his position, saying the problem was simply a "glitch" due to licence expiry and would be fixed soon.
"It is absolutely untrue to say that I have been practising without a licence," he said.
"Yesterday afternoon the Consumer Affairs Department advised me that because of a hitch with my Queensland licence, that the SA registration had now expired.
"I ceased all sales duties immediately (after) I was advised," he said.
The Queensland licence cancellation came last year together with a number of lawsuits and criminal prosecutions involving the couple, including bankruptcy, business rival disputes, stalking charges and numerous court attendance failures.
"I've been getting a bad trot and I don't deserve it," Mr Pearce said.
"I've got no blemishes on my character - nobody can find anything on me,” he said.
