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Staff Reporter
The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) said state government advertisements should make it clearer that real estate agents are required to undertake 100-point identification checks of sellers, after a senior industry figure raised concerns over the issue.
Managing director of RE/MAX WA, Geoff Baldwin, yesterday described the new laws as a ‘debacle’ after advertisements from the government neglected to inform consumers that real estate agents were required to undertake the checks.
“Although the onus of ID checks has been enforced on agents, information disseminated by the government via flyers and radio advertisements telling sellers they are required to provide 100 points of ID makes no mention of real estate agents,” Mr Baldwin said.
President of the REIWA, David Airey, revealed to Real Estate Business that the Institute has already made moves to have the advertisements changed.
“Whilst we take on board the comments from REIWA member agents in WA, REIWA supports the 100-point ID check scheme because it provides added confidence to agents, buyers and sellers," he said.
“However, it is true that the current series of Landgate radio advertisements do not mention real estate agents who are actually required to conduct the first ID check long before settlement agents are involved.
“REIWA is in contact with Landgate and the Department of Commerce over this error and we hope the issue will soon be clarified correctly.
“In the meantime ID checks carried out by agents with potential sellers enable all parties to confidently list and sell property so as to avoid property scams which continue to occur in WA and other states. The ID check system will ensure that illegal property sales do not occur,” Mr Airey said.
The laws were introduced by the government after a series of scams were conducted across the state.
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