Melbourne estate agent suspended following trust account act breaches

Reservoir real estate agent Robert James Marshall, who failed to submit trust account records to Consumer Affairs Victoria, has been suspended for a year, reprimanded and fined $1,500.

Marshall operated Partners Real Estate in Blake Street.

His suspension is until 26 February 2014.

According to Consumer Affairs, Marshall "failed to lodge trust account paperwork for six years despite repeated requests and warnings".

"His licence will be cancelled if he fails to lodge all outstanding audit reports and accounts with the director of Consumer Affairs Victoria by 30 June 2013.

"The tribunal imposed a condition on Mr Marshall’s licence to stop him receiving trust money or opening, operating or maintaining a trust account.

"VCAT found that Mr Marshall contravened the Estate Agents Act 1980 by failing to:

• have trust accounts audited within three months after 30 June each year
• keep signed copies of audit reports and make them available upon demand
• provide documents and answer questions as required."