Licenses suspended for property management company following allegations from landlords
The licences of Boris Real Estate Pty Ltd and Suzanne Zvizdalo have been suspended by the director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, following allegations from landlords that they had not been paid rental arrears among other offences.
Boris Real Estate and Zvizdalo, of Deer Park, are not allowed to work as estate agents until further notice is provided. Some of the offences were other contraventions of the Estate Agents Act 1980.
The director applied for a disciplinary inquiry through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) under Section 120 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 that allows the director to suspend agents' licences when there is the belief that they have had misconduct constituting grounds for disciplinary action and there may be danger that a person suffers harm, loss or damage as a result of that conduct.
Those whose properties are managed under Boris Real Estate should collate their initial document authorising the management, statements issued to the landlord by either the agency or Zvizdalo and bank statements showing payment or non-payment.
Landlords and tenants affected will be notified by Consumer Affairs Victoria and given information around what they can do. Landlords will need to find a new property manager, tenants should stop paying rent to Boris Real Estate and follow instructions from the landlord instead.
Repairs should be sent through the landlord, or a new agent.
Tenants will need to collate receipts for paid rent, receipts for bond money, copies of the condition report and bank statements showing rent payment.