Section 153 of the Fair Trading Act 1999

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONSUMERS

In proceedings taken by Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Supreme Court of Victoria declared that Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd [ACN 111 611 539], SLOD Pty Ltd [ACN 105 611 539] and the director of these companies, Peter John Mericka (the parties), had each contravened section 12 of the Estate Agents Act 1980 by carrying on the business of selling and negotiating the sale of real estate on behalf of another and by holding themselves out as carrying on such business, without being licensed to do so pursuant to the Estate Agents Act 1980.

The Supreme Court also found that the parties had contravened section 9 of the Fair Trading Act 1999 by falsely representing that they were not required to be licensed as estate agents to carry on this business and by falsely representing that Australian legal practitioners and incorporated legal practices could operate an estate agency business without being licensed to do so pursuant to the Estate Agents Act 1980

Warning to consumers - you will lose all protections accorded by the Estate Agents Act 1980 if you engage an unlicensed estate agent. The Supreme Court has ordered that this Notice be placed on all websites operated or controlled by the parties.