Two of Fiji’s real estate agents have welcomed the Government’s directive of having all agents registered.

“That is what we wanted, as long as the Commerce Ministry does proper scanning and background checks on who is getting the licence,” said Reginald Jokhan, director of Jokhan Realtors.

A sales consultant for another real estate company, Harcourts, Shailesh Khatri also welcomed the directive saying the company always supported new real estate legislations.

“We welcome this and hope that the authority tasked with policing real estate agents are adequately resourced and are familiar with the industry and are able to monitor and take to task agents that do not comply,” he said.

In a statement today, the Government asked all real estate agents to obtain their licence from the Ministry of Commerce before December 31, 2008.

The ministry’s economic planning officer, Ravinesh Murthi, said that from July the Ministry of Commerce would register the licenses of all real estate agents.

With the task of overseeing the implementation of the Real Estate Act, Murthi says failure to register will lead to fines being imposed.

“If it is found that any real estate agent is operating without a licence, according to the act they are liable to be fined for a maximum of $10,000 or have a jail sentence maximum of three months,” he said.

According to Murthi, the need to have real estate agents registered is to protect consumers from becoming victims of dishonest practices, adding that information received from agents would be stored at the ministry’s database.

“I urge all consumers to deal only with licensed real estate agents in the future because all agents will be monitored even if they need to seek approval from the licensing board for the purchase of properties,” he added.

Jokhan said before issuing a licence the Commerce Ministry should scan the agents to see whether they are genuine people.

“They will have to see that there are no bankrupt, corrupt or dishonest people getting the licence,” he added.

Jokhan said over the years they experienced many fly-by-night operators, who come into the country, do sales and go away.

“These people do not even register in Fiji as a company and still operate. They also avoid paying VAT or taxes,” he said.

Jokhan said he was all for the directive as long as proper background checks were done on the company and the individual who is going to set up here.

Khatri said at the end of the day, the major concern was how well the legislation protected and safeguarded buyers and sellers from agents who ripped off their clients, provided wrong information to their clients and made false promises.

“We welcome the registration of real estate agents and hope that this would deter the so-called ‘con’ agents out of the market and bring about professionalism to this industry.”


Fijilive