What does the Real Estate Agents Authority do?
The Authority is a Crown entity whose functions include:
Licensing
- administering the licensing regime for agents, branch managers and salespersons
- appointing a Registrar
Click here to find out more about licensing.
Practice Rules
- developing practice rules for licensees, including the Code of Professional Conduct and Client Care and rules concerning continuing education for agents, branch managers and salespersons
Fees and levies
- setting fees for services provided by the Registrar
- setting an operational levy to be paid by licensees to fund the operations of the Authority, Registrar and Complaints Assessment Committees
- setting a disciplinary levy to be paid by licensees to fund the costs of any proceeding in the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal
- setting any other levy as required
Click here to find out more about fees and levies.
Complaints and discipline
- appointing Complaints Assessment Committees to investigate complaints concerning the conduct of licensees
- investigating any matter that appears to indicate unsatisfactory conduct or misconduct on the part of a licensee
Click here to find out more about complaints and discipline.
Consumer information
- developing approved guides for consumers on agency agreements and sale and purchase agreements for residential property
- developing consumer information about real estate agency services, including information on how to make a complaint
Click here to find consumer information.
Professional standards
- setting professional standards for agents.
Click here to view the Code of Professional Conduct and Client Care.
Who sits on the Authority?
The Real Estate Agents Authority Board consists of up to seven members who have been appointed by the Minister of Justice. The Chairperson must be a lawyer with not less than seven years legal experience. At least two of the members must be licensees or former licensees. The Authority Board membership must also represent the views of a broad range of interests, including consumer and industry interests.
Click here to find out more about the current Authority Board.
As the Real Estate Agents Authority is responsible for licensing, does this mean that licensees are members of the Authority?
A person does not become a 'member' of the Authority when a licence is granted by the Authority's Registrar. We are a government entity established by statute to oversee the conduct of the industry, we are not an industry membership body like the REINZ.
Do real estate agents have to belong to the REINZ?
No. Membership of the REINZ is no longer compulsory.
