What is the purpose of the public register of licensees?
The purpose of the register is to enable the public to make an informed decision when choosing an agent, branch manager, or salesperson by enabling consumers to:
- check whether a person is a licensed agent, branch manager or salesperson
- find out how to contact the agent, branch manager or salesperson
- check the history of the person's licence
- know whether a real estate agent, branch manager or salesperson has been disciplined within the last three years.
What is recorded on the public register?
The public register records:
- the full name of the licensee and any other names they are known by
- the licensee's business address
- the registration number allocated to the licensee by the Registrar
- the class of licence held
- the date the licensee's name was entered in the register
- the date of expiry or renewal of the licence
- any disciplinary action taken in respect of the licensee in the last three years by the Authority or the Real Estate Licensing Board
- whether any mandatory continuing education has been completed by the licensee.
Many people working in real estate come from another country and have both a given name and a 'kiwi' name - will the register of licensees record this?
Application forms for a licence and for renewing a licence are set out in regulations and require applicants to provide their given names and any other names by which they are known. This information will be recorded in the register.
Who cannot hold a licence?
Certain people are not eligible to hold a licence, such as a person who has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty in the ten years before they apply for a licence. A full list of those people prohibited from being licensed can be found in section 37(1) of the Act.
You are not eligible to hold an agent's licence if you are an undischarged bankrupt or are subject to subpart 4 of Part 5 of the Insolvency Act 2006 (refer section 37(2) of the Act).
People new to the industry need to advertise that they are applying for a licence. Anyone can object to the issue of a licence but only on the grounds specified in the Act. The Registrar must then follow a process to consider the objection. Click here for more information on how to object to a licence.
How do I search the public register of licensees?
You can search the public register of licensees by clicking here.
What disciplinary information is contained in the public register?
This register includes all disciplinary action taken against individual licensees in the past three years by the Authority and the Real Estate Licensing Board. It includes any disciplinary action against individuals under the Real Estate Agents Act 1976 (pre 17 November 2009). Please note that it does not contain disciplinary action or decisions imposed under the former regime by REINZ through its regional disciplinary subcommittees (RDSC). These penalties or decisions were imposed on the employing company rather than the individual licensee. Please contact REINZ for information on these matters on 0800 4 REINZ (0800 473 469).
