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Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Complaints and discipline - Unsatisfactory conduct and misconduct

74: Complaints about licensees

You could also call this:

"How to complain about a real estate agent"

Illustration for Real Estate Agents Act 2008

You can complain about a licensee's conduct to the Authority in writing. The Authority must then refer your complaint to the Registrar of the register of licensees. The Registrar will decide what to do with your complaint. You made a complaint, and the Registrar might decide it is not serious enough to take further action. The Registrar might also decide your complaint is not genuine or is annoying, and they do not need to pursue it. The Registrar can refer your complaint to another agency if needed. If the Registrar decides not to deal with your complaint, the Authority will refer it to a Committee to make a decision. The Authority will also tell the person you complained about that the complaint has been referred to a Committee. The Registrar can decide your complaint has been resolved and no further action is needed.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1152060.

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Part 4Complaints and discipline
Unsatisfactory conduct and misconduct

74Complaints about licensees

  1. Any person may, in accordance with regulations made under this Act, complain in writing to the Authority about the conduct of a licensee.

  2. When the Authority receives a complaint under this section, the Authority must—

  3. refer the complaint to the Registrar of the register of licensees, who must consider whether to deal with the complaint under subsection (3); and
    1. if the Registrar decides not to deal with the complaint under that subsection, refer the complaint to a Committee for determination and notify the person complained about of the reference.

      1. The Registrar may determine that—

      2. the complaint is not sufficiently serious to warrant further action, and for that reason need not be pursued:
        1. the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith, and for that reason need not be pursued:
          1. the complaint should be referred to another agency, and refer it accordingly:
            1. the complaint has been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction and no further action is needed.

              Notes
              • Section 74(2): replaced, on , by section 231 of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).
              • Section 74(3): inserted, on , by section 231 of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).
              • Section 74(3)(a): replaced, on , by section 139 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).