Formerly licensed estate agent Boris Real Estate (ACN 163 343 744) has been convicted and fined $10,000 and its sole director, Suzanne Zvizdalo, received a three-month suspended jail sentence, for breaches of the Estate Agents Act 1980.
Consumer Affairs Victoria commenced criminal action against the Deer Park agency and Ms Zvizdalo in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court, following a tip off.
The company and Ms Zvizdalo failed to account for, deliver or pay more than $15,800 in tenants’ rental money to its clients between August and December 2013.
Ms Zvizdalo also used more than $30,000 of trust money to pay for business expenses, in breach of her trust account obligations.
Ms Zvizdalo, 32, plead guilty to failing to keep proper accounting records and failing to have the company’s trust accounts audited.
As well as the three-month jail term - which was wholly suspended for 12 months - Ms Zvizdalo must also:
- pay more than $46,000 in compensation
- pay court costs of $1,110, and
- perform 150 hours of community service as part of an 18-month community corrections order.
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