Reminder: audit report due, end of COVID-19 licensing fee discount, and timeframes for national police checks - Real estate industry bulletin 240

26 March 2021

In this issue:

• 2020 trust account audit due 31 March 2021
• COVID-19 licence and registration fee discounts end on 31 March 2021
• Delays in obtaining national police checks

Reminder: 2020 audit report due end of March

The deadline for completing and delivering the audit reports for the year ending 31 December 2020 is fast approaching. Agents have until 31 March 2021 to submit their audit to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection (Commissioner).

The Commissioner has received a total of 1,508 audits and statutory declarations. This means there are currently 1,469 or approximately 50 per cent of submissions outstanding.

Agents are encouraged to make completing their audit or declaration a top priority.

If you are a licensed real estate agent who held a triennial certificate at any time during the 2020 calendar year, you need to lodge one of the following by 5pm on 31 March 2021:

• An audit report for the year ending 31 December 2020 if you held or received monies in trust during the 2020 calendar year; or
• A Declaration of no receipt of trust funds - real estate and business agents if you did not hold or receive monies in trust during the 2020 calendar year.

If the Commissioner does not receive your audit report or declaration by the deadline, you may receive an infringement notice that carries a penalty of $2,000 or face more serious legal action.

Agents and auditors can submit audit reports and statutory declarations via email to the audits team or post to the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Consumer Protection – Property Industries, Locked Bag 100, EAST PERTH WA 6892.

An exemption from submitting an individual report or declaration may apply to agents who held the role of person in bona fide control, branch manager, licensed director, partner or licensed partner for another licensed trading entity for the period during which they held the role.

If you have any queries on audits or want to submit an audit declaration, contact us by emailing the audits team.

End of COVID-19 licensing fee discount

The COVID-19 economic and health relief package providing a discount on licence and registration fees will come to an end on 31 March 2021. From 1 April 2021, these fees will revert back to their pre-COVID-19 amounts.

You will be eligible for the discounted fee if we receive your application on or before 31 March 2021. If we receive your application on or after 1 April 2021, the full fee will apply.

Information about the different fees is available on our licence fees and forms page.

Planning ahead may save application woes

Consumer Protection is aware it may take up to one month for applicants to receive their national police check from the third-party provider. It’s important that applicants plan ahead with their licence or registration applications.

We send courtesy reminders via SMS and email about renewing your triennial certificate or registration three months before it expires. Keep your contact details up to date so you don’t miss out.

With renewal applications, you should allow sufficient time for us to process your complete application before your triennial certificate or registration expires. This will ensure you always have a valid certificate.

Remember, these police checks are valid for up to three months. You can start the process of obtaining one at least two months before submitting your complete licensing application.

To help reduce any potential delays in processing your licensing application, use one of the 26 approved providers to obtain your check. The list of approved providers and check types are available on our website.

As part of your licensing application process, you should factor in the approved providers’ timeframes for the police check.

More information about licensing processes and application forms is available on our website.