Real Estate and Business Agents Supervisory Board
The role of the Board
The Real Estate and Business Agents Supervisory Board (REBA) is established under the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 (the Act) to regulate people who conduct real estate transactions and certain business transactions. The primary responsibilities of REBA are to:
- administer the licensing system for real estate and business agents and the registration system for sales representatives;
- conduct and promote education and provide advisory services;
- conduct investigations into allegations about real estate agents and sales representatives;
- provide conciliation services, through which consumers and agents in dispute can seek the advice of an independent 'umpire';
- administer the Fidelity Guarantee Account, which can compensate people for financial loss due to the criminal or fraudulent behaviour of an agent or sales representative;
- administer the Homebuyers Assistance Fund, which provides first homebuyers with financial assistance;
- recommend amendments to the Regulations to the Act; and
- advise the Minister on the administration of the Act.
REBA is funded from the interest on real estate agent's trust accounts, licence and certificate fees, and interest on investments. REBA is committed to ensuring that the people of Western Australia have confidence in the real estate industry. The Board purchases services from the Department of Commerce under a Service Delivery Agreement to assist in achieving this goal.
Changes to the Board's role
On 1 January 2005 the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) came into operation. The introduction of the SAT results in these changes to REBA's role:
- the Board will no longer hold disciplinary hearings, but will bring applications for disciplinary proceedings before the SAT.
- the Board will continue to determine applications for licences and registration. The appeal to the District Court of Western Australia from decisions of the Board has been replaced by a right of review in the SAT
All disciplinary hearings listed with REBA before 1 January 2005, but not yet commenced, will be transferred to the SAT. Parties involved in proceedings transferred will be notified of new hearing dates in the SAT. During a six month transition period, REBA may continue to hear disciplinary matters that were commenced before the SAT came into operation.