Block couple Rachel and Ryan Carr receive small payout in dispute with real estate agent
The Block’s Rachel and Ryan Carr have been awarded $760 by the NSW Civil and Administrative Court after getting caught up in a dispute with an estate agent.
The couple originally sought $5,392 for a negligence claim against Assured Real Estate manager Britney Kraus after they said they lost money in unclaimed rent.
They told the rental watchdog that Ms Kraus had not informed the couple of an expired landlord’s insurance policy, News.com.au reports.
The Block’s Rachel and Ryan Carr (pictured) have been awarded $760 by the NSW Civil and Administrative Court after being caught up in a dispute with an estate agent
The court awarded the money to the Sutherland Shire couple after finding that Kraus had “failed to act with due care and skill and breached the safeguards provided by Australian consumer laws in its services to customers”.
However, the court said Kraus did not violate any local consumer laws by not taking collection action against a tenant on behalf of the Carrs for unpaid rent.
In a statement to NCA NewsWire, Kraus said the matter was discussed with Ryan.
‘We sent an email [to Ryan Carr]’, Kraus said, ‘…to the effect of, “Ryan, as discussed on the phone, you don’t want our agency to pay for your homeowner’s insurance policy because you’re going to be looking for a better provider.”
“So we didn’t pay his policy.”
The couple originally sought $5,392 in a negligence claim against Assured Real Estate manager Britney Kraus (pictured) after they said they lost money in unclaimed rent
It comes after Ms Kraus said his agency had received more than 170 complaints in five years because it was “unfairly” targeted by “internet trolls”.
She slammed NSW Fair Trading for placing her business under strict compliance watch last week.
His real estate agency has been the subject of 171 complaints to Fair Trading, from tenants and owners alike, since 2017.
The court awarded the money to the Sutherland Shire couple (pictured on The Block) after finding that Kraus had ‘failed to act with due care and skill and breached the safeguards provided by Australian consumer laws in his customer service”.
Another 91 complaints were filed specifically against Ms. Kraus during the same period.
An investigation by NSW Fair Trading found that her agency had failed to post rental bonds, failed to meet trust account balances and breached rules of conduct – for which she was fined .
Other complaints to Fair Trading alleged that it withheld landlords’ rental income, withheld supply documents, and failed to pay water and condo bills, among other findings.
Ms Kraus’ Campbelltown estate has had 171 complaints to Fair Trading from tenants and landlords since 2017
However, Ms Kraus says the investigation overlooked a supposedly malicious Facebook group of disgruntled customers.
Meanwhile, Rachel and Ryan’s five-bedroom, three-bathroom home on The Block this season is set to sell for more than $4 million at auction.
The five renovated homes in Gisborne South, Victoria will go under the hammer on Saturday November 6.
Meanwhile, Rachel and Ryan’s five-bedroom, three-bathroom home on The Block this season is set to sell at auction for more than $4 million.
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