13 NSW retirement villages get a surprise visit with more promised

NSW Fair Trading inspectors have spent a week on the Central Coast as part of an audit to enforce state strata and property laws.

Inspectors visited 33 real estate agencies, 13 retirement villages, seven land lease communities, six strata agents and five conveyancers in Gosford, Terrigal, Erina, Bateau Bay and Avoca, NSW Fair Trading said in a public release. 

As a result, one warning/education letter was issued to a retirement village operator. 

Seven penalty infringement notices were handed to real estate agents and strata agents for breaches of underquoting, rules of conduct and supervision regulations, while one strata agent was fined for failing to have their accounts audited. 

A further real estate agent is now subject to ongoing investigation for underquoting offences. A further 20 education and warning letters were issued to real estate and strata agents. 

Strata and Property Services Commissioner Angus Abadee said some audits were conducted randomly, while others were targeted through intelligence-led data collection. 

"The message is clear – you can expect a visit from Fair Trading anytime and anywhere,” the Commissioner said. 

“NSW Fair Trading is planning further unannounced inspections across the state and will be targeting operators who have a compliance history, with inspectors to revisit the Central Coast in the coming months to ensure education and warning letters have been complied with.” 

In 2024-2025, NSW Fair Trading received 42 complaints in the Central Coast region’s property sector with 16 relating to the management of strata schemes.

Property sales complaints related to misrepresentation and underquoting, while NSW Fair Trading also received 26 complaints relating to land lease communities.