The Real Estate Board (REB) has introduced

a new course as part of its Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

programme.

REB Chief Executive Officer Sandra Garrick noted that the objective of the course, titled, ‘Common Issues Identified in the Real Estate Industry’, is to address matters arising frequently among the real estate practitioners regulated by the agency – dealers, salesmen and developers.

She said that two sessions were held last

month, which were attended by 193 professionals.

Garrick explained that one prevalent issue

among the industry professionals related to compliance with statutory

requirements governing their operations, as provided in the Real Estate

(Dealers & Developers) Act and Regulations.

“Some matters are more common but less

consequential, such as dealers or salesmen not placing offer forms from

prospective purchasers on their [dealer] files,” she said.

“However, there are some cases, which are

not as common but can have significant legal ramifications or cripple the

relationship between the dealer and his or her salesmen. For example, where

dealers do not make payments to their salesman for work done before the

cessation of a working relationship,” Garrick told JIS News.

 The

course is currently offered at the Real Estate Training Institute and will

provide two hours of the mandatory eight hours required by the board for real

estate practitioners.

It was launched during the recent Realtors

Association of Jamaica (RAJ) International Realtors Conference at the Hilton

Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay.

Real estate agents are also required to sit an additional 12 hours of optional courses over two years in keeping with the board’s CPD programme.

— JIS