A B.C. Realtor has been fined $10,000 for allowing her clients to view a home unsupervised in Maple Ridge.
Nan (Nancy) Wang, a representative with Metro Edge Realty, was disciplined by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) following an investigation into the 2021 incident. Wang was found to have committed professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a licensee under the province’s Real Estate Services Act, according to a consent order issued on Nov. 6, 2024.
What happened?
The misconduct stemmed from a property viewing on Jul. 17, 2021. Rather than attending the showing with her client, Wang gave the client her Sentrilock access card, which allowed them to view the home alone.
After the viewing, the sellers found that both the front and back doors had been left unlocked. When the listing agent confronted Wang about the situation, she initially claimed that the client had been accompanied by an unlicensed assistant who had used the access card. She later admitted this wasn’t true, apologized to the listing agent and sellers and accepted responsibility for her actions.
In a written statement to BCFSA investigators, Wang confirmed the details of the incident, acknowledging that she had allowed the client to view the home without her supervision and apologized for her misconduct.
Professional standards breached
In the consent order, Wang admitted she failed to act in the best interest of her clients by “failing to attend the viewing of the Property to provide her knowledge and advice about the proposed purchase transaction,” failed to act honestly by misleading the listing agent and endangered “the safety of the Property by not being there to ensure it was secured after the viewing.”
Why the fine was reduced
The initial penalty for Wang’s misconduct was $20,000; BCFSA ultimately reduced it to $10,000. This decision took into account several mitigating factors, including her early acknowledgment of the misconduct, her apologies to those involved and her cooperation throughout the investigation. She also completed remedial education.
Wang has been a licensed real estate agent since 2012 and has no record of disciplinary action, according to the consent order. She has three months to pay the fine, and failure to comply could result in her license being suspended or cancelled.
I personally caught prospective buyers entering my listing unaccompanied and had another agent as witness. The agent was fined $5000 and had to take courses. I did not think the fine was enough. Our sellers need to trust the system. Please please report wrong doing
She should be arrested. This is a clear violation of the law. If it was just a regular citizen they would be arrested for entering a private citizens property. The clients should not have agreed to this situation either. They also should be held accountable for this action.
I have stopped clients of other agents from entering homes as I was leaving. I asked to see their business card. They said their agent gave them the lock box. I said that is not how it works. I ask the agent’s name they left. Said didn’t want to get her in trouble. I call LB. They knew who it was, said she had done it before .
This is unacceptable and the fine is much too low.
We all know that this occurs in Ontario too. I just read a RECO case where an agent was fined $6000.00 and instructed to take the TRESA update. No ethics course but the TRESA update that all agents must take prior to or upon renewal of their two-year registration. This agent had his wife who is not a Registrant, accompany his tenant clients to a property for lease. This is trespassing. I feel this agent got off too lightly.
You should automatically lose your license period. I am so tired of hearing about these slap on the risk outcomes for so many outrageous actions and we wonder why the general public sees the profession in such a negative way.
Disrespectful, dishonest & unprofessional actions by Wang. Fine should’ve remained at 20K. Send message to industry this is unacceptable behavior. Licensed since 2012, she would’ve known the rules by now. How would she have liked that, if that was done to her home? Disgraceful behavior.
I completely agree with Colleen Koehler. This is totally unacceptable behaviour and anyone who does it should automatically lose their license. No exceptions!
Very surprising behavior – Makes one wonder how often this actually happens out there considering in this case it only discovered due to unlocked doors. It’s simple, if one can’t do a showing get another agent or rebook it.