Landlord received claim of practicing RE without RE licence

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Landlord received claim of practicing RE without RE licence

Guilong Wang
Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes

My husband and I own a property and I took care of the markeing, showing and tenant screening. We rent it out months ago. Recently, I receivedd a call saying he represented the state Commonwealth, Department of State, Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation. The person said their office investigates complaints for the State Real Estate Commission. They recieved a  complaint filed against me. This complaint alleges that I am practicing as a licensed real estate agent without a license.

That person asked me to meet him in person and refused to release any details about the compaint. 

Should I be caucious? Will landlord renting out own property need a RE licence(not as I know in my state.)

Has anyone meet such a situation? 

What will the process of the investigation if going further? 

Can anyone share some experience?

Thank you in advance. 

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Scott Pearson
Hunlock Creek, PA · Member since 2019 · 67 posts · 35 votes
6y

Red flags are waving.  These kinds of thing normally start with a letter.  A random phone call and not willing to share any details beware. 

Could be just me not trusting people.  I have no experience is anything even remotely similar. 

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  • Scott Pearson
    Hunlock Creek, PA · Member since 2019 · 67 posts · 35 votes
    6y

    Red flags are waving.  These kinds of thing normally start with a letter.  A random phone call and not willing to share any details beware. 

    Could be just me not trusting people.  I have no experience is anything even remotely similar. 

    3Reply
  • Dena Puliatti
    Property Manager · Huntsville, AL · Member since 2017 · 302 posts · 246 votes
    6y

    That's scary.  To easy your mind, I would call the Real Estate Commission and ask if there is a filing against you.  Tell them what happened to you so they can put out a warning to their agents that someone is impersonating a commissioner. 

    2Reply
  • Tyler GibsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Orlando, FL · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    @Guilong Wang it may depend on your state but as far I know you do not need to be licensed to rent out your own property. Hell you don't have to be licensed to sell your own property. So big red flags on this. In the event this is legit I would make sure you are meeting at their office in a government building.

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  • Guilong Wang
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    Thank you all for your reply.  That peron did ask me to meet in DOC office. I will try to call and verify. Besides that, has anyone had investigation experience before? What things need to be considered before meeting if it did happen? 

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  • Michael Kiley
    Real Estate Agent · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2017 · 184 posts · 253 votes
    6y

    This is a scam. They most likely got your number from the ad you placed. You do not need a license to sell or rent your own home. A license is only needed when representing a client. 

    2Reply
  • Jason Perez
    Attorney · Boca Raton, FL · Member since 2015 · 12 posts · 5 votes
    6y

    Seems very suspicious. In Florida, individuals are exempt from needing a real estate license if the property being leased is their own (Fla. Stat. § 475.011(2)). I would double check that your state has a similar statute that would protect you. 

    Furthermore, as someone pointed out, you should be notified in writing if a complaint was filed against you and have an opportunity to respond. It was a good suggestion to contact your state's Real Estate Commission to verify whether a complaint has been filed. I would suggest documenting your communications with the Real Estate Commission and verifying in writing to the Real Estate Commission as to whether a complaint exists. If it were me, I would refrain from meeting any such individual until contacting the state's Real Estate Commission and seeing a copy of any purported complaint.  

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