CAV launches disciplinary action against veteran agent — are your systems up to scratch?

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has made it clear: compliance with underquoting laws is non-negotiable, regardless of how long you’ve been in the industry.

This week, CAV’s Underquoting Taskforce launched its first disciplinary proceeding under the Estate Agents Act — targeting Nicholas Skapoulas, a licensed agent with almost three decades in the business, and his agency, Nicholas Scott Real Estate.

The allegations?
CAV is taking them to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for alleged breaches of Victoria’s underquoting laws across 11 separate property campaigns.

What Went Wrong?

According to CAV, the following breaches were identified:

• • Issuing Statements of Information (SOIs) with indicative selling prices below the estimates given to the vendor
  • Failing to include required components in the SOI, such as the median selling price and comparable sales data
  • Non-compliance with a statutory notice, where requested information was not provided to taskforce officers

It’s a timely reminder that the Statement of Information is not a formality. It’s a legal document — and it must be accurate, complete, and reflective of the market data you hold.

What’s at Stake?

Disciplinary action of this kind is no slap on the wrist. If the allegations are upheld at VCAT, the consequences could include:

• • Suspension or cancellation of the estate agent’s licence
  • Significant reputational damage for the agency
  • Potential civil penalties if breaches are found under relevant consumer law

So What Does This Mean for Your Agency?

It means the time for reactive compliance is over.
The Underquoting Taskforce has boots on the ground — inspecting auctions and campaigns across Melbourne — and this is just the beginning.

At Apex HR, we work with real estate agents across Victoria who want to:

• • Audit their quoting and documentation practices
  • Ensure their team is adequately trained on the use of Statements of Information
  • Set up internal checks to catch issues before CAV does.

Don’t Wait Until You’re the Headline

This case proves that time in the industry doesn’t protect you from legal consequences.

If you’re unsure whether your processes hold up under scrutiny, now’s the time to act — not when you receive a notice from CAV.

Need a quoting compliance health check?
Book a session or contact us to assess where your risk sits.