Victorian agent’s representative halts work for 6 months after alleged pressure sales tactics

Akashdeep Singh Purba, from Craigieburn, allegedly committed the breaches between February and April 2023 while working at The ELEET real estate agency.

The matter first came to light last year, with Purba fronting the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) at a directions hearing in July.

Recently, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) announced that, in addition to agreeing to exit the industry for six months, Purba will also complete education courses and pay $1,000 to charities that support vulnerable Victorians.

According to CAV, Purba allegedly door-knocked homes and offered sales contracts he presented as non-binding.

However, the residents faced substantial costs, including commissions, if they later tried to withdraw from the contracts.

CAV also alleged that some contracts included clauses preventing home owners from listing their properties for sale with anyone else.

“Those who tried to pull out of contracts were left with unexpected debts, including commissions – and in some cases, were prevented from selling with anyone else,” CAV said last year.

The regulator said that Purba’s alleged actions included failing to follow his client’s instructions and to act in their best interests, and failing to exercise due care, skill and diligence in performing his role.

Additionally, CAV alleged that he was unprofessional or acted in a way detrimental to the agency and the industry’s reputation.

CAV said that no findings of guilt or wrongdoing had been made against Purba, and that he had denied the allegations and made no admissions of wrongdoing.

The matter is set to return to the VCAT for an administrative mention in April 2027.