Estate Agency Affairs Board

I am a 66 year old Estate Agent trying to eke out a living, through dealing with rental properties, and very occasionally property sales.

Due to Government imposed lockdown regulations, I was not able to earn an income for 9 months in 2020, and i am still struggling to make a living under the current lockdown restrictions.

I tried to renew my Fidelity Fund Certificate in December online, and was imposed with a penalty of nearly double the normal amount. On enquiring about this, and waiting for nearly 2 months to get a reply, from the Estate Agency Affairs Board, I was told that the "window" period for the renewal was September and October, and I should have woken up to this time period. On enquiring as to why I did not receive a notification, no reason was given, only to be "threatened" that every month that passes the penalty increases.

This FFC is something that every agent needs in order to operate and earn an income, so because I cannot afford to pay the penalties, Im effectively not able to operate.

This Board did NOTHING to help the Estate Agents, during the most difficult times in their careers, and all earned their salaries and their Christmas Bonuses, and were closed most of the time due to COVID infections, but who cares, as long as we can milk the agents lets do it.

I am disgusted beyond words, and feel that they should be exposed for what they are, a parasitical body who feeds off people who are struggling to put food on the table.