Agents welcome plan to scrap forms
PLANS by the new State Government to scrap controversial sustainability declaration forms have been met with applause from Bundaberg real estate agents.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has confirmed the government would move to introduce legislation sinking the compulsory forms when parliament resumes next month.
The forms were introduced to offer a point of comparison for prospective home buyers and to help them gauge the energy efficiency and sustainability of properties.
They were the source of much controversy, with many real estate agents complaining the forms were overly complicated and an unnecessary impost for those selling homes.
Agents also complained their staff ended up taking on much of the work because the forms befuddled vendors.
Michael Dempsey, REIQ Bundaberg zone president and Michael's Real Estate principal, said local real estate agents were looking forward to being able to relegate the forms to the bin.
"The whole exercise has been a complete waste of time, money and paper," he said.
"The average person, unless they were a surveyor or something, couldn't work it out and, as a result, many people just left it blank."
The form courted controversy because of questions including the number of east and west-facing windows a house had and the colour of its roof.
The current incarnation has been pared back from an initial two-page version introduced on January 1, 2010.
Remax Australia managing director Michael Davoren said the complexity of the forms had always been their greatest downfall.
"It had no benefit for buyers, sellers or real estate agents," he said.
Sustainability Declarations
- Introduced January 1, 2010.
- Identified sustainability of a home across four areas: energy, water, safety and access.
- Set to be scrapped by new State Government.
