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Real estate boss complained more than 170 times blames her troubles on ‘internet trolls’ as government steps in to ‘check’ her
- Rent Assured Real Estate has received more than 171 complaints in five years
- 91 complaints were addressed to South Sydney Agency director Britney Kraus
- Ms Kraus said the complaints were collected online by malicious ‘internet trolls’
- She Said An Online Support Group Is Trying To Deal ‘Maximum Collateral Damage’
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A frustrated real estate manager says her agency received more than 170 complaints in five years for being “unfairly” targeted by “internet trolls.”
Britney Kraus, director of Assured Rent Real Estate in Sydney’s Campbelltown, criticized NSW Fair Trading for placing her business under strict compliance controls this week.
Since 2017, her real estate agency has been the subject of 171 complaints to Fair Trading, both from tenants and landlords.
During the same period, a further 91 complaints were filed specifically against Ms. Kraus.
Assured Rent Real Estate Director Britney Kraus (above) said her agency was hit by more than 170 complaints due to ‘internet trolls’
Fair Trading NSW found that Assured Rent Real Estate withheld rental income from property owners and did not surrender rental bonds (photo, agency storefront in Campbelltown)
An investigation by NSW Fair Trading found that her agency failed to file rental bonds, failed to complete trust account trial balances, and violated the code of conduct – all of which she was fined.
Further complaints to Fair Trading alleged that it withheld rental income from landlords, withheld delivery documents and made non-payments of water and earth deposits, among other findings.
However, Ms. Kraus claims that the investigation did not take into account a supposedly malicious Facebook group of disgruntled customers.
The small group was intended for ‘victims’ of the agency to discuss their problems and compare experiences.
Ms. Kraus instead said that her members were using the space to plan the demise of her company.
Ms Kraus (above) said a Facebook group designed to support “victims” of the agency is in fact planning to destroy her company
“A majority of people who complained to our office were dealt with and after we dealt with their complaint, they still complained directly to Fair Trading,” she said in a statement obtained by the Daily Telegram.
“We think they are internet trolls who are unfairly trying to inflict maximum collateral damage on our business.
‘Assured Rent strive(s) to provide a high standard of business conduct(and) comply with the terms of the commitment.’
An angry ex-tenant started an Instagram page with 45 followers specifically to harass Ms. Kraus.
Ms. Kraus has largely privatized her social media since the page’s launch in 2021.
Mrs. Kraus was attacked by an Instagram account
NSW Fair Trading has ordered Ms. Kraus to pay a $4,000 fine and comply with an enforceable commitment that will last until September 2024.
As part of that undertaking, it must fully comply with the Property Stock Agents Act and the Residential Tenancy Act and report all complaints received along with their resolutions.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Kraus for comment.