Rental Property Manager Receives $30,000 Penalty and Suspended Licence for Professional Misconduct

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BCFSA has suspended the licence of Donald Nichol for one year and ordered him to pay a $30,000 penalty and $2,000 in enforcement expenses for committing professional misconduct while managing a rental property.

Nichol was found to have committed misconduct while managing a rental property under Pacific Quorum Properties Inc. in Surrey, B.C between February 2016 and May 2017, when he failed to: 

Collect a required security deposit and an initial rent payment; 
Follow his clients’ instructions regarding two tenancy agreements;

Enter the correct address on a residential tenancy agreement that affected tenancy dispute resolutions; 
Make reasonable efforts to collect a monetary penalty from tenants; 
Conduct a mandatory move-in inspection; and 
Conduct a credit check on prospective tenants.

Disciplinary Actions 

As part of the Consent Order agreed upon by Nichol and the Superintendent of Real Estate, the following disciplinary actions have been imposed: 

Nichol’s licence will be suspended for one year, effective June 21, 2024; and 
Nichol is required to pay a disciplinary penalty of $30,000 as well as $2,000 in enforcement expenses to BCFSA.

Failure to adhere to these terms may lead to further disciplinary actions, including additional suspension or cancellation of Nichol’s licence. 

“Licensees have a duty to act in their clients’ best interests and in accordance with their clients’ legal instructions,” said Jonathan Vandall, Vice President of Compliance & Enforcement at BCFSA. “The penalty reflects the licensee’s failure to meet their core responsibilities, including duties to act with reasonable care and skill.”