Navjib Lalli believed that the $20,000 she paid her agent was for a down payment
As most of us know, when purchasing a home, the buying agent typically collects their payment from the seller in the form of commission. This wasn't the case for Navjib Lalli, who bought a condo in Delta and says that she ended up paying her agent, Ismail Jinnah, $20,000.
In an investigative report by CTV News Vancouver, Lalli explains that she believed the $20,000 she paid to Jinnah was going towards a down payment on her $243,000 condo. The typical commission on a condo at that price would be $4,673, a sum that Jinnah never accepted. Instead, Lalli signed a renumeration document, which effectively gave Jinnah the $20,000 in fees.
Lalli would have had to have bought a $1.5 million property in order for her agent to collect a $20,000 fee from the listing agent.
Lalli explained that she is dyslexic and has a learning disability, both of which were confirmed via doctor's note provided to CTV News. She explained that she didn't understand what a renumeration document was and trusted that Jinnah was going by the book.
"He was explaining everything verbally to me and I trusted him," Lalli told CTV. "If [Jinnah] had explained it to me that I'm giving him $20,000, I would have refused. I wouldn't even have bought this property."
While the renumeration document that Lalli signed is technically legal, the process is considered very unusual. CTV News surveyed 10 real estate agents who explained that they would typically use renumeration documents for someone buying property in a private sale or when dealing with sellers only offering 1% commission. All 10 agents were shocked by Jinnah's $20,000 charge.
When approached by CTV's Ross McLaughlin for comment, Jinnah refused to comment and instead told McLaughlin to speak with his attorney. The Fraser Valley Real Estate board is investigating the incident.
Dennis Wilson, Professional Standards Manager at the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, told CTV, "[Realtors'] number one responsibility is to look after the interests of that client."
McLaughlin did speak with Jinnah's lawyer, who explained that no comment would be made until official investigations had been completed, as it is still unclear as to whether or not Jinnah violated any legal protocol. In the meantime, Lalli has demanded her money back.
