Posing as a licensed real estate agent in Gore has resulted in a convicition for Ewen McLeod.

He will be sentenced in the Gore District Court next month after being found guilty of unlicensed trading.

Real Estate Agents Authority chief executive Kevin Lampen-Smith says he is very pleased with the decision.

“Unlicensed trading is a serious offence and a key area of focus for us.”

McLeod was dealing with potential buyers on behalf of the owners of a property who were trying to sell it privately.

The owners agreed to pay him $500 in two instalments.

McLeod arranged for his phone number to be inserted in a newspaper advertisement.

He showed a couple through the house and also conducted an open home.

In December 2011 he told an investigator for the Real Estate Agents Authority he had written to vendors offering sales advice and stating he would take potential buyers through properties, negotiate with vendors and prepare sales agreements and deliver them to solicitors.

McLeod told the court that he was only giving general advice.

But District Court judge Phillip Moran says he was engaged “in trade” as defined by Real Estate Agents Act 2008.