MLA David Eby calls for police investigation into New Coast Realty

B.C. NDP MLA David Eby has asked Vancouver and Richmond police to launch a criminal investigation into a real estate firmaccused of violatingthe province's real estate regulations.

A Globe and Mail investigation allegedthat the owner of New Coast Realty coached real estate agentsto deceive clientsin order to pocket additional money for themselves.

"Realtors were allegedly trained to get sellers to sell for the lowest price so that New Coast couldallegedly sellthe properties not once, buttwiceto take extra commissions," Eby said.

In a letter addressed to Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer, Eby said those allegations amount to organized fraud.

"Manyof the people who would be affected by these activities wouldn't have known this happened. Based on this fact, the police would have to do the investigationbecause the people wouldn't be going to Supreme Court," Eby said.

VPD spokesmanConst. Brian Montague said although officers do investigate criminal matters brought to their attention, "Incidents involving other irregularities or conduct that does not fall under the Criminal Code would likely be referred to a regulatory body such as the B.C. Real Estate Council or FICOM."

TheReal Estate Council of B.C. issuedlicence conditionsto the brokerage last week following the allegations.

The council recently issued an interim report from its independent advisory group, which is examining allegations of shadowflipping and doubleending in Metro Vancouver's red-hot housing market.

Eby has also asked Premier Christy Clark to request an investigation.

With files from Richard Zussman