Maltese to introduce Mediation Services for Real Estate Agents

Maryann Maltese, Democratic candidate, for NYS Assembly 12th AD-Suffolk will introduce legislation requiring NYS Department of State to provide the funding to 3rd Party Real Estate Organizations such as NYSARS (New York State Association of Realtors) to provide Mediation services for Real Estate Sales Agents when their Broker dismisses them without cause or providing mediation services.

Presently, NYSAR does not offer legal support directly to its members for matters where a complaint, lawsuit or other action has been filed. Sales Agents have no protections under the law when a Broker makes an ill-fated decision to revoke their licensure-and can be terminated at any time with or without cause. There are no provisions in the license law that address your fact pattern which needs to be amended in NYS so that those of us, who are Law Abiding, perform our functions within the Law have a means of having our story heard.

A sales agent's broker can arbitrarily forward discontinuance form with NYS DOS for no reasons, leaving the Sales Agent with no mechanism to defend their integrity. Real Estate Sales is just that a sales business, whereas Sales Agents build a reputation in the district and by allowing Brokers to submit forms to NYS DOS without Mediation services-a Sales Agents reputation is on the line and their livelihood is suspended without recourse. NYS DOS has taken the position to ensure that Long Islanders receive Fairness in Housing Services- Sales Agent is the entry level into the profession and if a Broker has a personal vendetta or another Sales Agent against a Agent within the same Broker House-it's clear that rumors or unfounded reasons can equal into one's RE license being revoked without cause.

Maryann Maltese is a former NYS Public Legislative Communications Manager with 18 years of legislative experiences. Maryann has 18 years of direct involvement with Landlord and Tenant Advocacy Groups, understands the importance of Fair Housing Mandates, and worked on languages to improve conditions for Sales Agents and Clients looking to work with honest industry members. Maryann has worked on rules extending rent stabilizations laws and laws protecting those landlords who fall prey to undesirable tenants who cause significant personal property damages.

There's a lot of discussion recently in the community on the Real Estate Industry encouraging those impacted by Housing discriminatory actions to come forward and report it. I agree with this, because reporting it-helps the client-or renter-get help they need to make sound decisions and also helps those in the legislature to formulate better rules and regulations to assist-or to increase fines when either Landlord or Tenant is at fault, said Maryann Maltese.

As a NYS Real Estate Sales Agent, we do not have any protection presently when rumors or unfounded actions by Brokers or Peers lead to revoking ones RE license and when it's done in retaliation-it's poor business management on the end of the Real Estate Brokerage and a poor reflection of NYS not requiring or mandating mediation services to be in place for those Sales Agents wrongfully dismissed by their Broker, said Maryann Maltese.

I'm a newly licensed Sales Agent who's licensure required that I be educated on the present laws, and recently I fell prey to this sort of employment retaliatory means because of my decision to be a candidate for Statewide Offices-NYS Assembly 12th AD, said Maryann Maltese. I have since filed a separate complaint and suit-and I recommend that those in similar situations whereas the Brokerage is wrong-for Sales Agents to file immediately with NYS DOS, because together we can bring better changes in the ways good Sales Agents have been treated by Brokers or Brokerages, said Maryann Maltese.

"Another reason to introduce the bill for Real Estate Agents to receive Mediation Services by NYS DOS to be implemented immediately-is because Sales Agents can be and are dismissed when they do not meet end of month-Brokerage sales or rental quotas, and once a Sales Agent is dismissed by their Broker-it's the Sales Agent that must pay all fees associated with reestablishing themselves with a New Brokerage-and if one has been dismissed with unfounded reasons- A Sales Agent's Professional reputation into play which could end their ability to obtain future clients or make a living due to rumors and unfounded reasons for licensure revocation", said Maltese.

My licensure was revoked due to my interests in running for Statewide Offices and due to the Brokerage permitting One who Supported Suffolk County Democratic Candidate for the line-and the Broker permitting unfounded reasons due to rumors of a fellow Peer, said Maryann Maltese. Now, like many others-I'm at loss of potential income and required to pay re-establishment fees with a new Brokerage-which is unacceptable, said Maltese.

Another reason to explore changes in requiring NYS DOS to provide Mediation Services for Sales Agents is due to COVID 19 State of Emergency which has reduced sale purchases in many areas, including House Purchases, creating the need for different expectations on all-Sales Agents because if we do not sell-we do not make commission and we do not get paid, said Maryann Maltese. For far too long, the general public has seen Sales Agents as life sucking monsters, instead of acknowledging those of us-who are respected professionals and also have preexisting professional backgrounds that support the industry-my resume speaks Volumes about me as a former NYS Professional and a NYS DOS licensed RE Sales Agent, said Maryann.

The existing NYS statute RE 440, protects the Brokers only-provides no Mediation services for Sales Agents at all, once elected- I will introduce the bill to amend that Law to include Sales Agents and to require that NYS DOS provides funding if not through NYS DOS then for reputable Real Estate Associations like NYSARS to mediate on behalf of Sales Agents with their Brokers, said Maryann Maltese. It's guaranteed to pass and be signed into NYS Law-that is a campaign promise I freely state right now-said Maltese. I'm also more than happy to talk with other Sales Agents who want to share maybe a similar story-all information strictly confidential unless stated by them. NYSARS's and I are on good standing-and I'm happy to work with like minded Industry professionals who recognize the need for such bill passage, said Maltese.

To get involved with Maryann's Campaign for NYS Assembly 12th AD-reach out to maryannmaltesefornysassembly@gmail.com. Maryann Maltese lives in Huntington Township, and the 12th Assembly District represents sections of Huntington, North Babylon and West Islip.