New York City’s new law that shifts responsibility for most broker fees from renters to landlords will go into effect tomorrow after a judge denied a powerful real estate lobby’s attempt to prevent the law’s implementation.

Since the fee is usually 12 percent of the annual rent, the Fairness in Apartment Rentals (FARE) Act removes a significant upfront cost to renters—saving renters an average of $5,404, according to a new StreetEasy report. It’s a major change for the NYC rental market, which has been an outlier in having renters compensate brokers hired by landlords.

But the cost is not going away completely. Landlords have been rolling the fees into higher rents in anticipation of the FARE Act’s start—in effect spreading the cost over the term of the lease, which renters will likely find easier to pay. StreetEasy says the increase is about 5.3 percent but there are reports of higher rent increases (more on this below).

In November, the City Council approved the Fare Act, introduced by Council member Chi Ossé, with a veto-proof majority of 42 members. Mayor Eric Adams did not sign the legislation, which meant it would take six months to go into effect rather than immediately.

The Real Estate Board of New York, the powerful trade group, along with several brokerages, filed a lawsuit last year to block implementation of the law, arguing that it violates the First Amendment, among other claims. However, Judge Ronnie Abrams denied REBNY’s request for a preliminary injunction, which would have prevented the FARE Act from going into effect while the lawsuit was pending, The Real Deal reported. The judge also dismissed REBNY’s claim that the law is unconstitutional, but allowed the suit to continue in regard to an allegation that the FARE Act wrongfully interferes in private contracts.

If you’re hunting for a rental, here are some of the changes you can expect as a result of the FARE Act and what you should watch for.

Fines for violating the FARE Act

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is the city agency charged with enforcing the new law. A broker can be fined $500 to $2,000 for brokers and owners who violate the FARE Act by illegally collecting fees.

The New York Department of State can impose additional fines of $2,000 and could revoke a broker’s license on top of any penalties under the FARE Act, Mercedes Padilla, spokeswoman for the Department of State, previously told Brick.

Renters can file complaints to the DCWP by calling 311 and to the DOS by filling out this form and emailing it to the agency.

Lower upfront cost to renting

The biggest change most renters will feel is the absence of an expensive broker fee (except for renters in the scenario below).

Kenny Lee, an economist at StreetEasy, told Brick that the FARE Act “a big win for renters.”

Lee recently calculated the savings for NYC renters signing a lease in a new report, which predicts the new law will lower average upfront costs for rentals currently charging a broker fee by 41.8 percent, from $12,942 to $7,537. (Upfront costs include first month’s rent and a security deposit equivalent to one month’s rent.)

When you do need to pay a broker fee

One aspect of renting in NYC remains the same: Renters who hire an agent, for example to show them multiple apartments in their budget, will still be required to compensate the broker.

But this relationship is supposed to be clearer under the FARE Act. An agent is required to disclose whether they work for the landlord. If the broker is working directly for you and you agree to sign a contract, then you will pay their fee, typically 12 percent of the annual rent, but it can range from 10 to 15 percent. The fee is supposed to be negotiable.

Another aspect of the FARE Act is that all fees a renter must pay are defined in advance in a renter agreement, such as fees for lost keys, pets, and move-in/move-out.

Slightly higher monthly rents…

One criticism of the FARE Act is that it will send rents skyward but Lee contends rents are not likely to increase significantly beyond market trends. His report found properties that switched to no-fee ahead of implementation increased rents 5.3 percent, only 0.7 percent above the rest of the market.

That suggests “property managers will continue to absorb much of the additional cost, as they have in the past,” Lee wrote. Market conditions ultimately set rents, he noted. (NYC rents have been setting new records in recent months.)

And he predicted that a large share of property managers will continue to work with rental agents. During the pandemic in 2021, when owners had a hard time finding renters, 80.3 percent of rentals that did not charge the tenant a broker fee were represented by brokers, Lee said. This year, the share of all no-fee rentals represented by agents is 56.9 percent.

…or much higher rents

StreetEasy’s 5.3 percent figure seemed conservative to Rachel Fiegler, co-founder of the Pinpointe Group, a boutique brokerage.

“Landlords we work with have bumped asking rents 8–12 percent to cover the one‑month broker fee they’re now responsible for,” she said.

Bill Kowalczuk, a broker at Coldwell Banker Warburg, said he has already raised rents on apartments he represents if the landlord agrees to cover the fee—and the increase has been higher than 5.3 percent as well, for example an apartment that rented 18 months ago at $12,000 for year one and $12,300 for year two is now $12,950 and $13,050 for the second year, with the landlord covering the broker fee.      

“We recently leased a studio in a doorman building in Brooklyn. The landlord paid the fee, but we achieved $4,150 a month, the highest rent ever paid in that building,” Kowalczuk said.

“The landlords came out ahead by increasing the rent and covering the fee, rather than settling for a lower rent without paying it. The tenants, on the other hand, will have much greater out-of-pocket rent costs the longer they stay in the apartment, since rent increases will always be calculated on the inflated rent,” he said.

A permanent broker fee?

Kowalczuk was echoing one of the criticisms of the FARE Act: When landlords roll broker fees into rents, tenants will be stuck paying the fees after they renew.

While a renter will pay less at lease signing, “with the fee baked into the rent, tenants will pay it every month and again at renewal, plus the landlord’s annual increase. Spread over a two‑year stay, many renters will end up paying more than the one‑time upfront fee,” Fiegler said.

But Lidor BarDavid, co-founder and chief marketing officer of apartment listing and review platform openigloo, doesn’t think that outcome is inevitable or supported by what his company is seeing.

Nearly half of NYC apartments are protected by rent stabilization and many market-rate units are covered by Good Cause Eviction law, which means landlords can’t raise rents beyond what the law allows (currently 8.8 percent).

“So the idea that broker fees will be baked into higher base rents doesn’t even apply to a large segment of the housing stock,” BarDavid said.

He said that many market-rate landlords “already choose to cover the broker fee to make their listings more competitive, and they’ve done so without raising the rent…Asking someone to come up with $4,000-plus on average in fees just to sign a lease is a much heavier burden than a modest rent adjustment spread over a year, if one even happens.”

Harder to qualify for apartments

Higher rents do mean renters need to show more income to qualify for apartments. NYC landlords prefer renters who earn annual salaries of 40 times the monthly rent.

Fiegler provided the following scenario: A one bedroom that was $3,500 now lists for $3,780–$3,900. Instead of showing $140,000 in annual income, a renter must prove they make roughly $150,000 or bring on a guarantor who earns $300,000.  

“So the policy helps with up‑front cash, but it also knocks borderline applicants out of contention,” she said.

Online inventory may drop

Fiegler said some landlords have workarounds that could impact what listings you see online.

“Some smaller landlords tell us they’ll self‑list on StreetEasy to dodge the fee,” she said. “Others plan a hybrid strategy: Keep the cream online and hold back the rest, forcing renters to hire their own agent if they want to see every option.

“I expect an overnight dip in the visible inventory count on June 10th and 11th, followed by a gradual climb as the market finds its footing,” she added.

Jason Haber, a broker at Compass, expects a more dramatic impact on listings.

“We are about to witness a huge decline in online supply, which will only make it harder and more expensive for tenants to find an apartment. Tenants will be looking for apartments as if it were 1999. Off-market listings, e-mail blasts, and other less efficient systems will percolate, all to the detriment of the very tenants this law is intended to help,” Haber said.

Consider a two-year lease

There are always pros and cons to locking in your rent with a two-year lease instead of one year and the FARE Act adds a new wrinkle to this discussion.

Abigail Palanca, an agent at SERHANT, said she is fielding requests from renters “to lock in their rate for two years, as they realize the savings, especially if they are hoping to be there long-term.”

The choice depends on where rents are going (they’re climbing) and if you like the apartment enough to stay put. Of course, a landlord has to be amenable to the longer lease term. But if you get a two-year lease, you are locking in the amount you pay and protecting yourself from rent increases after one year, a consideration if your base rent includes the broker fee.

Boxing clever: 58 Excelsior Rd, Leichhardt is for sale with a guide of $5.5m.

These homeowners have taken thinking outside the box to a whole new level.

A residential home with a giant shipping container in the middle of the living space has been turning heads after being listed for sale in one of Sydney’s most unusual real estate deals.

The property within inner west suburb Leichhardt – originally used as a furniture factory in the 1920s before being converted into a residence in the 2000s – had last traded in 2015 for $2.31 million, records showed.

It’s now listed with a guide of $5.5 million.

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A living space within a living space: the inside of the container, which sits within the home’s open plan zone.

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The shipping container was installed by the previous owner, an architect, who reportedly used it as an office.

The warehouse underwent a sweeping renovation in 2018 by high end interior designers Hare and Klein, who were tasked with updating the home while still maintaining an industrial aesthetic.

Current owner Jie Howells and husband Gary were faced with a key dilemma: whether to keep the unusual container within the home or have it stripped out. They decided to preserve it and paint it.

The shipping container is a key feature of the home. It sits between the entry way and an open room listed as the “sitting area”. The top of the corrugated iron structure can be accessed via a ladder.

Ms Howells told selling agency Ray White that the indoor shipping container had served various purposes during their time at the house.

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The orange shipping container is one of the first things that greets visitors upon entry.

“We used it as a kid’s playroom when our son Harry was young and as a bedroom when we have guests,” she said.

“The shipping container can be used as a meeting room for business, a sitting room, an office, and of course storage.”

Ms Howells, who has been running a business from the property, said the shipping container was an “integral part” of the warehouse and was “versatile”.

“It is a blank canvas, its use is only limited by one’s imagination,” she said.

“It can be converted to a wine cellar, an artist studio, a meditation room, a home gym, or a home theatre.

“Over the past 10 years, we have received many suggestions for this shipping container – a swimming pool, a bar, a recording studio and even a hydroponic tomato farm.”

MORE: Aussie 37yo makes $160k a year doing nothing

The up-market home has a price guide of $5.5m.

Ms Howells explained that the home was “raw but with great bones” when they bought it. Her family had lived in the home comfortably for three years before embarking on the renovation.

“Our brief was to retain the industrial heritage and majesty, but make it a special family home and add some designer opulence,” she said. “We used a light touch approach and retained most of its industrial charm.”

The Excelsior St warehouse is being marketed by Ray White Touma Taylor selling agent Walter Burfitt-Williams.

He explained that the shipping container was a key talking point among those interested in the property.

“Everyone has an opinion, he said. “People with kids love it. It would make an amazing cubby house … But a shipping container is not going to be for everyone. You can have it removed.”

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The 1920-built property was originally a furniture warehouse.

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Mr Burfitt-Williams said the double-storey three-bathroom, three-bedroom property would suit a young family, a professional couple, or even downsizers looking for something “hip and groovy”.

“It’s a quirky and a different type of property, which has been superbly transformed into a family home,” Mr Burfitt-Williams said.

The property has soaring original ceilings fitted with an array of skylights, numerous expansive living spaces and a statement dining room. The floors are a mix of polished concrete and timber.

There is also a courtyard with multiple sitting areas, and a century-old chimney.

Ms Howells said living in the warehouse for the past 10 years was a “pleasant memory”.

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The post Leichhardt home listed with shipping container in living area appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A good property manager will help you get the most out of your asset. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

When it comes to buying an investment property, the purchase is only the beginning. A good property manager can help you get the most out of your asset over the long term. But how can you choose a good one – and what are the signs of a dud?

SELECTION CRITERIA

Spending six figures or more on an investment property can be a lot to get your head around, so when it comes to choosing a property manager, you really want to be sure your property you’re getting your money’s worth.

There are countless property managers out there to choose from. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“It’s really easy for landlords to fall into the trap of fee shopping because they think all property managers are the same,” says The Rental Specialists principal Jo Natoli. “This isn’t true.”

She says when interviewing different prospects, landlords should have a clear idea of what is important to them in the management of their property as well as what they’d like to achieve and what their expectations are of their property manager.

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Ray White’s head of Property Management for Australia and New Zealand Zac Snelling says it’s a good idea to ask for references and check online reviews (with a grain of salt) but also investigate tribunal records if available.

Ask questions around their systems and processes.

“Don’t just take their word for it – ask questions. How do they handle disputes? What systems do they use? What support structure do they have around them?” He says.

He also suggests checking the size of their portfolio.

“Size really does matter when it comes to the sustainable level of portfolio size for service to remain high for both the landlord and the tenant,” he says. A manageable portfolio size depends on a few factors – team support, admin help, systems and tech, and if your property manager is juggling too many properties on their own, service levels can slip.”

How do they communicate with tenants and other people? Picture: Liam Kidston

SIGNS OF AN EXCEPTIONAL PM

A standout property manager stays ahead of the game when it comes to legislation, has great systems and procedures, get routine inspections done and maintain excellent relationships with landlords, tenants and the tradies that maintain the properties, Natoli says. They also stay on top of rental arrears and are proactive instead of reactive when it comes to maintenance and repairs.

“For me, though, a great property manager is someone who also has a knowledge and understanding of the business of investing – the dollars and cents of it; understanding, for example, the effect of an interest rate rise or cut or how serviceability for a new loan is assessed,” she says. “This is what I believe a landlord should be looking for. More than someone just ‘doing the tasks of property management’.”

Someone who understands the nature of investing will have a competitive edge.

MAKING SURE YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS

Once you have a property manager on board, you can make sure your property is being looked after by going over routine inspection reports thoroughly, says Snelling.

“Are they detailed enough? Are the photos current and clear? Are the comments changing with each report, or does it feel like a copy-paste job?” he says, adding that you should check inspections are being done at the right intervals otherwise it might void your insurance policy.

He also suggests arranging an onsite visit with your property manager every 12-18 months as it can help you pick up issues before they become bigger problems while setting a strong expectation with both tenants and the property manager.

He says being proactive with maintenance helps to reduce issues over time while adequate landlord insurance is essential to cover you when the unexpected happens.

A good property manager will attend to maintenance and repairs promptly.

SIGNS OF A DUD

Ray White’s head of Property Management for Australia and New Zealand Zac Snelling says to watch out for the following red flags when looking for a property manager.

1. Portfolio size – if they have so many properties they can’t stay on top of things, service could suffer, including tenant relationships, missed maintenance and improper or infrequent rent reviews

2. Poor communication – while PMs are often very busy, you shouldn’t need to chase them up repeatedly over simple issues

3. Lack of transparency – being cagey about discussing the way they operate or their rental arrears should be a warning to the landlord

4. Poor advertising – if the photos and advertising text don’t present the property on offer in the best possible way how can you be sure to attract tenants?

5. Lack of training – with legislation always changing across the states, it’s essential that property managers receive regular, ongoing education and training

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The post How to choose a good property manager and avoid a bad one appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Australia, a land known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant cities, also harbours a lesser-known side: the secretive world of religious orders and regimes.

These groups, often shrouded in mystery, have left their mark on various properties across the country, often chosen for their isolation and tranquillity to serve as both sanctuaries and fortresses for the people that inhabit them.

They provide a physical space where followers can live according to their beliefs, away from the scrutiny of the outside world.

However, the presence of these groups has not gone unnoticed by local communities, many of whom have raised concerns about the activities taking place behind closed doors.

As the stories of these groups unfold, they reveal a complex tapestry of belief, control, and community.

The properties they occupy are more than just buildings; they are the stage upon which the dramas of devotion and dissent play out.

In exploring the world of Australian’s most notorious religious groups, it becomes clear that the properties they inhabit are as much a part of their identity as the doctrines they preach.

These locations, steeped in secrecy and speculation, continue to captivate the public imagination, offering a window into a world that remains largely hidden from view.

THE FAMILY

One of the most infamous religious regimes in Australian history is The Family, led by Anne Hamilton-Byrne.

Formed in 1963 with renowned physicist Dr Raynor Johnson, along with Anne’s husband Bill Hamilton-Byrne, the doomsday group – also known as the Santiniketan Park Association or the Great White Brotherhood – stole children through brainwashing and adoption scams, and Anne raised them as her own.

The kids, some aged from only several months old, lived out their childhood years at the group’s property ‘Kai Lama’ at Lake Eildon, a compound, hidden among dense bushland, around 240km north east of Melbourne.

Convincing followers that she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, the religious group’s design was for one true master race; the 28 stolen children were dressed identically, with matching bleached blonde hair.

Children of the The Family were given matching hairstyles and led to believe Hamilton-Byrne was their birth mother.

The group was the subject of a 2016 documentary and companion book titled The Family: The Shocking True Story of a Notorious Cult, written by Chris Johnston and Rose Jones. Picture: Supplied

The victims of the group were eventually rescued during a police raid in 1987, but the reverberations of their trauma had only just begun.

A number of children were removed from the premises, who were later discovered to have been adopted through illegal means.The youngsters were allegedly subjected to beatings, starvation and forced to take drugs.
In the eighties, some of the grown-up children told a television show hosted by journalist Mike Willesee that they had been beaten with a bamboo stick and had their heads dunked in buckets of water for perceived “sins” such as wearing odd socks or having dirt on their smock.

The Hamilton-Byrne boys at Lake Eildon in a scene from the documentary TV series The Cult of the Family. Supplied by ABC-TV.

Earlier this year, the regime’s history was again brought to the forefront with the sale of the groups semi-derelict former home in Melbourne’s outer southeast.

The Ferny Creek property, previously owned by the Santiniketan Park Association, is for sale with a $1.5m-$1.65m price guide and consists of two lots, the largest of which measures 3.11ha and features a graffitied brick building with damaged windows.

The listing describes the circa-1970s community hall as large enough to hold about 100 people.

An aerial shot of the Ferny Creek property.

Group members would hold regular services at the hall, where Anne Hamilton-Byrne would sit in a purple chair below a large crucifix.

According to 1980s media reports, the hall was built by Hamilton-Byrne and her followers who would hold regular services there.

Hamilton-Byrne and her husband Bill Byrne left Australia for the US, but were eventually arrested in 1993.

She was charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit perjury in relation to the adoption scams, but those charges were eventually dropped.

Hamilton-Byrne and her husband each pleaded guilty to making a false declaration and were fined a few thousand dollars.
In 2019, a 98-year-old Hamilton-Byrne died during a class action trial against her.

Read more here.

TWELVE TRIBES

Another notable group is the Twelve Tribes, which had established communities in various parts of Australia, including Picton, New South Wales, where they established a commune and several businesses.

This fundamentalist Christian group, which emerged from the Jesus movement in the United States during the early 1970s, is known for its strict adherence to Old Testament teachings. Members live communally, shun modern technology, and follow a lifestyle that includes banning contraception and discouraging medical interventions.

But it is the group’s reputation for its harsh corporal punishment of children, even toddlers and babies, and claims of exploitation given that members work for no pay, that has drawn condemnation.

In 2020, the New South Wales Police launched Strike Force Nanegai to investigate child abuse allegations.

Police officers dig on a twelve tribes property near the NSW town of Picton. Credit: ABC

Still of YouTube video from Peppercorn Creek Farm, Picton, and Common Ground Bakery and cafe at Picton, operated by the Twelve Tribes communities. Picture: YouTube

Members of the Twelve Tribes communities in Katoomba during a Winter Magic celebration 2009. Image: YouTube

The investigation uncovered the remains of at least one baby on the Twelve Tribes property at Bigga, near Crookwell and although the search extended to Peppercorn Creek Farm, no remains were found there.

The matter was later referred to the state coroner after consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions and prompted the release of a true-crime podcast, Inside the Tribe, by journalists Tim Elliott and Camille Bianchi.

The podcast heard from dozens of former members claiming incidences of child abuse, labour violations and even illegally buried stillborn babies.

Heightened scrutiny and financial pressures subsequently saw the Twelve Tribes sell-off of more than $6 million worth of property in 2023.

A member of the Twelve Tribes, speaking anonymously to The Sydney Morning Herald from the sect’s Yellow Deli cafe in the Blue Mountains, explained that the sales were a strategic move to alleviate debt.

“Basically, interest rates are getting ridiculous, and we want to consolidate right now and hedge our bets,” he said.

The infamous Peppercorn Creek Farm at 1375 Remembrance Driveway Razorback. Picture: United Realty

The sale included an unfinished house.

A cottage was also attached to the incomplete home.

Among the properties listed was Peppercorn Creek Farm at 1580 Remembrance Driveway.

Property record show the site sold for $3.4m in June, 2023, with the sale encompassing the Razorback Inn Homestead, a bakery/cafe and large woolshed.

The group’s main 8.3-hectare landholding at 1375 Remembrance Driveway also sold for $2.4m and included an “owner-built, partially constructed house” that has been under construction for over five years, along with three large sheds, a separate house, organic farmland, and a creek.

The Twelve Tribes is also believed to owns properties in the Blue Mountains, including the popular Yellow Deli in Katoomba, purchased for $1.5 million in 2004.
Another of the group’s corporate entities, Granite Hill Investments, owns the landmark Victorian guesthouse, Balmoral House, acquired in 2010 for $1.1 million.

THE ANGLICAN CATHOLIC MISSION COMMUNITY

In Queensland, a secretive religious group, formerly known as the Jesus People of North Queensland, is said to have amassed a sprawling multimillion-dollar real estate empire on the back of its members.

The group, now called the Anglican Catholic Mission Community, directly owns seven properties stretching from Glenwood in South East Queensland to Cooktown in the state’s far north.

Several other properties are listed on property records as being owned by current or former clan leaders who have been embroiled in a bitter battle for control of the fundamentalist religious group.

They include an inner Sydney warehouse at Redfern – bought more than 30 years ago for just $40,000, which is now estimated to be worth as much as $3m.

Copy pic of former clan leader Daniel Landy-Ariel and his Jesus People at their commune at Herberton, in Queensland in the mid-1980s.

The Australian Catholic Mission Community’s commune at Watsonville, near Atherton in Far North Queensland. Picture: Brian Cassey

The clan’s main Queensland commune, meanwhile, is located at Watsonville, outside Herberton on the Atherton Tableland.

The ACMC also owns two blocks of land in the heart of Cape York tourist haven Cooktown and East Trinity near Cairns, according to a Courier Mail investigation.

The group made headlines in 2023 when a special investigation by the Sunday Mail revealed, for the first time, the inner workings of the ACMC, including strict rules which state members are given just one set of clothes and are required to be fluent in an ancient language, while university education is considered “brainwash”.

Children are to be homeschooled in a strict religious education, which is not recognised in the Australian curriculum.

Anglican Catholic Mission Community rules

The inner workings were laid bare in explosive court documents, filed in the Queensland Supreme Court as part of a dispute over the group’s multimillion-dollar property portfolio.

The documents detailed the level of control the leader of the group has over its members who need to seek permission to leave or eat outside the compound.

The rules specify gender-based jobs – women are encouraged to work in the fitness industry or be chefs and bookkeepers, while men are encouraged to work in trades.

The court documents revealed there are about 100 adults living under the rule of the ACMC, plus many children, who live across compounds in NSW and Queensland.

The group – formerly known as the Jesus People of North Queensland – is ruled by men, with the leader called the “reshan”.

The Jesus People were founded in the 1970s.

Read the full story here

THE INSTITUTE IN BASIC LIFE PRINCIPLES

A US religious group — whose founder quit amid a wave of allegations of sexual assault — also offered a glimpse behind the scenes when it sold its Australian headquarters in 2017.

The Institute in Basic Life Principles’ 3.36ha “Yarra training ­facility” on Melbourne’s fringe sold for $9.5m to a developer who planned to turn the site into a housing estate.

The IBLP had run its home school program and seminars from the property, which features on-site houses, apartment complexes, conference centres and a commercial kitchen.

“We were sort of driven out really by the cost of utilities,” IBLP Australian director Robin Harrison said at time of sale.

“Mainly electricity got beyond the capacity of the families to support, so we’re looking around for another home for the institute … the electricity bill just doubled in one year. It was $7000 a month just for electricity, so that’s what tipped it over. It’s a pity to lose the open spaces.”

An aerial view of the property.

The IBLP aims to teach followers how to succeed in life through principles found in Scripture.

Millions of people have attended IBLP seminars worldwide, according to its website.

The IBLP claims millions have ­attended its seminars since it was founded by Bill Gothard in 1961.

The group states its purpose is to provide instruction on how to “succeed in life” by following principles found in Scripture — but it has been marred by serious allegations in the US of sexual harassment and abuse as well as cover-ups.

The IBLP incorporates several “programs”, including its advanced training institute, which had a branch at the Lilydale property.

That is a Bible-based homeschooling program whose most notorious alumni are the stars of canned US reality TV show 19 Kids and Counting.

The show was engulfed by scandal in 2015 after the eldest son admitted sexually abusing girls, including several of his sisters.

He is believed to have attended a IBLP-run facility after admitting the abuse.

Mr Gothard resigned in 2014 after more than 30 women made sexual harassment and molestation claims against him.

Read more here.

KENJA COMMUNICATION

The notorious Kenja Communication has also faced numerous controversies over the years.

Described as a “training facility for people who want to develop their ability to be more effective or ‘cause’ over their lives”, Kenja was founded in Australia in 1982 by Ken Dyers and his partner Jan Hamilton.

The group has centres in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, and the group’s website emphatically denies it is a religious group or cult, instead insisting “Kenja training views self-determinism as an imperative for personal growth”.

Among Kenja’s most controversial practices are “energy conversion meditation” and “Kenja klowning”, with the former described online as “the spirit in action” which involves “viewing the physical world with spiritual detachment and experiencing energy in its various forms”.

Ken and Jan Dyers perform an energy conversion in the documentary film Beyond Our Ken which goes behind the scenes of the controversial cult Kenja.

But a number of former members have claimed the sessions with Ken Dyers were one-on-one, with participants – including women and children – fully naked.

“Sometimes we’d be processed naked in one-on-one sessions – Ken said it helped energy flow freely through the body. Once, when I woke from the fog of a naked processing session, Ken was lying on top of me with his trousers and underpants around his ankles. But my Kenjan mind-training kicked in and I immediately dismissed the idea he’d acted inappropriately, reasoning I could trust Ken and, if he’d touched me, I’d remember it,” former member Annette Stephens wrote in a 2012 article published by news.com.au.

Ken Dyers later faced a string of child sexual abuse charges, although he was only convicted of one charge, which was then overturned after appeal.

Kenja, Personal Communication Consultants at 388 Bourke St, Melbourne.

The group’s Sydney home at 21 Mary Street, Surry Hills.

In 1992 Liberal MP Stephen Mutch described Dyers in parliament as “a seedy conman selling mumbo-jumbo garbage” and in 1993, Dyers was charged with 11 counts of sexual assault against four girls before being acquitted.

In 2005 Dyers was charged with another 22 counts, but the case was deferred after the NSW District Court ordered a mental health assessment.

Dyers took his own life in 2007 at the age of 85 after being informed by police that new allegations had been made against him.

The post Inside Aus’s most secretive religious regimes appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The $3.95 million settlement in the Nosalek case removes the option to display compensation to buyer brokers via the MLS and goes up for final approval in September.