A real estate agent in Victoria has been fined $200,000 and had his license suspended for half a year for purchasing an affordable housing unit and leasing it out, as per a consent order published by the B.C. Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). Jason Leslie acquired a unit at the Vivid condo building in downtown Victoria in 2021 despite not meeting the qualifications to do so. The unit was intended for below-market rate sales to residents who would live there, with rentals prohibited under regulations. The BCFSA consent agreement revealed that Leslie purchased a 505-square-foot one-bedroom unit at the Vivid in February 2018, part of a development supported by a $53 million low-interest loan from the province to facilitate affordable home sales. The covenant required buyers to have an annual income below $150,000 and make the unit their primary residence. He took possession in May 2021 and rented it out the following month. B.C. Housing later discovered through an audit in March 2022 that Leslie was ineligible to purchase the unit. Leslie acted as an agent for the sale of three units in the Vivid development, including his own. He sold his unit back to B.C. Housing in September 2022, along with the rental income and commission earned. The BCFSA determined that Leslie engaged in professional misconduct by purchasing the affordable housing unit without the intention to reside there. His real estate license has been suspended for six months, followed by 12 months of enhanced supervision under another broker. CBC News tried to contact Leslie’s office for comments, but a staff member indicated uncertainty about his availability for an interview.