According to the draft law, real estate agents will be required to obtain a certificate of professional competence issued by an accredited educational institution. A module “Real Estate Agents” will be created, integrated into the information system administered by the Agency of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre. To obtain the certificate, applicants will have to meet a number of conditions, including higher or specialized secondary education, as well as the absence of an outstanding criminal record for property or economic crimes.
At the same time, real estate agents will be required to enter into written contracts with clients, specifying the rights and obligations of both parties. Unfair commercial practices, such as misleading advertising or the use of hidden commissions, will be prohibited in order to respect consumer rights. The State Tax Service, the National Center for Personal Data Protection, the Competition Council and the State Inspectorate for Supervision of Non-Food Goods and Consumer Protection will control the activities of real estate agents.
The authors of the draft law propose to supplement the Code of Offenses with a provision that deals with violation of obligations in the activity of a real estate agent. For example, the absence of a written contract with the client will be punishable by a fine of up to 20 thousand lei for individuals. And from 20 thousand to 40 thousand lei for legal entities with the deprivation of the right to carry out activities in the field of intermediary activity on the real estate market for a period of 6 months to one year. A mechanism for filing and investigating complaints against real estate agents is also introduced.
The draft law is to be considered by parliament in the second reading.
