Should Estate Agents in Spain be Regulated ???

Assuming the public response is YES then what form of regulation should be put in place:

1) Should agents require minimum educational qualifications & undertake professional examinations ??

2) Should a strict professional code of conduct be enforced ?

3) Should fees be regulated ?

4) Should ongoing professional development be mandatory ?

5) Anything else ------ ??

There are a few credible property agents on this Forum & so it would also be helpful to hear whether these initiatives would be welcome from their perspective & if they have any specific proposals.

Harry

 Hi Harry

I totally agree to all your points .There definitely should be a  Compulsory Code of Conduct laid down for all Estate Agents in Spain.

See article I have just read on the Internet.

'There is a national registry of spanish property agencies -- Agente de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria (API) -- but agencies are not required to become members. In fact, many large agencies are not members. With an API agency, there are more controls. For example, there are declared fee guidelines (usually between 3% and 5%)."

Regards

 There's no requirement in UK for estate agents to join a regulating body, either.  Although they have to be compliant with trading standards and the Estate Agents Act (brought in because of the amount of crooks around) they are only very lightly regulated.  I have no idea if Spain has a similar act (I doubt it) but they must surely have a similar trading standards law.  Perhaps a few more denuncias from those where things have gone wrong would concentrate their minds a bit more.

However, the only problems I've ever had with estate agents in Spain were with two British firms.  One did a runner (luckily I hadn't paid any money but others did - they were also renting out property which people had put up for sale without telling them) and one who upped sticks and moved without bothering to inforrm his clients.  

Up to a few years ago, Estate agents WERE regulated in Spain, then for some unknown reason, they were DEregulated-unfortunately!

Interesting Camposol - hopefully some of the property agents on Forum will be able to shed light on that & let us have their views.

Frankly, I am baffled why it remains unregulated given some of the horror stories we have heard. Surely, a code of professional conduct (ie backed by strict sanctions !!) combined with entry qualifications etc should be a big plus for existing reputable agents ------  whilst the rogues would obviously dismiss this out of hand !!!

Harry