Enforcement of estate agents 

We enforce compliance with the applicable laws and best real estate practices of estate agents and leased properties. We also monitor that only licenced estate agents practice real estate. We also maintain a register of real estate and lettings agents. 

We accept reports on the activities on estate agents. We also conduct investigations on our initiative for example by auditing the records and documents of estate agents, monitoring real estate marketing practices, informing estate agents about how Regional State Administrative Agencies interpret real estate legislation and by running monitoring campaigns and conducting inspection visits in real estate agent offices.   

We do not monitor activities which are not limited to just licenced estate agents. For example the following activities are not considered activities limited to licenced estate agents under the Estate Agents Act:  

• preparation of valuation reports only 
• preparation of documents only 
• sales and lettings activities of building management companies in housing companies managed by them 
• services related to the management of tenancies 
• private property sales. 

Reporting unethical conduct by estate agents and letting agents 

Estate agents and letting agents must comply with the relevant laws and regulations.  

If you suspect that an estate agent or a letting agent is breaking the law or estate agency standards, you can report them to your nearest Regional State Administrative Agency.  

How do I report unethical conduct?  

We have prepared a special form for reporting unethical conduct. You can use the form to tell us how you believe an estate agent or a letting agent is breaking the law or estate agency standards. You can also supply other relevant documents, such as property brochures, offers, title deeds or agency contracts.  

Alternatively, you can report your concerns in your own words. 

Send your report by email or post to the registry of the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose jurisdiction the estate agent or letting agent is registered. 

You can also report any estate agents or letting agents that you believe are not registered. You can check their registration status in our database. 

We will review your report and decide on any further action. Our decision is final, and you cannot challenge it.  

What can Regional State Administrative Agencies do?  

We will investigate any concerns that we believe warrant an investigation.  

If we find that an estate agent or a letting agent has broken the law or estate agency standards, we can give them a warning. We can also give them a list of issues that they need to address going forward. If we discover serious irregularities, we can ban an estate agent or a letting agent from trading for a certain period of time or cancel their registration altogether, in which case they will be forced to close down their business.  

If we find that an estate agent or a letting agent has failed to register and is therefore operating illegally, we can ban them from trading and threaten to fine them if they do not comply with the ban.  

We cannot order estate agents or letting agents to pay damages or to give discounts or refunds on agency fees already paid. The Consumer Disputes Board can give recommendations as to how these kinds of situations should be resolved. The Consumer Disputes Board’s recommendations are not legally enforceable, but most businesses choose to abide by them.  

General courts have jurisdiction in civil disputes.