Last year, Belgium’s Professional Institute Of Real Estate Agents (BIV) permanently suspended 32 recognised real estate agents, while another 151 were temporarily suspended.
Before 1993, anyone could call themself a real estate agent, leading to “wild growth, unfair competition and less than kosher practices by some that gave the sector a bad reputation,” the BIV said.
Since then, various requirements have been put in place for licensing, including a minimum education level, exams and annual refresher courses.
But while the number of realtors has since fallen to more reasonable levels, the “not very kosher” practices are still there, De Standaard reports.
1,500 disciplinary cases against real estate agents
There are 10,950 licensed agents in Belgium, and BIV said it opened 1,500 disciplinary cases against real estate professionals last year alone.
Of these, 1,085 were ultimately dismissed, 183 resulted in a severe sanction, and 32 estate agents have been banned from the profession completely.
Offences do not need to be flagrant, but some were: one agent from Turnhout wrote fictitious names on purchase promises and compromises in order to pocket his commission. Another used money from advances to pay salaries.
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Lesser actions that result in a suspension nonetheless include skipping annual in-service trainings, or stating in a rental advertisement that all pets are excluded, which could lead to a discrimination complaint from people who use guide dogs.
Light penalties for lesser offences
There were also 113 light penalties, for example for those who forgot to state the mandatory EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) value.
“Systematic omission of this, together with several other violations, even contributed to a permanent suspension on one occasion,” said Ghent agent Olivier Morobé, vice-president of the BIV, adding that “we generally show less understanding when this is repeated.”
Photo by Helen Lyons/The Brussels Times
There is also the issue of fake real estate agents, or people working independently in the sector without the mandatory licence.
To catch them, the BIV employs two full-time private detectives who can pose as prospective buyers, walk into a real estate office or request a home visit. If they then catch someone doing work that is reserved for estate agents, this leads to prosecution.
“It is important that consumers go with a recognised broker,” said Morobé.
“They have subscribed to the code of ethics, are obliged to train and have professional liability insurance. And if you do have the misfortune of working with a fake broker, the contract is void anyway.”
