Simsari goes online, will end ghost, repetitive listings in Dubai

Finally, Simsari, the official multiple listing service in Dubai, is going online, thus ending the era of “ghost” and “repetitive” listings.

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), the regulatory arm of the Land Department, said on Sunday that over 209 brokerage firms have registered for Simsari.

Properties registered on Simsari.ae will get a single and distinct number for each property that will prevent repetition. The system will guarantee the accuracy of information and aid in updating real estate
reports.

Emirates 24l7 reported in July that Rera had ordered approved property brokerage firms to register all their available properties on Simsari by August-end, or face penalties.

Marwan bin Ghalita, CEO, Rera, said the implementation of Simsari will manage and regulate the work of real estate brokers and held sell property in a way that ensures the highest level of transparency.

Yousef Al Hashemi, Senior Director, Rera’s Real Estate Licensing Department, said, Simsari is an electronic portal designed specifically to view properties offered for sale or rent in the emirate and will offer a safe environment that ensures validity of the data displayed and preserve the rights of all dealers by respecting contractual relations.

Simsari, a secure and transparent destination for owners, investors and brokers, will create a legal framework for transactions and contracts in order to safeguard the rights of all parties and it records can be used as a reference in case of disputes.

We reported earlier that residents had been urging the regulatory agency to launch the service as it will help them distinguish between real and fake listings.

Rahul Jaiswal, who stays in Sharjah and is looking for an apartment in Dubai, had told this website: “I read about Simsari and logged on to their website. But it's not yet active. I wanted to use it as my source for finding an apartment in Dubai. Since the rental scams have been uncovered, I want Rera to launch the site so I know the listings are genuine.”

In order to bring transparency in the market and control broker activities, Rera has unveiled plans to fine brokers instead of their brokerage firms if the former was found to have misled investors, co-operated with unlicensed brokers or made phone calls to their clients to promote/advertise a project.

Earlier this month, Rera imposed fines totaling Dh900,000 on 22 real estate companies and brokerage firms during the first half of 201 for violations such as hiding information from investor; co-operation with unlicensed brokers; failure to maintain privacy of firm and client; using telephone calls for promotions and advertisement purposes without obtaining official approval and arranging deals without the knowledge of their accredited office.

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