Rera gets tough on freelance agents

Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) is taking stern action once again to control the activities of freelance brokers/agents and has termed their activities “illegal”.

“We do not recognise a separate category of freelance broker/agent. The activities of such freelance operators are strictly illegal. Rera has taken concerted steps with the Ministries of Labour and Immigration to seek to bring to a halt the activities of such freelance operatives,” Rera said in an email statement.

The activities of freelancers are subject to the sanctions provided by the regulations and through the courts, Rera said.

At the same time, Rera-registered real estate agencies are no longer associating themselves with freelancers. Before the establishment of Rera, the sector was infested with freelancers who merely acted as conduit between the developer and the buyer, taking a small commission for this work.

Elysian Group CEO Masood Naseeb said: “As a company we have no need or desire to associate with freelance agents. The laws introduced over the past three to four years have been implemented to flush out and put a stop to freelance brokers that have been severely tarnishing the reputation of the entire industry. The Dubai government makes it very clear that all people who choose to work in the industry must be registered and have government approval to conduct property transactions.”

Omer Ghani, Chief Executive Officer, Fine and Country, said his company does not have a single freelancer working for them.

“Rera has established specific guidelines regarding broker credentials in order to ensue that property transactions are handled by trained professionals. The agency is very specific that property transactions can only be executed by certified agents working for certified agencies and freelancers are not allowed to work as property agents. We are happy that these rules are being implemented because it ensures that as the market matures, professionalism becomes the norm rather than the exception,” he added.
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.