Are we moving towards the uberization of the real estate agent profession as with so many other sectors?
In this case, however, it’s not digitalization that’s causing it but simply the usurpation of a professional title.
This is what the “real” professionals, represented by Moise Vergeot and Frédéric Pelou, on behalf of all the real estate agents of the Côte d’Azur (agency networks, professional unions, exclusive shared data groups), have denounced, just a few days before the Real Estate Salon to be held in Nice from March 23 to 25. They fear the infiltration of “salespeople” who devalue their title and mislead consumers.
For the record, the activity of a real estate agent can only be carried out by a person or entity that holds a professional card issued by the territorially competent Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under certain conditions (see below). The acquisition of this card is mandated by Article 3 of the Hoguet Law of January 2, 1970.
The complainants strongly denounce the practice of using simple collaborators of the professional cardholder in transactions.
This is particularly the case in numerous real estate networks of sales agents where these individuals use the title of real estate agent instead of the title of sales agent.
For better consumer protection regarding real estate services offered by real estate agents and to respect the title of real estate agent, the FNAIM proposes to extend the criminal penalty provided by Article 14 of the Hoguet Law to anyone who uses the title of real estate agent without possessing the professional card stipulated by Article 3 of the same law.
But firstly, wouldn’t it also be appropriate to have professionals themselves comply with the law, since, in some cases, they are the first offenders or accomplices of the offenders?
Why not consider an ethical charter that would commit professionals to proper behavior?
