Call for views on estate agent regulation extended
1 November 2021
The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel has extended its call for evidence asking Jersey estate agents to share their views on whether the industry should be regulated. Estate agents have until next Tuesday, 9 November, to share their views on:
1. How far the lack of requirement for estate agents to join a professional body, hold a professional qualification, or hold a code of conduct is an issue for buyers or sellers in Jersey
2. Whether the experience of buying or selling property in Jersey would improve if estate agent staff had to be qualified
3. Whether estate agents should be regulated, or required to follow a code of conduct
Estate agents can get in touch with the Panel by emailing scrutiny@gov.je.
For the purpose of this review, which will conclude in December this year, the Panel has so far carried out three public hearings. The first hearing with the Minister for Housing and Communities featured discussion on Jersey's Consumer Protection Law and the UK Property Ombudsman Scheme, and the second and third hearings with the Jersey Estate Agents Association and Broadlands saw representatives from these organisations share the view that estate agents in Jersey should be formally regulated.
Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Deputy David Johnson, said "We would like to thank those who have submitted evidence to our review so far, and urge estate agents who have not yet shared their views to get in touch. The question of whether estate agents should undertake a professional qualification or adhere to a code of conduct is one which is important to the public. The more evidence given, the better equipped the Panel will be to assess whether the regulation of Jersey estate agents is necessary or advisable."
The Panel's final public hearing for this review with the Law Society of Jersey will take place next Monday, 8 November, and will be streamed live via Teams here.
