Call to make redress schemes mandatory for estate agents
9th March 2022
A report examining the need for Jersey estate agents to be regulated has been
published by the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
The Panel found that, unlike the UK, Jersey estate agents are not legally required to
belong to a redress scheme, which deals with disputes between consumers and
estate agents. Whilst approximately 40% of estate agents practising in Jersey have
voluntarily become members of an approved redress scheme, the Panel
recommends that this becomes a mandatory requirement. It is the Panel’s view that
this could provide the first step towards a regulated estate agency market in Jersey
and greater protections for consumers.
Throughout its review, stakeholder engagement revealed concerns over the lack of
regulation or requirement for membership within an association and low barriers to
entry into estate agency. The Panel identified various pieces of estate agent specific
legislation in the UK and the EU and recommends that a consultation is launched to
investigate estate agent specific legislation for Jersey. In addition, the Panel
requests that any future estate agent regulation considers the recommendations of
the UK Regulation of Property Agents report.
Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Deputy David
Johnson, said: “Our engagement with stakeholders throughout this review has raised
several concerns about the lack of regulation and accountability of estate agents in
Jersey. We hope, however, that the recommendations outlined in our report will
initiate steps towards achieving a regulatory environment that improves the sector for
both consumers and estate agents. With well-established legislation and rules
governing estate agents in the UK, we believe it is time for Jersey’s Government to
begin a ‘phased in’ approach towards a regulatory estate agency market which
matches the high regulatory standards of other Jersey industries.”
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