Moldova does not have a legal framework that would regulate the activity of real estate agents and this prevents the agents from working legally, the representative of the Union of Real Estate Agents of Moldova Victoria Nonii stated in an ‘offline’ discussion on September 14, IPN reports.

“The role of a real estate agent is to make a connection between the seller and the buyer of an apartment, in order words to satisfy the wishes of both of the sides. But the seller does not want the real price of the apartment to be indicated in the sale-purchase contract and indicates the cadastral price, which is 2-3 times lower. Correspondingly, when they go to a notary to register the sale-purchase contract, the sides indicate not the market price of the property, but the cadastral price and pay taxes on the cadastral, not the real price,” stated Victoria Nonii.

She also said that the Union of Real Estate Agents of Moldova, which brings together over 1,000 young people, wants a normative farmworker to be worked out as soon as possible so as to work without violations. Therefore, the members submitted a legislative proposal to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, but the competent bodies haven’t yet drafted a relevant law that is very necessary.

“We are hostage to this system and need to find a way to reconcile everyone. We indeed want to work lawfully, but sometimes the shortcomings prevent us from doing so. The 1,000 young people we represent want the state to prosper, but particular deficiencies hamper us,” said Victoria Nonii.

Attending the event, the member of the Association of Real Estate Agents of Romania Ileana Preda said the profession of real estate agents in Romania is also not regulated. There are differences between the real estate markets of Moldova and Romania. In Moldova, the agent is much more respected and appreciated and the professionals, even if their training level is not so high, are good and are persons with initiative.

The Romanian expert recommended the young real estate agents to create an association of professionals that would work out and would abide by an own ethical code.

Lawyer Alexandru Moloman said that working groups will be soon set up to review particular documents that refer to the legislation on real estate and would eventually stage consultations with representatives of the Government.