The activity of real estate agents, regulated by a new law adopted by Parliament

Chișinău, March 26, 2026 – Parliament voted in the second reading on the draft law regarding the activity of real estate agents. The document establishes clear rules for individuals operating in this field, as well as protection measures for beneficiaries of real estate agents’ services.

The draft law on the activity of real estate agents aims to ensure transparency and consumer protection in the context of the development of the real estate market in the Republic of Moldova. The document sets clear conditions for access to the profession. More specifically, real estate agents will be required to hold a professional competence certificate, which will be issued by an accredited educational institution and will need to be renewed once every five years. In this regard, a module called “Real Estate Agents” will be created, integrated into an information system administered by the Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre. To obtain the real estate agent certificate, a person will need to cumulatively meet several conditions, including higher or vocational technical education, as well as the absence of unexpired criminal records for property-related or economic offenses.

At the same time, real estate agents are required to conclude written contracts with clients, specifying the rights and obligations of both parties. To ensure consumer rights are respected, unfair commercial practices are prohibited, such as misleading advertising or the application of hidden commissions. Additionally, real estate agents are required to issue clients a receipt or another document confirming the payment of the remuneration established in the intermediation contract and to keep an archive of concluded contracts for a period of six years.

The document also establishes the public entities authorized to supervise and control the activity of real estate agents. These include the State Tax Service, the National Center for Personal Data Protection, the Competition Council, and the State Inspectorate for the Supervision of Non-Food Products and Consumer Protection.

The authors also proposed a mechanism for supervision and control of the activity of real estate agents, as well as sanctions for those who do not comply with the legislation. The Contravention Code has been supplemented with an article referring to the violation of obligations related to carrying out real estate agent activity. Accordingly, individuals providing real estate intermediation services without a valid certificate will be fined up to 15,000 lei. The same sanction applies to individuals who provide such services without a contract. In the case of legal entities, the fine may reach up to 30,000 lei.

“The implementation of the law will contribute to the development of the real estate market, increase tax revenues, combat the informal economy, and attract foreign investments. At the same time, establishing clear standards for the certification of real estate agents, contractual obligations, and supervision of their activity will align the Republic of Moldova with European best practices and ensure a stable and predictable business environment,” it is stated in the explanatory note of the legislative initiative.

The document, drafted by a group of deputies from the “Party of Action and Solidarity” faction, was adopted in the second reading by 53 deputies. The law will enter into force nine months after its publication in the Official Monitor. Individuals and legal entities that have carried out real estate intermediation activities prior to the entry into force of the normative act may continue this activity for another 12 months. During this time, they are required to obtain a professional training certificate and a real estate agent certificate.