La reciente creación de una comisión entre el Gobierno Central y el Govern Balear para abordar las discrepancias sobre la regulación de los agentes inmobiliarios (APIs) contenida en la Ley 3/2024 de medidas urgentes en materia de vivienda, impulsada y aprobada por el Parlament de las Islas Baleares, abre un nuevo capítulo en la difícil y a menudo frustrante relación entre administraciones. A raíz de la postura del Gobierno de Pedro Sánchez, que cuestiona algunos aspectos clave de esta normativa, surge una oportunidad para debatir y, esperemos, llegar a acuerdos que sirvan para proteger a los consumidores y fomentar la transparencia en un sector tan crucial como el inmobiliario.
The Central Government’s challenge primarily concerns the mandatory nature of the Real Estate Agents Registry. This registry was designed as an essential tool to ensure that those engaged in real estate brokerage operate within a framework of transparency and professionalism. The requirement to be registered should not be seen as a restriction on the practice of the profession but rather as a protective measure for both consumers and agents themselves.
In fact, the aim of this regulation is not to limit the entry of professionals into the market, but to ensure that those who act in it do so with the appropriate knowledge and training. As established in the law, real estate agents must comply with a series of training requirements that allow them to offer a service that guarantees legal security in transactions, correct information on properties and, above all, consumer protection. In a real estate market as complex as the Balearic one, where access to housing is one of the great challenges of our society, the regulation and professionalization of intermediaries is more necessary than ever.
It is important to remember that this regulation was the result of a consensus between the PP and the PSIB-PSOE, agreed during the amendment phase of the processing of the law in Parliament. The fact that it has been promoted by both parties shows that we are not talking about a partisan or ideological proposal, but a measure of general interest that seeks to improve the quality of the real estate market in the Balearic Islands. The creation of the registry, therefore, is not a mere bureaucratic formality, but a response to the need to increase transparency and security in a sector that handles large volumes of money and directly affects the lives of citizens.
The Sanchez government’s questioning of whether this registry is compatible with state law is, to say the least, worrying. Real estate brokerage responds to a general interest that affects both public safety and consumer protection. The real estate market of the Balearic Islands has unique characteristics, and not all national regulations respond to the particularities of our islands. It is essential that the commission created between both administrations takes into account these specificities and does not delay the implementation of a regulation that has already been debated, negotiated and approved.
A prolonged delay in the implementation of these measures could have serious consequences. We are talking about a possible paralysis of investments in the sector, a blow that the islands cannot afford. We cannot forget that access to housing is one of the most pressing problems in our community, and any measure that contributes to easing the market, protecting consumers and guaranteeing a safer environment for transactions must be implemented as quickly as possible.
From ABINI, we are confident that the Government and the Central Government will reach an agreement that will allow progress in the regulation of the real estate sector. It is necessary for the Bilateral Commission to be agile and efficient in its negotiations so as not to harm either consumers or real estate agents. Uncertainty is not an option. It is vital that the necessary measures are put in place as soon as possible so that the market can continue to function optimally and the citizens of the Balearic Islands have access to a safer, more transparent and fairer real estate market.
