So far this year, 912 reports have been filed against real estate agents to the Real Estate Agent Inspectorate (FMI), which is the supervisory authority for Sweden's real estate agents.
What we've seen in recent years is that the reports follow the market quite closely, says Jacob Bucht, communicator at FMI.
In 2021, a total of 1,841 reports were filed. But then there was an enormous boom in the housing market, according to Bucht.
Incorrect marketing is the most common reason for reporting, for example, if the real estate agent has stated the wrong number of rooms or living area in the ad. It can also be about bait prices.
Must be registered
To be able to work as a real estate agent, you must be registered with FMI. In the event of deficiencies, FMI's disciplinary board can decide on penalties. Most common is a reprimand or warning, but in the case of serious deficiencies, the registration can be revoked entirely.
So far this year, the disciplinary board has made 201 decisions, of which 196 have resulted in penalties.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of revoked registrations. In 2021, eight revocations were made, the following year 16. Last year, 30 were revoked, and so far this year 27.
Last year, FMI launched a new type of annual review regarding the statutory requirement for real estate agents' honesty and suitability.
This means that you cannot have been convicted of certain types of crimes, and it also means that you cannot have too large debts over time, says Bucht.
More caught in checks
Now, extracts from the police's criminal records and the Enforcement Authority are being requested in a more systematic way.
Then more people get caught in the checks.
Last year, there were also more who had not paid the annual fee – a reason for revocation.
FMI has also had a clearer focus on more serious offenses, and the disciplinary board has acted more severely with harsher penalties.
This can be things like suspected money laundering schemes, for example, says Bucht.
But generally, it's only a few of Sweden's 7,623 real estate agents who do wrong.
We have a very well-behaved real estate agent corps, says Bucht.
Hanna Rasmusson/TT
Facts: Reports against real estate agents
TT
Reports against real estate agents
2024: 912*
2023: 798
2022: 998
2021: 1,748
Decisions on revocation of registration
2024: 27*
2023: 30
2022: 16
2021: 8
* Period January-November
Source: Real Estate Agent Inspectorate
