EACZ to continue crackdown on illegal estate agent...

EACZ to continue crackdown on illegal estate agents

Audrey Galawu

The Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe is currently in Mutare where they are carrying out a blitz on illegal estate agents.

Last week, the Council and the Zimbabwe Republic Police carried out a blitz targeting unregistered and illegal estate agencies.

EACZ spokesperson, Lazarus Sauti revealed that the blitz is still ongoing.

EACZ said the compliance department last week visited six illegal firms and one firm was found practicing unregistered.

“Aureum Gates, located at 75 Cleveland Road, Greendale, Harare, was discovered to be in operation despite not being registered with the EAC.

“Offer forms and receipts books were seized and handed to the ZRP Licence Inspectorate.

The public is urged to only do business with registered agents only to protect themselves from being duped by unregistered and illegal estate agencies,” EACZ said.

The EACZ requires that all operating in the sector be registered with the council for purposes of accountability.

Fake estate agents are rampant in urban areas, scamming home seekers through costly fees for non-existent properties.

Last year, council blacklisted 75 fake estate agents for operating illegally.

The council has also raised concern over the number of individuals who have been swindled by fake estate agents who are operating through online platforms.

EACZ is a regulatory body formed by an Act of Parliament, to provide for the registration of estate agents and the regulation of the practice of estate agents in Zimbabwe as well as to provide for the operation of the Estate Agents Compensation Fund.