The Finance Police have uncovered 9 illegal real estate agents who were selling homes and receiving commissions without the right to do so. Eight of them have been fined 5,000 euros each, while A.B. has been reported for being a repeat offender. The Finance Police have reported the involved real estate agency, Domofacile, to the Chamber of Commerce for possible disciplinary measures. During the investigations, it was discovered that some external business procurers, used by the real estate agency, were actually conducting real estate mediation without the required authorization. The nine alleged real estate agents managed all aspects of negotiations with clients, showing properties, and liaising with other professionals involved. However, according to the Finance Police's reconstruction, they were not registered in the appropriate section of the Business Register and did not possess the qualifications of real estate agents, which require specific moral and professional prerequisites. Each first-time offending illegal intermediary received an administrative fine ranging from 7,500 to 15,000 euros, reduced to 5,000 euros if paid within sixty days. A.B., who had previously been fined in November 2022 for the same violation related to another agency branch, now closed in Piovene Rocchette, has been reported to the judicial authorities as a recidivist. In case of conviction, he’ll face six months to three years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 euros. The Chamber of Commerce of Vicenza will now decide whether to temporarily suspend the agency's activities. This recent check by the Finance Police is the latest effort to combat illegal real estate activities. In the recent past, three other illegal agents who were not registered in the Business Register's appropriate section and a capital company engaging in real estate mediation without meeting legal requirements were fined several thousand euros, and reports were made to the Chamber of Commerce. "It's important for clients to verify the identity of intermediaries and make sure they are authorized," emphasizes the provincial commander of the Finance Police, Cosmo Virgilio. Clients can easily check on the Chamber of Commerce site and, if in doubt, consult federations, industry associations, or the Finance Police. The law also allows clients to request a refund of the commission if the intermediary is found to be operating illegally.
(GdV, martedì 23 gennaio)