FEATURE
Andalusia Approves a New Regulation Code for the Real Estate Sector
The Junta de Andalucía and the Andalusian Consumer Council, with the participation of the Directorate General of Consumer Affairs, presented the Andalusian Real Estate Quality Code (CACI). The code responds to the need to protect the legitimate interests and safety of consumers who use real estate services.
What is the Andalusian Real Estate Quality Code?
The code is a self-regulation initiative for the housing sector. It provides shared criteria intended to improve the quality of professional real estate brokerage services, protect consumers’ economic and social interests, and give participating businesses a practical framework for their work.
It seeks to provide clients with stronger legal safeguards while encouraging professional competence among real estate consultants and discouraging unqualified intermediaries.
Consumers can identify participating agencies through a quality seal granted by the Andalusian Consumer Council. Compliant agencies can use the seal to demonstrate their commitment to the code’s service standards.
Requirements introduced by the code
Participation is voluntary. The code contains twenty articles addressing operating procedures, advertising requirements, consumer information, applications for participation, and dispute resolution.
Participating businesses must:
- Clearly disclose their service fees, including the applicable VAT.
- Respond to complaint and claim forms within a maximum of five days.
- Join the electronic administrative notification system and the Consumer Arbitration System, providing consumers with an additional dispute-resolution safeguard.
- Maintain professional liability insurance with minimum coverage of €600,000 for damage caused in the course of their work.
- Maintain surety insurance of at least €10,000 for money paid in advance.
Promotion and institutional support
The Andalusian Real Estate Quality Code was promoted by the Professional Association of Real Estate Experts, Habitale, the Professional College of Real Estate Agents of Seville, and the business association Unexia Andalucía. It also received support from the Junta de Andalucía and a majority of the Andalusian Consumer Council.
Secretary General of Public Health and Consumption Josefa Ruiz said the regional government had supported the initiative from the outset because it could improve the quality of professional real estate brokerage services and strengthen protection for consumers and users.
The Andalusian Consumer Council also established a sectoral body for real estate intermediation. Its purpose is to reinforce analysis and dialogue within the sector, encourage cooperation among the parties involved, and support proposals and initiatives that defend consumer rights.