The Cyprus Real Estate Agents Registration Council on Monday again voiced concerns over a proposed law that would require all rental and sale contracts for real estate to be drawn up exclusively by lawyers.
The proposal, which is currently before the House legal affairs committee, has been met with strong opposition from the council, which argues that it threatens the viability of the estate agency profession and risks destabilising the broader property market.
In a public statement, the council said the draft legislation “directly harms the profession of estate agents“.
It added that the legislation “places artificial barriers on the exercise of lawful professional duties, which are carried out with responsibility, transparency, and full tax and institutional compliance”.
While the council acknowledges that estate agents do not provide legal services, it said that they “play a critical role” in preparing and facilitating private lease agreements and preliminary purchase arrangements.
“The estate agent’s role in the formation and signing of private agreements for lease or intent to purchase is a pillar of the smooth functioning of the real estate market, especially during times of housing crisis,” the council said.
Moreover, the council laid out several key reasons for its opposition to the proposed amendment.
Chief among them is the assertion that the proposal “violates a fundamental constitutional principle”, which is “the inalienable right of every citizen to freely enter into private agreements with other natural or legal persons without the mandatory presence of third parties“.
“This principle of private autonomy and freedom of contract is a cornerstone of the legal system, recognised by jurisprudence and the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus,” the council stated.
It also warned that the measure would “unnecessarily raise the cost of transactions, placing an additional burden on tenants, buyers, and property owners alike”.
Moreover, it claimed the law would create a monopoly over contract drafting “to the detriment of collaboration and practical implementation of transactions”.
The proposal, the council said, “jeopardises the sustainability of hundreds of licensed estate agents across the country, who would see their professional scope diminished”.
“The role of the estate agent is distinct, essential, and legislatively regulated,” the announcement mentioned.
“The acts from which exclusion is sought are not legal opinions, but organisational and practical components of an agreement, based on standard documents and mutual understanding between the parties,” it added.
Furthermore, the council has demanded “the immediate withdrawal or rejection of any proposal that arbitrarily limits the professional duties of real estate agents“.
“The Cyprus Real Estate Agents Registration Council will stand by every licensed professional and will not allow the distortion or abolition of their professional role,” the announcement stated.
This is not the first time the council has sounded the alarm over legislative moves it believes could erode its members’ rights and responsibilities. In December 2024, the Cyprus Mail reported on an earlier version of the same proposed law.
At that time, the council had similarly criticised the amendment, calling it a direct blow to the profession.
Marinos Kineyirou, president of the council, had warned that the law would “effectively sideline real estate agents from basic real estate transactions”.
He argued that it amounted to an unnecessary legal overreach that would increase transaction costs and exclude professionals who already operate under strict licensing rules.
Kineyirou had also highlighted that such a move contradicted European norms and best practices in real estate transactions.
During that time, the Cyprus Bar Association publicly supported the proposed legislative amendment.
Specifically, the association’s president, Michalis Vorkas, stressed the necessity of this change to ensure legal compliance and protect buyers from potential losses.
He highlighted concerns about the current practice where “even kiosks” sell standard property sale agreements, raising questions about their validity and legal soundness.
Vorkas pointed out that many buyers fail to register their contracts with the land registry, leaving them vulnerable if sellers refuse to transfer property ownership.
Furthermore, Vorkas expressed concerns about the state’s exposure to potential money laundering risks due to the lack of proper oversight in property transactions.
He argued that the Cyprus Bar Association, as the supervisory authority for lawyers, could ensure greater accountability and prevent disputes over ownership and financial transactions.
