Exams, Accreditation, and Open Registry: New Real Estate Agent Regulation System Prepared in Ukraine

The Verkhovna Rada is considering bill No. 16145, which fundamentally changes the rules of operation in Ukraine's real estate market. The document, co-authored by the head of the parliamentary committee Olena Shulyak, introduces a two-tier admission system to the profession of real estate agent, mandatory qualification exams, accreditation, and the creation of an open Unified Register of Specialists. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Shulyak.

Two-Tier Admission System

The bill divides market participants into two categories. The first level is a "real estate specialist," meaning an individual who, in order to work legally, must undergo professional training, pass a qualification exam, and receive a corresponding certificate. In addition, specialists will be required to upgrade their qualifications at least once every two years; if this requirement is not met, the validity of the certificate is automatically suspended. The second level is a "real estate agent," which can be an individual entrepreneur or a company employing at least one real estate specialist. The head of such an agent must also hold the appropriate status. Only accredited agents entered into the Unified Register will be able to provide intermediary services.

Unified Register: Transparency for Every Buyer

A key element of the new system will be the Unified Register, which, according to the text of the bill, will be open, free, and available around the clock. Using the number indicated in the real estate advertisement, any user will be able to check whether the specialist's certificate is valid, whether the agent has accreditation, which company the realtor works for, and whether disciplinary sanctions have been applied against them. Thus, legislators intend to turn the register into a tool for the daily protection of consumer rights in the housing market.

Restrictions and Ban on Work in Occupied Territories

The bill establishes a number of restrictions for admission to the profession: individuals who fall under criteria provided by law will not be able to work in the real estate sector. Separately, it is proposed to ban the provision of real estate services in temporarily occupied territories—including via websites, social networks, and messengers. This provision is aimed at preventing the legalization of housing transactions in areas controlled by the adversary.

Main Debate: Single Union or Multiple Self-Regulatory Organizations

According to Shulyak, the most acute issue in discussing the bill remains the question of who will maintain the register and bear responsibility for the discipline of specialists. Bill No. 16145 provides for the creation of a single Ukrainian Union of Real Estate Specialists with mandatory membership. An alternative document—bill No. 16145-1, registered on October 27, 2026—proposes a model with multiple self-regulatory organizations. Shulyak argues the position in favor of a single body by stating that competition between several structures for members could lead to rivalry not in the quality of control, but in leniency toward violators. As a visual example, the MP cited the Netherlands: in 2001, the protection of the broker title was abolished there, and regulation was transferred to voluntary associations. Subsequently, the largest of them admitted that they did not apply their own rules strictly for fear of losing members. On October 1, 2026, the Minister of Housing Policy of the Netherlands announced the preparation of mandatory registration of realtors, which, according to Shulyak, confirms the flaw in the completely voluntary model.

Safeguards and Next Steps

At the same time, Shulyak acknowledges that the monopoly of a single organization on admission to the profession can create risks of inflated membership fees, opacity, and corruption. To prevent such phenomena, the bill provides a number of restrictions and control mechanisms. The authors of the document stated their readiness to strengthen safeguard mechanisms before the second reading. Shulyak also invited the authors of the alternative bill and professional associations to work together in the committee. Let me remind you that earlier the Verkhovna Rada supported reducing the personal income tax for owners who rent out real estate: the rate is proposed to be reduced from 18% to 5%, which, combined with the military levy, will reduce the total tax burden from 23% to 10%.