Four real estate agents in Dubai have been hit with hefty fines and suspended from working for three months, it has emerged.
The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), the enforcement arm of Dubai Land Department (DLD), has taken action against four brokers found to be making unsolicited ‘cold calls’ to sell properties.
Emirates247 cited a statement from DLD that reportedly said: “RERA, the regulatory arm of DLD, has fined four real estate brokers and stopped them from work for three months for the reason of not obeying the recent circular of not contacting and text messaging the property owners without prior authorisation from their side.”
Agents found to be using telemarketing data to make unsolicited calls to members of the public to see if they are interested in buying or leasing real estate face fines up to AED50,000 ($13,600), according to DLD.
Emirates247 quoted RERA director Ali Abdulla Al Ali as saying: “Though we have already taken action against two brokers, we are now going to take action against any broker who does not adhere to the regulations released in relations to unsolicited marketing calls.”
“Soliciting unauthorised people through SMS, calls and WhatsApp is not allowed at all. If the brokers think they are smart, we are smarter than them.”
New4News911 has contacted DLD for further information.