Estate agents will have to join a professional register under plans announced by Housing Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan (D66) in a letter to parliament.
Agents who do not register, or who are struck off, would be barred from working.
At present anyone can work as an agent.
Industry bodies such as the NVM have codes of conduct, but the minister says these are rarely enforced.
Homeowners’ association Vereniging Eigen Huis received hundreds of complaints this year about misconduct in house sales, often about buyers not being allowed to see bidding logs.
The minister concluded that the sector’s own rules do too little to correct behaviour and that she has to set the rules herself.
Standards in law
Registered agents would follow legal conduct standards built on transparency, accurate information and equal treatment, and consumers could take complaints to an existing disputes committee.
Details, including whether rental services are covered and how to curb fee rises, are expected early next year.
The NVM backs the plan but wants agents to prove their qualifications before registering, arguing that a register without them offers false assurance.
Choosing an agent? Start with our guide to the best estate agents in Amsterdam.