They want to oblige realtors to refund the commission when canceling transactions.

The security forces offered to refund the money to the buyers for the services of real estate agents in case the transaction is declared invalid.

Law enforcement agencies have taken the initiative to introduce a special procedure for regulating the work of intermediaries in the housing market. It is proposed to oblige brokers to return remuneration to clients if the purchase and sale agreement was subsequently annulled by the court. According to the available documents, this proposal is being considered for inclusion in the updated package of measures to combat cybercrime (the so-called "Antifraud 3.0").

The supervisory authority explained that the tightening of banking controls forced the attackers to shift their focus to fraud with square meters. Citizens who have lost their roof over their heads find themselves in an extremely vulnerable position, which, according to the initiators, increases the risks of their involvement in illegal activities. However, a final decision on this issue has not yet been made: the relevant agency insists on obtaining additional analytical data from the registration authorities before developing a unified position.

However, the registration authority itself was skeptical about this idea. They remind us that a similar topic was already raised during the formation of the previous anti-fraud package, but then they considered it necessary to take it beyond the scope of the measures under discussion. Representatives of the service clarified that they see no reason to introduce special rules specifically in the format of an emergency bill, although in general they do not deny the need to monitor the real estate sector. According to them, consideration of colleagues' proposals is possible only after their official registration.

The Ministry of Digital Development also did not support the power unit. They stressed that fraud in the construction sector and housing transactions is not one of the IT crimes that this document is being created to counter. The ministry noted that the regulation of the intermediary services market is not within their competence, and the current discussion is only a working stage, and it is too early to talk about the final composition of the "package".

Market experts, on the contrary, consider the proposed mechanism timely. According to statistics, transactions involving a professional consultant are indeed less likely to end in fraudulent schemes than independent purchases. However, the level of protection is still significantly inferior to notary transactions or transactions through digital platforms. At the same time, the frequency of deception in transactions with intermediaries has increased significantly over the past few years. Analysts note that invalidation of the contract now does not automatically deprive the broker of the right to a commission, as executors often limit their responsibility solely to "organizational" issues. The innovation will create an incentive for deeper verification of the cleanliness of facilities and will allow agents to refuse to work with dubious sellers.

The professional community recognizes that the average commission on the secondary market is several percent of the object's price, and in the case of urgent or premium sales, it can reach more significant values. Increasing responsibility for the results of the transaction is perceived as a logical step. However, there are concerns that a full refund upon invalidation of the transaction may be an excessively harsh measure. The results are influenced by many factors beyond the control of the intermediary: the subsequent bankruptcy of the parties, litigation between the heirs, or other circumstances that cannot be foreseen. Alternatively, the introduction of limited liability or the return of only part of the commission is being discussed, as well as the establishment of a statute of limitations for such claims.

Legal experts add that the problem of "black" transactions existed long before the high-profile scandals, and it is incorrect to associate the new initiative solely with isolated cases.

It is also possible to refund money for services under current legislation if the agent's obligations are clearly stated in the contract and the fact of violation on his part is proved. The burden of proving the quality of the work, including thorough verification of documents, lies with the contractor. However, it is unfair to impose full responsibility on all market participants, since agents are not always able to identify the criminal intent of the seller or the hidden judicial encumbrances of the object.