Tunisian Real Estate Sector Faces Critical Phase
The Tunisian real estate sector is going through a critical phase, marked by structural disorganization and multiple threats that weaken the profession. In response to this situation, Mohsen Chaabani, president of the Groupement Professionnel des Agences Immobilières (GPAI) under the CONECT, is calling for an urgent overhaul of the regulatory and institutional framework. According to him, the group's mission is to organize and secure the real estate agent profession, which is currently exposed to unfair competition from unlicensed intermediaries, the absence of a modern specification book, and risks related to money laundering and fraud.
GPAI Gains Visibility and Influence
Since its transfer to the CONECT after several years under the UTICA, the GPAI claims to have gained visibility and influence. This new institutional framework allows for more effective advocacy with ministries and increased recognition within the national economic ecosystem. Starting with seven founding agencies, the group now has around 100 members and aims to have between 500 and 700 members in the medium term. It is also expanding regionally, announcing the upcoming creation of branches in Kairouan and Monastir, with the goal of establishing around ten representations across the country.
Market Remains Fragmented and Vulnerable
Although the market remains promising, it is still fragmented and vulnerable. The most serious threats come from unlicensed intermediaries and non-resident foreigners who practice the profession illegally. These practices, strictly prohibited by law, pose a danger that goes beyond the economic framework, warns Chaabani. They can be linked to money laundering, terrorism financing, and espionage activities, compromising national security. On the other hand, licensed agencies, subject to the control of the Ministry of Commerce, declare their revenues and guarantee the traceability of financial flows through the Central Bank. Unlicensed intermediaries operate without control and tarnish Tunisia's image among investors and expatriates.
Efforts to Sanitize the Profession
To sanitize the profession, the GPAI is focusing its efforts on two major projects: the overhaul of the specification book, which has remained unchanged since the 1980s, and the creation of an Order of Real Estate Agents. The new text, currently under discussion with the Ministry of Commerce, will impose more rigorous criteria in terms of competence, training level, and morality. The Order will have the mission of framing the profession, ensuring respect for the code of ethics, and sanctioning deviations. A professional oath could even be introduced to strengthen the profession's ethics. Chaabani hopes to see these reforms come to fruition within one to two years.
Professionalization Efforts
In a professionalization effort, the GPAI is multiplying training and events aimed at raising the standards of the sector. A notable innovation is the introduction of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) applied to real estate, a first in Tunisia and on the African continent. This approach aims to perfect communication, behavior, and presentation of agents, considered as true ambassadors of the country among international clients.
Integration and Collaboration
The group is also adopting an open policy towards unlicensed intermediaries and fake agencies, seeking to integrate them into a legal framework and train them to contribute to the formal economy. It promotes collaboration between professionals through a system of real estate exchanges between licensed agencies, thus favoring a structured and transparent network. This dynamism benefits the entire economic chain, mobilizing accountants, architects, insurers, notaries, and bankers.
Call to Action
Finally, Mohsen Chaabani calls on the authorities to continue their efforts to control and regulate the sector. He praises the "majestic work" of the Ministry of Commerce, which closed over fifty fake agencies during the summer, and insists on the need to maintain this vigilance in such a sensitive sector. His message to non-member agencies is clear: "Join us. The more numerous we are, the stronger we will be," he recalls, inviting his colleagues to benefit from the legal framework, training, and quality labels offered by the GPAI.
