This article was translated automatically from Italian.
Estate agents, towards new rules: more training and skills to protect those who buy and sell a home
Estate agents, towards new rules: more training and skills to protect those who buy and sell a home:
The property market has changed profoundly over the last thirty years.
Formalities, technical checks, disclosure obligations and the skills needed to guide a sale and purchase correctly have all increased.
For this reason, the Government has included in the Disegno di legge annuale per il mercato e la concorrenza 2026 a reform of the professional training of brokerage agents. The measure was approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 July 2026, but it must now go through the parliamentary process and may therefore be amended before it comes into force, if it does.
Will a degree become compulsory?
Not exactly.
Some newspaper headlines have spoken of the arrival of a “compulsory degree”, but the proposal more correctly provides for the introduction of a specific university course as an alternative route into the profession.
The text will have to identify the recognised degrees by means of a decree of the Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy, adopted together with the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca. Even those who choose this route should still have to pass a test designed to assess their professional ability.
At present, to enter the profession, it is generally necessary to hold an upper secondary school diploma, attend a recognised professional course and pass an exam at the Camera di commercio.
The new university route, therefore, should not automatically replace the existing one, but sit alongside it.
Continuing training even after qualification
The most significant change, arguably, concerns estate agents who are already qualified.
The reform provides for the introduction of an obligation to undertake continuing professional training and development. It would no longer be enough to obtain the qualification once and carry on practising without demonstrating, over time, that one’s skills are up to date.
The aim is to keep professionals prepared in areas that change rapidly, such as:
- planning and land registry legislation
- property taxation
- energy efficiency
- contracts and leases
- anti-money laundering
- privacy and data processing
- digital tools and new technologies
- professional liability and consumer protection
The bill to reform the profession, presented to the Senate, also provides for possible consequences for those who fail to meet the training obligations, up to suspension and, in the event of repeated breaches, being barred from practising.
The procedures, the duration of the courses, the credits required and the monitoring systems will nevertheless have to be defined precisely during the legislative process and through the implementing measures that follow.
Why the reform matters to those selling a home too
A property sale does not consist merely of publishing an advert, organising a few viewings and putting seller and buyer in touch.
An estate agent must be able to recognise and manage numerous elements that can affect the security of the transaction:
- the origin of the property
- correct identification in the land registry
- the presence of mortgages or other encumbrances
- the regularity of the documentation
- the conditions precedent included in the offer
- the handling of the sums paid
- the disclosure obligations towards the parties
- the tax and contractual consequences of the transaction
Naturally, the estate agent does not replace the notary, the surveyor, the solicitor or the accountant. But they must be able to identify problems, coordinate the various professionals and prevent important issues from emerging only on the eve of the deed of sale.
Insufficient preparation can result in delays, abandoned negotiations, disputes or financial losses for both parties.
Greater professionalism means greater security
The law governing the profession of broker dates back to 1989, when the market, digital tools and a considerable part of property legislation were very different from those of today.
The introduction of more structured training routes and continuing development can therefore help to raise the average quality of the sector.
For the consumer, the benefit should be tangible: relying on better prepared professionals, able to explain the steps of the transaction clearly and to work in a coordinated way with surveyors, notaries, lenders and advisers.
Current legislation already requires estate agents to hold insurance cover against professional risks. Continuing training would add a further level of protection, acting not only on the consequences of mistakes but also on their prevention.
A qualification is not enough to make a good estate agent
A degree or a refresher course cannot, on their own, guarantee integrity, experience and professional ability.
Knowledge of the local area, transparency, organisation of work, the ability to value a property realistically and the willingness to point out even what might make it harder to complete the deal all remain fundamental.
A good agent is not one who always promises the highest price or assures you that every problem will be easily solved. It is one who provides reliable information, documents their valuations and puts the client in a position to make informed decisions.
A reform still under way
It is important to remember that, at the moment, we are looking at a legislative proposal and not at new rules that are already in operation.
The competition bill will have to be examined by Parliament. During this process, the entry requirements, the number of training hours, the monitoring arrangements and any penalties may change.
The direction taken, however, appears clear: to gradually transform the estate agent from a mere commercial intermediary into a qualified professional, subject to constant development and held more accountable towards clients.
For those buying or selling a property, this evolution may represent an extra guarantee in one of the most important financial decisions of a lifetime.
Alessandro Langella
Founder of Pavé, Milan
He knows Milan through years of hands-on market experience, properties visited and neighbourhoods watched as they changed.
