Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Elma Dienda says it is crucial that property practitioners have the relevant skills, competencies and qualifications to practise.
She says Namibia experiences constant conflict between property agents, rental property owners and tenants.
Dienda said this while contributing to the property practioner’s bill discussion in the parliament on Wednesday.
She said property agents often refuse to repay tenants’ deposits when they vacate premises.
“This has caused a terrible working relationship between property agents, rental property owners and tenants. This has caused people not wanting to work with property agents, undermining the entire industry,” Dienda said.
“Another important concern is the skills, competencies and qualifications needed to be a property practitioner. Currently, property practitioners in Namibia and most countries don’t need formal qualifications, and this is what the property practitioners bill fails to address.”
She said the bill currently mentions a once-off examination for potential candidates only.
Dienda said due to the absence of the requirement to formalise and introduce formal qualifications in the bill, the industry is not respected enough.
“We therefore need a complete overhaul of the practising requirements of property practitioners. All in all, the property practitioners bill is good, together with a property practitioners regulatory authority,” she said.
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