BROKERS who repeatedly release false rental information will have their service license revoked and will be barred from working in the industry for two years, according to the code of practice for the city’s housing rental brokerage industry recently issued by the Shenzhen Real Estate Intermediary Association.

Housing rental service refers to the activities of housing rental brokerage agencies and brokers to provide housing rental agency and intermediary services to consumers.

As per relevant rules, housing rental brokerage agencies and their brokers in Shenzhen are required to register under their real names and provide services with their licenses. Rental information can only be released to the public by licensed housing rental brokerage agencies and brokers.

The code specifies that housing rental brokerage agencies and brokers are prohibited from disclosing false information to damage or slander their competitors’ reputation, as well as from publicizing advertisements that are antithetical to the industry’s fair competition.

First-time offenders will be barred from the industry for one month, while repeat offenders will be barred for three months.

The broker’s service license will be revoked for a third violation, and the offender will be barred from working in the industry for two years in accordance with relevant regulations.

During this time, housing rental brokerage firms are prohibited from employing the offender.

Rental brokerage agencies will be blacklisted and will be unable to apply for star service within two years of being blacklisted if they are found hiring banned brokers or brokers with revoked service licenses.

(Zhang Yu)