In September last year, 26-year-old Julienne Umuhoza from Musanze District arrived in Kigali after securing a job in the city. Around 1 p.m., she reached Nyabugogo Bus Park and began searching for a house, asking passersby for broker contacts. A young man approached her, claiming to be a broker. I asked him to help me find a nearby house to rent. My budget was around Rwf60,000 per month. He said his commission was Rwf7,000 and requested part of it upfront before showing me the house, she recalled. After handing him the money, the man asked to use her phone to call the landlord. “As soon as he got the phone, he ran away. I was left in shock,” she said. ALSO READ: Three arrested over land transfer fraud: How it unfolded Such scams are common due to the lack of regulation in the real estate brokerage sector, affecting both low- and high-end property seekers. In 2023, Kais Al Kais, a Danish national investing in a garage business in Rwanda, faced a similar issue. While attempting to buy land in Gikondo, he paid Rwf20 million and a Toyota RAV4 worth Rwf25 million as commission to Philbert Byosemana, who posed as a real estate agent. When the land registration fell through, Byosemana refused to refund the commission. The matter ended up in court. In 2024, the court ordered Byosemana to return the money and compensate Al Kais for additional expenses. ALSO READ: Three arrested over land transfer fraud: How it unfolded No regulation, no accountability Experts blame these recurring problems on the absence of legal frameworks governing real estate brokers. Currently, there is no regulatory body or legislation overseeing brokerage activities. The lack of regulation leaves room for fraudsters to pose as brokers, said Patrick Rugendo, a broker based in Nyarugenge District. A regulatory body would also protect legitimate brokers from dishonest clients who refuse to pay commission. He noted that some clients exploit the system by pretending to reject a property, only to return later and close the deal directly with the landlord, bypassing the broker. Benjamin Abijuru, Managing Director of Esercos Ltd, a brokerage firm, echoed the concern. “I’ve tried to professionalize my services with formal contracts and structured processes, but clients often prefer informal agents who avoid documentation.” Joseph Rutiyomba, Chairperson of the Real Estate Professionals’ Association (RWAREB), said the need for regulation has long been raised but remains unaddressed. “We currently rely on general laws that don’t specifically cover brokerage,” he said. RWAREB is working on issuing certification for members and publishing their details online to enhance transparency and accountability. We're collaborating with the Private Sector Federation (PSF), the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, and the National Land Authority (NLA), he added. Marie-Grace Nishimwe, Director General of NLA, confirmed that discussions are ongoing. “We met with real estate agents last year and recognized the urgent need for regulation,” she said.
