The aim of this thesis is to define problems in the field of real-estate activities related to business ethics, to explore causes of their origin and to search for possible solutions to improve the present condition. We will get acquainted with the conception of business ethics, their history, place of origin, driving motives and we will learn what the most widely used instruments of business ethics are. This work is dedicated especially to those problems of the Czech real-estate market which are related to business ethics and which are the most discussed ones. The possibilities of supervision over using ethic rules in business and possibilities of legal protection represent significant importance. Via research we will point out the experience and opinions of employees of real-estate agencies concerning business ethics, we will learn their opinion as to the sense of the most used business ethics instrument – code of ethics, the possibilities of its application and checking. Based on results of this research we will try to propose recommendations leading to improvement of present condition.

The aim of my thesis is to focus on issues of ethics in real estate operations and search optimal criteria for ethics in the real estate business. I mention ethical codes and their application and rationale at work of real estate agencies and professional associations. Furthermore I explore the real estate market in the Czech Republic in terms of ethics and I mention characteristics of ethically solid agencies, however I will also devote most common unfair practices within the real estate business and the current problems of the real estate market, which do not contribute to an ethical environment in business. Using the survey I examine thinking about ethics in the real estate business from two perspectives, namely from the perspective of the client, whether former, current or potential, and from the perspective of real estate agencies and brokers.

This thesis addresses the exception regarding lawyers in the Swedish fastighetsmäklarlagens §5 and aims to understand the background and meaning of the exception. Further the thesis addresses whether the main purpose of the estate agents act, the protection of consumers, is satisfying when a lawyer is practicing real estate agency. The study is based on the Swedish fastighetsmäklarlagen and aims to investigate the application of the act on both real estate agents and lawyers as they convey real estate. In order to clarify and understand the application of the law and to receive a view of the specific characteristics of each occupation, the occupational roles are investigated in detail and compared. The act distinguishes between conveying real estate professionally and conveying on single occasions. The demarcation of the concept determines whether the person conveying real estate is obliged to follow fastighetsmäklarlagen or not. A lawyer that is professionally conveying real estate should, according to Sveriges Advokatsamfund, practice the intermediary within the lawyer’s activity. Since professional ethics in practicing real estate agency and practicing law is incompatible the lawyer is obliged to make an assessment of what is professional intermediary within and outside the lawyer’s activities. The study points out that the boundary should be clarified in order for the lawyer to facilitate the assessment. The exception in the Swedish fastighetsmäklarlagen is important if a lawyer is professionally conveying real estate within the lawyer’s activity, but if the intermediary is solely within the lawyer’s general activity the exception has no function. A lawyer is suitable to pursue only those activities that are included within the scope of legal services, including intermediary corresponding to advocacy and not professional intermediary. For those situations that can be listed as professional intermediary, a real estate agent should be hired. Consideration whether the §5 should be changed or removed is required. / Uppsatsen behandlar undantaget avseende advokater i fastighetsmäklarlagens 5 § och syftar på att förstå undantagets bakgrund och innebörd. Vidare behandlar uppsatsen huruvida fastighetsmäklarlagens huvudsakliga syfte, konsumentskyddet, tillgodoses då en advokat utövar fastighetsförmedling. Studien utgår från fastighetsmäklarlagen och utreder lagens tillämpning på respektive yrkesroll, fastighetsmäklaren och advokaten, vid förmedling av fastigheter. För att få klarhet i och förstå tillämpningen av lagen utreds yrkesrollerna ingående samt jämförs för att ge en inblick i yrkesspecifika egenskaper. Lagen skiljer på den som yrkesmässigt förmedlar och den som enbart förmedlar vid något enstaka tillfälle. Gränsdragning avseende förmedlingsbegreppet avgör huruvida den som utövar förmedlingen har skyldighet att följa fastighetsmäklarlagen eller inte. En advokat som yrkesmässigt förmedlar fastigheter ska, enligt Sveriges advokatsamfund, utöva förmedlingen inom ramen för advokatens verksamhet. Då god fastighetsmäklarsed och god advokatsed är oförenliga medför det att advokaten själv måste göra en bedömning av vad som är yrkesmässig förmedling inom och utom ramen för advokatens verksamhet. I studien menas att gränsdragningen bör tydliggöras för att underlätta advokatens bedömning. Undantaget i fastighetsmäklarlagen kan ha betydelse om advokaten yrkesmässigt förmedlar inom ramen för sin verksamhet, men fyller ingen funktion i de fall då advokaten enbart förmedlar inom ramen för advokatens generella verksamhet. Advokaten är lämplig att ägna sig åt enbart sådan verksamhet som ingår inom ramen för advokatverksamhet, däribland förmedling som motsvarar advokatverksamhet och inte yrkesmässig förmedling. I de förmedlingsfall som kan räknas till yrkesmässig förmedlingsverksamhet bör istället en fastighetsmäklare anlitas. Det bör övervägas om 5 § ska förändras och undantaget avlägsnas