An unregistered salesperson who posted flyers in public places was fined S$21,000 on Wednesday. He was charged under the Estate Agents Act. The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) charged 59-year-old Lum Chap Heng in court on 14 November for posting flyers carrying his mobile number to advertise for landlords and tenants. Lum also represented a flat owner and helped her find potential tenants for her...
Property Agents
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the transformation of the real estate industry has only just begun. He said what used to be regarded as a "cowboy" industry is now characterised by a more systematic and professional process of proper registration and licensing of property agents by the Council of Estate Agencies (CEA). He added that of the more than 100,000 property transactions each...
The first Public Perception Survey by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has found that most consumers are satisfied with their property agents. Eight out of 10 said they were satisfied with the conduct and services provided. Seven out of 10 planned to recommend their agents to others. Top of the list was service excellence with agents being contactable, responsive to queries and courteous at all...
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has launched a mobile version of its online Public Register of Estate Agents and Salespersons. Called "CEA@SG", the new mobile application is CEA's first app for devices running on iOS and Android platforms. It features the same search functions as those offered on the Public Register on CEA's website (www.cea.gov.sg). With the app, members of the public can now...
Visible changes have been made over the last two years to improve the standard of real estate agencies, but more changes might be on the way, experts at a National Real Estate Congress said yesterday. The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) was set up in October 2010 to enhance regulations for the industry, which has about 1,500 agencies and 32,000 licensed agents. The statutory board provides regulatory...
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) is watching over the rise of so-called “rental coordinators”, who perform similar functions to legitimate property agents, according to Straits Times. Property firms typically attract individuals who want to work as rental coordinators by offering attractive commission earnings of up to S$10,000 a month. The CEA has observed that in recent months, there have been...
A man who positioned himself as a salesperson has been taken to task by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). CEA has filed six charges against Tan Hock Khin, 41. The charges against Tan include holding himself out as a salesperson without being registered with the council, and for impeding CEA inspectors from lawfully gathering evidence of the offences. CEA's allegations are that Tan was not...
With the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) coming down hard on the industry, there is a growing need for real estate agents to protect themselves. As estate agents look to renew their license this month, many will also be updating their professional indemnity insurance to help safeguard their rights. “By taking up the right type of Real Estate Professional Indemnity Insurance coverage, it also takes...
Two property agents have become the first to be punished under the Council for Estate Agencies' (CEA's) disciplinary framework. Under the framework, sales persons who breach its Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care will face disciplinary action. The Disciplinary Committee may, upon determination of the breach, reprimand the sales person, revoke or suspend registration, impose a financial penalty...
Another unregistered estate agent has been sentenced. 48-year-old Lim Beng Kwang is the third unregistered salesperson to be sentenced this year under the Estate Agents Act. Lim was fined S$6,000 for holding himself out as a salesperson, when he was not registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). Another count of him doing estate agency business without a licence was taken into...