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29-05-12, 23:43
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/specials/property/more-rogue-property-agents-surfacing
Published May 29, 2012
More rogue property agents surfacing
Council for Estate Agencies advises clients to check that agent is registered
By michelle tan
[SINGAPORE] As public awareness of unregistered property sales people gains traction, more rogue agents are expected to be uncovered.
In fact, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA), which helps regulate the real estate agency industry here, says it will have its hands full over the coming months as it tries to prosecute unregistered agents who have been carrying out estate agency work illegally.
Recently, unregistered agent Raymond Sim Soon Leong was sentenced to a fine of $40,000, or in default eight weeks' imprisonment, for flouting rules under the Estate Agents Act and Regulations.
Describing himself as a sales director of a licensed estate agent, Sim had put up advertisements for the rental of two HDB flats via an online property site and represented clients in making offers for properties despite not being registered with the CEA and not having written agreement with the estate agency for him to practise. His deeds were uncovered when his clients lodged a complaint against him for impersonating a registered salesperson after they found out that the photo of the named person shown on CEA's Public Register of Estate Agents and Salespersons did not match Sim's appearance.
"This case illustrates the importance of checking the identity of a salesperson on the Public Register before consumers engage any salesperson for his or her services," said the CEA.
So far, the CEA has convicted two persons for flouting rules this year with another awaiting a further court hearing on June 21.
The first unregistered salesperson to be prosecuted by the CEA was Tan Cher Peng, who was sentenced to a fine and jail term on Jan 12 this year.
The CEA advises consumers to engage only sales agents who are registered with the body and says they ask for the salesperson's registration number to verify that he is indeed listed on the public register before engaging his services. The council also said the public should not respond to any real estate agency flyer or advertisement that does not provide a salesperson's details or registration number.
Published May 29, 2012
More rogue property agents surfacing
Council for Estate Agencies advises clients to check that agent is registered
By michelle tan
[SINGAPORE] As public awareness of unregistered property sales people gains traction, more rogue agents are expected to be uncovered.
In fact, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA), which helps regulate the real estate agency industry here, says it will have its hands full over the coming months as it tries to prosecute unregistered agents who have been carrying out estate agency work illegally.
Recently, unregistered agent Raymond Sim Soon Leong was sentenced to a fine of $40,000, or in default eight weeks' imprisonment, for flouting rules under the Estate Agents Act and Regulations.
Describing himself as a sales director of a licensed estate agent, Sim had put up advertisements for the rental of two HDB flats via an online property site and represented clients in making offers for properties despite not being registered with the CEA and not having written agreement with the estate agency for him to practise. His deeds were uncovered when his clients lodged a complaint against him for impersonating a registered salesperson after they found out that the photo of the named person shown on CEA's Public Register of Estate Agents and Salespersons did not match Sim's appearance.
"This case illustrates the importance of checking the identity of a salesperson on the Public Register before consumers engage any salesperson for his or her services," said the CEA.
So far, the CEA has convicted two persons for flouting rules this year with another awaiting a further court hearing on June 21.
The first unregistered salesperson to be prosecuted by the CEA was Tan Cher Peng, who was sentenced to a fine and jail term on Jan 12 this year.
The CEA advises consumers to engage only sales agents who are registered with the body and says they ask for the salesperson's registration number to verify that he is indeed listed on the public register before engaging his services. The council also said the public should not respond to any real estate agency flyer or advertisement that does not provide a salesperson's details or registration number.