210 property agents disqualified
SOURCE: Joanne Chan
SINGAPORE: 210 property agents have had their registration applications rejected and will no longer be allowed to practise from Saturday.
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SOURCE: Joanne Chan
SINGAPORE: 210 property agents have had their registration applications rejected and will no longer be allowed to practise from Saturday.
Industry regulator, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA), said the individuals were found to either have criminal records or records of offences involving fraud and dishonesty and deemed to be not "fit and proper" to be property agents.
However, some of those rejected said it was all in the past.
30-year-old Mr Lim is one such agent.
"I was caught for drug trafficking 10 years ago when I was in my teens and I was sentenced to imprisonment," he said.
Mr Lim said he has turned over a new leaf and as the breadwinner, is disappointed that his livelihood is under threat.
"Every year they (the government) launch the yellow ribbon programme to ask citizens to give us a second chance. But now the government body is not giving us a second chance."
Mr Lim said he will be appealing, and has obtained a letter from his MP, as well as the backing of his firm.
For applicants with criminal records, the council said it will assess them on a case-by-case basis. It will take into account the severity of the offence and when it was committed. Property firms and agents have been given 2 weeks to appeal.
One property firm, Dennis Wee Group, had 25 agents rejected out of 2,400 names submitted. It is planning to appeal on behalf of some.
"Since day one they have joined us, they've had no complaints, they have really been doing their job. So for such, I will admit, we will help them to appeal," said Dennis Wee Group Director, Chris Koh.
The CEA - which was set up in October - requires real estate firms to apply for a licence and register their agents.
To date, 1,190 firms have been granted licences and 27,754 agents have been approved.
A public register of licensed estate firms and registered agents will be made available on the council's website from Saturday.
The register will display the name, licence number, firm that the agent works for, validity period and record of offences committed or disciplinary actions taken.
And from March, pictures of registered property agents will also be available on the website to allow for easy identification.
The council will also implement a dispute resolution scheme from next month.
This involves mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes and contractual matters between consumers and real estate firms.
Firms are required to participate in the scheme once the consumer has elected to proceed.
However, some of those rejected said it was all in the past.
30-year-old Mr Lim is one such agent.
"I was caught for drug trafficking 10 years ago when I was in my teens and I was sentenced to imprisonment," he said.
Mr Lim said he has turned over a new leaf and as the breadwinner, is disappointed that his livelihood is under threat.
"Every year they (the government) launch the yellow ribbon programme to ask citizens to give us a second chance. But now the government body is not giving us a second chance."
Mr Lim said he will be appealing, and has obtained a letter from his MP, as well as the backing of his firm.
For applicants with criminal records, the council said it will assess them on a case-by-case basis. It will take into account the severity of the offence and when it was committed. Property firms and agents have been given 2 weeks to appeal.
One property firm, Dennis Wee Group, had 25 agents rejected out of 2,400 names submitted. It is planning to appeal on behalf of some.
"Since day one they have joined us, they've had no complaints, they have really been doing their job. So for such, I will admit, we will help them to appeal," said Dennis Wee Group Director, Chris Koh.
The CEA - which was set up in October - requires real estate firms to apply for a licence and register their agents.
To date, 1,190 firms have been granted licences and 27,754 agents have been approved.
A public register of licensed estate firms and registered agents will be made available on the council's website from Saturday.
The register will display the name, licence number, firm that the agent works for, validity period and record of offences committed or disciplinary actions taken.
And from March, pictures of registered property agents will also be available on the website to allow for easy identification.
The council will also implement a dispute resolution scheme from next month.
This involves mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes and contractual matters between consumers and real estate firms.
Firms are required to participate in the scheme once the consumer has elected to proceed.
