Disciplinary committee set up to deal with errant property agents

Errant estate agents will be dealt with by a disciplinary committee set up by the Council for Estate Agencies(CEA).

Currently, CEA has a disciplinary panel comprising 13 professionals from different fields, including industry players, lawyers, engineers and architects.

When convened, the disciplinary committee will be formed by at least 3 members of the panel.

The committee may issue letters of reprimand, fines, suspend or revoke the licences or registration of errant estate agents and salespersons.

In June, a 45-year-old man was charged in court for working as an unregistered property agent. The CEA has also sent about 100 warning letters to agents who have been complained about.

"Going forward, we will be taking firmer disciplinary action against errant estate agents and sales staff through our disciplinary committees. Penalties would include warnings, fines, revocation or suspension. Court prosecution may also be undertaken for serious cases," CEA executive director Chionh Chye Khye said.

CEA’s other plans for the year ahead also include issuing more practice guidelines to the industry, organising more roadshows and seminars, and producing an information guide that contains information on the role of agents and consumers' responsibilities, Today reported.

The CEA is also reaching out electronically through a regular newsletter on their website and a mobile-phone application.

The council was set up last year because of rising complaints of errant agents. As of 31 August, about 33,000 property agents have been registered with the CEA.

Since 1 January this year, all agents are required to be registered with the CEA and they also have to carry an Estate Agent Card that displays the agent's name, licence number and a recent photograph.