Estate Agents Act 2010

Amendments to the Estate Agents Act

The Estate Agents (Amendment) Act 2020 was passed by Parliament on 5 May 2020 and is operational as of 30 July 2021. The EAA amendments aim to:

a) Better deter errant real estate salespersons and estate agents from committing disciplinary breaches.

b) Update the regulatory framework to keep abreast of technology advancements and support the Transaction Records Initiative (TRI) for the real estate agency industry.

c)  Align Singapore’s levers against money laundering and terrorism financing with international standards.
 
Please refer to the following for more details on the Estate Agents (Amendment) Act 2020: 

a) Notice 26-21 to the industry on the operationalisation of the Estate Agents (Amendment) Act 2020 (PDF, 339KB)

b) Notice 22-20 to the industry on the passing of the Estate Agents (Amendment) Bill in Parliament (PDF, 187KB)

c) FAQs on the amendments to Estate Agents Act (PDF, 295KB)

d) Second Reading speech (PDF, 173KB) and Round-up speech (PDF, 149KB) on the Estate Agents (Amendment) Bill by Minister of State for National Development, Mr Zaqy Mohamad during the Parliamentary debate on the Bill.

e) Industry consultation on proposed amendments to the Estate Agents Act (PDF, 174KB)

f) CEA’s response to feedback from industry consultation on proposed amendments to the Estate Agents Act (PDF, 108KB)


S/N Legislation Information
1 Estate Agents Act 2010 Download Here (PDF,285KB)

The above legislation is reproduced on this website with the permission of the Government of Singapore. Acts of Parliament are available without charge, and updated monthly, at the Singapore Statutes Online website.

There are various criminal offences under the Estate Agents Act 2010 which real estate salespersons and estate agents should be aware of.

The criminal offences and their corresponding maximum penalties are provided in the table below.

Offences under Estate Agents Act 2010

Section Offence Maximum Penalty
28(2) Estate agent operating without licence Fine not exceeding $75,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $7,500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
29(3) Salesperson operating without registration Fine not exceeding $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both
33(6) Submitting false documents or makes a statement which is false or misleading in any material particular in any application for grant or renewal of a licence Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both
34(7) Submitting false documents or makes a statement which is false or misleading in any material particular in any application for registration or renewal of registration Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both
37(6) Failure to notify Council of change in address within 14 days of cesser Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
39(2) Estate agent appointing, associating with, employing or continuing to employ as a salesperson any person who for the time being is not a registered salesperson Fine not exceeding $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $2,500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction for each salesperson
40(3) Salesperson making false representation to the effect that the salesperson is employed by or authorised to act as a salesperson for any specified estate agent Fine not exceeding $5,000
41(3) Salesperson operating without written agreement with estate agent Fine not exceeding $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $2,500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
43(6) Failure to give notice of certain events Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
 43A(3) Failure to submit, without reasonable excuse, a report on completed property transactions and any supporting document, as required by CEA Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
 43A(4) Submission of a report on completed property transactions or any supporting document, as required by CEA, containing information which the estate agent or salesperson knows is false or misleading Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
64(1)(a) Making false statements or intentionally suppresses any material fact in relation to any application under the Estate Agents Act 2010

Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months or to both

64(1)(b)

Fails, neglects or refuses to comply with a requirement or notice of a CEA inspector without reasonable excuse, in relation to the exercise of investigation powers under section 46 or 47 of the Estate Agents Act 2010

Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months or to both
 64(1)(ba)

Provides any information, document or statement that the person knows is false or misleading in any material particular, in response to a requirement or notice of a CEA inspector under section 46 or 47 of the Estate Agents Act 2010

Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months or to both
 64(1)(bb) Provides any information, document or statement that is misleading by intentional suppression of any material fact, under section 46 or 47 of the Estate Agents Act 2010 Fine not exceeding $50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 24 months or to both
64(1)(c) Obstructing or impeding the Council, any officer of the Council or any inspector lawfully carrying out any function or duty in the exercise of any power conferred by or under the Estate Agents Act 2010 Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months or to both
64(1)(d) Refuses or neglects, without any reasonable excuse, to attend a hearing of the Disciplinary Committee or Appeals Board or refuses to answer any questions put to him by or with the concurrence of the Disciplinary Committee or Appeals Board, or hinders, obstructs or deceives the Disciplinary Committee or Appeals Board Fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months or to both
65(4) Failing to comply with any requisition issued by the Council Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction
65(5) Furnishing the Council with any information or document which he knows is false or misleading, in compliance or purported compliance with any requisition issued by the Council under section 65(1) of the Estate Agents Act 2010 Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction