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Estate agent licensing matters
Information on managing the estate agent, such as changing of KEO, updating directors/ partners, uploading transaction records, cancelling EA licence, and other frequently asked questions.
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Changing of KEO
To change the Key Executive Officer (KEO), the incumbent KEO must first be removed via a ‘Remove KEO’ application in the Advanced CEA Estate Agencies System (ACEAS).
Removing existing KEO
The KEO or authorised user of the estate agent (EA) logs in to ACEAS via the EA’s Singpass (for Corporate) and go to Services > EA Management > Addition/Removal of KEO > Removal of KEO > Create.
The application submission date can only be a maximum of 30 calendar days before the outgoing KEO’s last day. For example, if the KEO’s last day is 30 June, the Remove KEO application may be submitted from 1 June onwards.
The outgoing KEO may indicate him/herself or the incoming KEO as the covering KEO.
After submission, the Remove KEO application will be processed within two working days.
Adding new KEO
After the Remove KEO application has been approved, the authorised user of the EA will need to log in to ACEAS via Singpass (for Corporate) and go to Services > EA Management > Addition/Removal of KEO > Addition of KEO > Create.
Additional step for incoming KEO-applicant who is currently not an RES of the EA: The system will auto-generate a switching application for you to switch from your current EA to the EA you are KEO-applicant of. The KEO-applicant's current EA has to support the switching application. A switching application fee will be applicable at this stage.
The incoming KEO will need to log in to ACEAS via Singpass (for Individual), click on Services > EA Management > Addition/Removal of KEO > Addition of KEO. Click on the record with ‘Pending KEO submission’ status. Most of the information would have been pre-populated from the KEO’s profile. Fill up and submit the application to the EA.
The authorised user of the EA will need to log in to ACEAS via Singpass (for Corporate), click on Services > EA Management > Addition/Removal of KEO > Addition of KEO. Click on the record with ‘Pending EA submission’ status. The authorised user may check through the application and submit it to CEA.
After submission, the application will be processed within two to three weeks if it was submitted with the necessary supporting documents and meets all requirements.
Updating director/ partner
Adding new director/ partner
Ensure that the director/ partner to be added must first be an appointed director of a company, or an appointed partner in a general partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership in ACRA records.
The director/ partner to be added must have an ACEAS Profile. To create a profile, the individual will need to log in to ACEAS using Singpass (for Individual).
EA to initiate the “Add director/ partner application”:
Login with the KEO or Authorised User’s (AU) account using Singpass (for Corporate).
Click on Services > EA Management > Addition/ Removal of Director/ Partner.
Click ‘Create’ to initiate an application. The initiation will require the director/partner’s NRIC/FIN. Fill up and submit the application.
Director/ partner to submit the “Add director/ partner application” to the EA:
The director/ partner will receive notification on the addition/ removal of director/partner application. The individual will need to log in to ACEAS using Singpass (for Individual).
Click on Services > EA Management > Addition/ Removal of directors/ partners. Click on the record with ’Pending Submission’ status.
Most of the information would have been pre-populated from the individual’s profile. Fill up and submit the application to the EA.
EA to submit the “Add director/ partner application” to CEA:
The authorised user of the entity logs in to ACEAS via the entity’s Singpass (for Corporate).
Click on Services > EA Management > Addition/Removal of Director/Partner. Click on the record with ‘Pending EA submission’ status.
The EA may check through the application and submit it to CEA.
You will receive an email from aceas@cea.gov.sg once CEA approves/ rejects the application.
Removing director/ partner
The KEO or authorised user of the entity logs in to ACEAS via the entity’s Singpass (for Corporate).
Click on Profile Management > Member List. Click the Remove icon in the Action column of the director/ partner’s record in the table. Alternatively, the user can click the Remove button from the director/ partner's details page.
Uploading transaction records
EAs and RESs are required to submit to CEA the records of the following types of transactions:
HDB residential flat or room rental
Private residential unit or room rental transactions (including sub-lease)
Private residential sale/purchase transactions (excluding collective sale)
Note: For HDB resale flat transactions, HDB will provide the records to CEA.
Please refer to the attached document (PDF, 115KB) for more information on the date by which these records should be submitted, what information is required, and how to submit these records.
Cancelling estate agent licence
KEOs who intend to cease conducting estate agency work should cancel their EA licence if the EA’s operations will be terminated. Please note that any licence or registration fees paid prior to the EA licence cancellation are not refundable.
For existing RESs in the EA (including the KEO)
Before the planned termination date for the EA, the KEO must ensure that there are no RESs remaining in the EA.
If the existing RES intends to join another EA, the RES should log in to ACEAS to submit a switching application.
If the existing RES intends to leave the industry, the KEO should log in to ACEAS via Corppass to submit an RES registration cancellation application.
Note: To submit an RES registration cancellation application, please go to the Member List in the EA’s Profile Management. Click the ‘Remove’ icon in the RES’s record and complete the application.
Removing KEO and cancelling EA licence
When there are no more salespersons registered with the EA, the EA may log in to ACEAS to submit a Remove KEO application and an EA licence cancellation application. For EA licence cancellation, the authorised user of the estate agent (EA) will need to log in to ACEAS via the EA’s Singpass (for Corporate) and go to Services > EA Management > Cancellation.
Cancelling your RES’ registration
Log in to ACEAS for Corporate.
Click on Services > Profile Management > Member List > RES tab.
Enter the RES name / NRIC number to search for the RES.
Click on the Remove button (circle with a slash).
Fill up the RES registration cancellation form and click Submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I change my estate agent’s (EA) name?
If you wish to change your EA’s name only (i.e., there are no changes to your current mode of business and EA’s Unique Entity Number - UEN), you may approach ACRA directly to make an application for the change of entity’s name.
After ACRA has approved your application, you will need to log in to ACEAS via Singpass (for Corporate). Click on Services > Profile Management, scroll to the bottom and click the “Edit” button. Your EA’s information will be pre-populated from ACRA records. Click the “Save” button to update your company name in ACEAS.
Note: You may also edit other fields of your entity’s profile by clicking on Services > Profile Management, scroll to the bottom and click the “Edit” button. Your EA’s information will be pre-populated from ACRA records. Editable information in ACEAS profile include your EA’s email address and contact details Click the “Save” button to save the updated profile in ACEAS.
2. What are the required steps to submit an estate agent (EA) licence application?
Step 1: Register the new entity with ACRA and set up a Corppass account for the new entity.
Step 2: Purchase the Professional Indemnity Insurance for the new entity.
Step 3: Create an entity profile in ACEAS (see FAQ 4 below).
Step 4a (for a KEO-applicant who is an existing RES with a licensed EA):
Log in to ACEAS with the new entity’s Corppass to initiate the EA licence application. You, the KEO-applicant, do not need to indicate yourself as a director/ partner in this section. [Note: Before indicating other directors/ partners in this section, please ensure the director/ partner has created his/ her individual profile in ACEAS.]
Initiating the EA licence application will auto-generate a switching application to be supported by your current EA. [Note: The current EA needs to acknowledge the switching request in ACEAS before it is routed to the new/ receiving EA.]
After your current EA supports the switching application, you may log in to ACEAS with the new entity’s Corppass to submit the EA licence application to CEA.
Step 4b (for a KEO-applicant who is a returning RES):
Log in to ACEAS with the new entity’s Corppass to initiate the EA licence application. You, the KEO-applicant, do not need to indicate yourself as a director/ partner in this section. [Note: Before indicating other directors/ partners in this section, please ensure the director/ partner has created his/ her individual profile in ACEAS.]
After initiating the EA licence application, you may return to the ACEAS homepage and scroll down to the Active Applications section. Click on the EA licence application ID (e.g., LIC-EA-NEW-2401000001) to fill up and submit the EA licence application to CEA.
3. What do I need to know to change my estate agent’s (EA) mode of business, e.g., from sole-proprietorship to company, from company to partnership?
Step 1: Remove yourself as the KEO of your current EA via a Remove KEO application. This takes 1-2 working days to be processed in the system.
Step 2: Follow Steps 1-4a in the FAQ “2. What are the required steps to submit an estate agent (EA) licence application? " to submit your EA licence application to CEA.
Step 3: Once your new EA licence application is approved, and there are no remaining RESs (salespersons) in the current EA, you may submit an EA licence cancellation application for your current EA and follow the steps in the 'Cancelling estate agent licence' section.
4. How do I create estate agent’s entity profile?
The KEO or authorised user of the entity may log in to ACEAS via the entity’s Singpass (for Corporate).
The profile information will be pre-populated according to the entity’s profile information in ACRA records.
After the KEO or authorised user has filled up the declarations, click Submit. The entity profile is created.
5. How fast can my EA licence application be processed?
The average processing time is two to three weeks if the application was submitted with the necessary supporting documents and meets all requirements.
6. What documents do I need for my EA licence application?
You will need:
Professional Indemnity Insurance cover note.
Record of 30 transactions in Excel format, if your HDB/ private sale/ rental/ purchase transactions records have not been uploaded in ACEAS by your EA, or if your 30 transactions include commercial/ industrial transactions that cannot be uploaded in ACEAS. You may download and fill up the Excel template that is found in the EA licence application.
7. How do I make payment for my EA licence application submitted through ACEAS?
As your new EA does not have a GIRO arrangement with CEA, payment can be made with credit card. For future payments, please fill up and submit the GIRO application form (PDF, 326KB) to our mailing address:
480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh
#13-01 HDB Hub East Wing
Singapore 310480
After the GIRO application has been processed, the default payment option will be GIRO.
Note: If you are reinstating a licence for an EA which had a GIRO arrangement with CEA, please ensure the GIRO account is active and has sufficient funds for GIRO deductions of applicable fees.