Estate agents to be licensed
Open ↗28.—(1) Subject to this Act, a person must not —(a)
exercise or carry on or advertise, notify or state that he or she exercises or carries on, or is willing to exercise or carry on, the business of doing estate agency work as an estate agent;
(b)
act as an estate agent; or
(c)
in any way hold himself or herself out to the public as being ready to undertake, whether or not for payment or other remuneration (whether monetary or otherwise), estate agency work as an estate agent,
unless he or she is a licensed estate agent.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a 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 of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(3) No fee, commission or reward in relation to anything done by a person in respect of an offence under this section is recoverable in any action, suit or matter by any person.
Salespersons to be registered
Open ↗29.—(1) Subject to this Act —(a)
a person must not be or act as a salesperson for any licensed estate agent, nor hold himself or herself out to the public as being a salesperson unless he or she is a registered salesperson; and
(b)
a person must not accept employment or an appointment as a salesperson from, nor act as a salesperson for, any other person who is required by this Act to hold, but is not the holder of, an estate agent’s licence.
(2) Subsection (1) is not to be construed as —(a)
requiring any registered salesperson, by reason only of the fact that he or she does estate agency work solely as a salesperson, to hold an estate agent’s licence; or
(b)
requiring any licensed estate agent to be registered as a salesperson.
(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
(4) No fee, commission or reward in relation to anything done by a person in respect of an offence under this section is recoverable in any action, suit or matter by any person.
Eligibility of individuals to hold estate agent’s licence
Open ↗30. Subject to the provisions of this Act, an individual is not eligible to be granted or to hold or continue to hold an estate agent’s licence unless —(a)
the individual has attained 21 years of age or such other age which is for the time being prescribed for the purposes of this section;
(b)
the individual satisfies the Council that —(i)
the individual has such qualifications, passed such courses of instruction or examinations and has such practical experience as may be prescribed; or
(ii)
the individual is otherwise qualified by having such training or practical experience as the Council may approve;
(c)
the individual is not a salesperson of any other licensed estate agent;
(d)
the individual does not hold and is not an employee, a director or a partner of a person who holds a moneylender’s licence;
(e)
the individual complies with such other requirements as are prescribed for the time being which apply to him or her; and
(f)
the Council otherwise considers the individual a fit and proper person to hold an estate agent’s licence.
Eligibility of other persons to hold estate agent’s licence
Open ↗31. Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person (other than an individual) is eligible to be granted or to hold or continue to hold an estate agent’s licence unless —(a)
the person has a key executive officer who satisfies the requirements of this Act;
(b)
the key executive officer and each of the person’s directors or partners for the time being is a fit and proper person;
(c)
the person does not hold a moneylender’s licence;
(d)
none of the person’s directors or partners for the time being holds a moneylender’s licence;
(e)
none of the person’s directors or partners for the time being is an employee, a director or a partner of a person who holds a moneylender’s licence;
(f)
the Council is satisfied that the person complies with such other prescribed requirements which apply to the person; and
(g)
the Council otherwise considers the person to be a fit and proper person to hold an estate agent’s licence.
Eligibility to be registered salesperson
Open ↗32.—(1) Only a natural person may be registered as a salesperson.
(2) An individual is not eligible to be or to remain registered as a salesperson unless —(a)
the individual has attained 21 years of age or such other age which is for the time being prescribed for the purposes of this subsection;
(b)
the individual satisfies the Council that he or she —(i)
is or will be employed by a licensed estate agent as a salesperson and he or she does not hold a licence as any other estate agent;
(ii)
has the prescribed educational qualifications or experience;
(iii)
does not hold and is not an employee, a director or a partner of a person who holds a moneylender’s licence; and
(iv)
complies with such other prescribed requirements including continuing education which apply to him or her; and
(c)
the Council otherwise considers the individual a fit and proper person to be registered as a salesperson.
Additional grounds for refusal of licence or registration, etc.
Open ↗32A.—(1) In addition to sections 30 and 31, the Council —(a)
may refuse to grant an application for or to renew an estate agent’s licence made under section 33 if the estate agent had been ordered to pay a financial penalty under section 49(6)(a)(iii) or (b)(i), 52(3) or 66(3)(a), and the financial penalty has not been paid at the time of the application; and[Act 15 of 2025 wef 01/07/2025]
(b)
may refuse to grant an application to renew an estate agent’s licence made under section 33 if —(i)
in the case of an estate agent that is an individual — the estate agent has not satisfied the CPE requirements;
(ii)
in the case of an estate agent that is a partnership — the key executive officer of the estate agent, or any partner of the estate agent performing or intending to perform estate agency work, has not satisfied the CPE requirements; or
(iii)
in the case of an estate agent that is a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership) — the key executive officer of the estate agent, or any director of the estate agent performing or intending to perform estate agency work, has not satisfied the CPE requirements.[24/2020]
(2) In addition to section 32, the Council —(a)
may refuse to register or renew the registration of an individual as a salesperson if the individual had been ordered to pay a financial penalty under section 49(6)(a)(iii) or (b)(i), 52(3) or 66(3)(a), and the financial penalty has not been paid at the time of the application for registration or renewal; and[Act 15 of 2025 wef 01/07/2025]
(b)
may refuse to renew the registration of an individual as a salesperson if the individual has not satisfied the CPE requirements.[24/2020]
(3) In this section, “CPE requirements” means the prescribed requirements relating to continuing professional education for and in respect of estate agents (including persons who are responsible for the management of estate agents) and salespersons, including the completion of accredited activities, courses and programmes.[24/2020]
Applications for estate agent’s licence
Open ↗33.—(1) An application for or to renew an estate agent’s licence must be made to the Council in such form and manner and with such information or evidence as the Council may require, and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(2) The Council must consider every application for or to renew a licence that is made in accordance with subsection (1), and may grant or renew the licence, with or without conditions, or refuse to grant or renew the licence.
(3) Any licence granted under this Act is not transferable.
(4) The Council may require an applicant to provide it with such additional information or documents as it considers necessary in relation to the application before considering the application.
(5) The Council may, before granting or renewing any licence, require the applicant to furnish such security as may be prescribed.
(6) Any person who, in any application for the grant or renewal of a licence for the person or any other person, submits false documents or makes a statement which is false or misleading in any material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Applications for registration of salespersons
Open ↗34.—(1) An application for registration or the renewal of registration as a salesperson must be made to the Council in such form and manner and with such information or evidence as the Council may require, and must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(2) An application under subsection (1) must be made through and with the support of the licensed estate agent that the salesperson is to act for, and must be accompanied by a certification by the licensed estate agent that the salesperson meets such requirements for registration under this Act as may be specified in the forms provided under subsection (1).
(3) The Council may require the applicant or the licensed estate agent to provide it with such additional information or documents as it considers necessary in relation to the application before considering the application.
(4) An application is deemed withdrawn with effect from the date on which the person who supported the application withdraws his or her support in writing.
(5) The Council must consider every application for registration or renewal of registration that is made in accordance with the requirements of this section, and may register or renew registration with or without conditions, or refuse to register or renew registration.
(6) Any registration under this Act is not transferable and is subject to the applicant continuing to be a salesperson for the licensed estate agent that he or she is registered through.
(7) Any person who, in any application for registration or renewal of registration for the person or any other person, submits false documents or makes a statement which is false or misleading in any material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
Duration of licence and registration
Open ↗35. Subject to the provisions of this Act —(a)
an estate agent’s licence is for such period not exceeding 3 years as the Council may decide; and
(b)
the registration of a salesperson is for such period not exceeding 3 years as the Council may decide.
Continuation of licence or registration, etc.
Open ↗35A.—(1) If disciplinary proceedings against a licensed estate agent (A) are pending immediately before the date on which A’s licence lapses, A is treated as a licensed estate agent from and including the date on which the licence lapses until the date the disciplinary proceedings are concluded, but only for the purposes of Part 5.[24/2020]
(2) If disciplinary proceedings against a registered salesperson (B) are pending immediately before the date on which B’s registration lapses, B is treated as a registered salesperson from and including the date on which the registration lapses until the date the disciplinary proceedings are concluded, but only for the purposes of Part 5.[24/2020]
(3) This section applies to any licensed estate agent or registered salesperson against whom disciplinary proceedings are pending, whether before, on or after 30 July 2021.[24/2020]
(4) In this section —(a)
disciplinary proceedings are pending from and including the time that the disciplinary proceedings commence until the time that the disciplinary proceedings are concluded;
(b)
disciplinary proceedings commence when —(i)
the Council receives a complaint under section 49(1); or
(ii)
the Council receives any information under section 49(2); and
(c)
disciplinary proceedings are concluded when —(i)
if the Council decides not to refer the matter to a Disciplinary Committee under section 49(11) after disciplinary proceedings have commenced —(A)
the Council decides not to exercise any power under section 49(6);
(B)
the Council exercises any power under section 49(6) and no appeal is lodged against the decision under section 59(1) within the time for lodging the appeal under section 59(2); or
(C)
the Council exercises any power under section 49(6), an appeal is lodged against the decision under section 59(1) and —(CA)
the appeal is withdrawn;
(CB)
the Appeals Board confirms, sets aside or modifies the Council’s decision under section 59(5)(a); or
(CC)
the Council confirms, sets aside or modifies its decision upon a review required by the Appeals Board under section 59(5)(b); or
(ii)
if the Council refers the matter to a Disciplinary Committee under section 49(11) after disciplinary proceedings have commenced —(A)
the Disciplinary Committee determines, under section 52(1)(a), that there is no sufficient cause for disciplinary action against the person under investigation;
(B)
the Disciplinary Committee exercises any power under section 52(3), (4), (5) or (6), and no appeal is lodged against the decision under section 59(1) within the time for lodging the appeal under section 59(2); or
(C)
the Disciplinary Committee exercises any power under section 52(3), (4), (5) or (6), an appeal is lodged against the decision under section 59(1) and —(CA)
the appeal is withdrawn;
(CB)
the Appeals Board confirms, sets aside or modifies the Disciplinary Committee’s decision under section 59(5)(a); or
(CC)
the Disciplinary Committee confirms, sets aside or modifies its decision upon a review required by the Appeals Board under section 59(5)(b).[24/2020]
Register and search of register
Open ↗36.—(1) The Council must establish and maintain a register for the purposes of this Act in such form as the Council may decide.
(2) The register must contain —(a)
the following particulars as regards every licence granted under this Act:(i)
the name of the person to whom the licence was granted;
(ii)
the period or periods for which the licence was granted, including the period or periods (if any) for which the licence was renewed;
(iii)
if the licence is suspended, the period during which it is suspended; and
(iv)
if the licence is revoked, the date of revocation;
(b)
the following particulars as regards every salesperson registered under this Act:(i)
the name of the salesperson;
(ii)
the name of the estate agent that the salesperson acts for and is registered through;
(iii)
the period or periods of registration;
(iv)
if the registration is suspended, the period during which it is suspended; and
(v)
if the registration is revoked, the date of revocation; and
(c)
such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council may, in such form or manner and for such time as it considers appropriate, include in the register information relating to all or any of the following:(a)
the estate agents that a salesperson had acted for in the past;
(aa)
the prescribed particulars of any property transaction completed by any client of any licensed estate agent, within the meaning of section 43A(5);
(b)
the lapsing, revocation or suspension of any licence or registration under this Act;
(ba)
the censure of any person under section 49(6)(a)(iv) or (b)(ii) or 66(3)(b);[Act 15 of 2025 wef 01/07/2025]
(c)
the reprimand of any person under this Act;
(d)
the conviction of any person for any offence under this Act;
(e)
any action as may have been taken by the Council or a Disciplinary Committee against any person under this Act;
(f)
any other information in respect of estate agents and salespersons as the Council may consider necessary or expedient to publish in the public interest.[24/2020]
(4) The Council may at any time publish such information from the register maintained under subsection (1) as it considers appropriate.
(5) The Council must make the register available for public search or inspection, in such manner and at such reasonable time as the Council may determine, on payment of the prescribed fee, if any.
(6) A document signed by the Executive Director and certified by him or her as being a true copy of or an extract from any part of the register is, until the contrary is proved, evidence of the particulars entered in the part of the register to which the document so signed and certified relates.
(7) It is not necessary in legal proceedings either to prove a signature on a document mentioned in subsection (6) or to prove that such a signature is that of the person holding the office of Executive Director on the date of the document.
(8) Where a person applies to the Council for a copy of or an extract from any part of the register to be signed and certified as described in subsection (6), the Council must provide the person with the copy or extract applied for on payment of the prescribed fee, if any.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
