Man fined S$23,000 for illegal estate agency work

SINGAPORE — A 56-year-old Singaporean man was convicted in court on two charges of conducting estate agency work without a valid real estate licence nor being a registered salesperson with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).

Shakir Khan was sentenced to pay a fine totalling S$23,000. The two charges were in relation to two rental transactions involving HDB flats, said the CEA in a statement on Monday (Feb 20).

He had assisted a tenant in the rental of a HDB flat in Ang Mo Kio between January and February last year. He had acted on behalf of the tenant, and facilitated the tenant’s intended lease of the flat for one year, and collected commission of S$700 from the tenant.

In a separate transaction, Shakir had represented both the tenant and the landlord of a HDB flat in Kallang for a one-year lease of a flat in May 2012.

He had facilitated negotiations between the tenant and the landlord on the terms of the lease, and also facilitated the tenant and landlord’s signing of a Letter of Intent and collected commissions of S$750 each from the tenant and the landlord.

Under the Estate Agents Act (EAA), it is an offence for entities and/or individuals to act as estate agents and/or salespersons in any property transaction if they are not licensed or registered by the CEA.

In sentencing Shakir, the court took into account three other similar charges of conducting estate agency work without being licensed and registered by the CEA.

For acting as estate agent without a licence, he could have been fined up to S$75,000 or jailed up to three years, or both.

For acting as a salesperson, Shakir could have been fined up to S$25,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both.

According to the statement, Shakir was also convicted and sentenced on five counts of cheating by the Singapore Police, which amounted to a total of 68 months’ imprisonment; and one count of forgery in respect of which 10 months’ imprisonment was imposed.

As some of the sentences will run concurrently, Shakir will serve a total of 38 months in jail. The court also took into account 10 counts of cheating and one count of theft in dwelling.

The CEA also advised consumers who choose to have a property agent to assist them in their property transactions to engage only property agencies and agents who are licensed and registered with the CEA.

The public can verify whether an entity or individual is licensed or registered with the CEA via the Public Register on the CEA website.

The public can report those who perform unlicensed and unregistered estate agency work to the CEA by calling 1800 643 2555 or email feedback [at] cea.gov.sg.

More information on engaging a property agency and agent are also available on the CEA’s website (www.cea.gov.sg).