New rules for property agents likely to weed out inactive ones, help consumers make better decisions
The changes will kick in from Jan 1, and are part of a review to raise professional standards and improve transparency.
From the start of 2027, property agents in Singapore must complete at least three transactions within a three-year period or pass a refresher examination to remain active in the industry. The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) will start collecting agents' commission data monthly, and may publish aggregated industry figures to help prospective agents make informed decisions about joining the profession.
These changes aim to improve transparency, raise professional standards, and provide consumers with greater clarity when making property transactions. By ensuring agents remain active and up to date, the measures reduce the risk of financial losses due to misleading advice or procedural errors. The changes may also help weed out inactive agents and give prospective entrants a more realistic view of the profession.
The authorities are considering making HDB resale listings the default platform for future advertisements and studying whether property owners should be able to advertise directly on commercial portals. These changes follow a rise in complaints and enforcement cases against property agents, including the increased availability of agents’ disciplinary records online.
While CEA does not impose a cap on the number of agents, they expect the number of property agents to fall by 10 to 20 percent after the first three-year cycle ends in December 2029.
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