5.—(1) No salesperson or estate agent who is a natural person shall, in respect of the same property, have as clients both vendor and purchaser or both landlord and tenant.
(2) Paragraph (1) applies regardless of the consent or agreement of the client or of any or all the parties to the relevant transaction.
(3) Any person who contravenes paragraph (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.
No referrals to moneylenders
6.—(1) No estate agent or salesperson shall —
(a)
introduce, refer or recommend a client to any moneylender or otherwise suggest the use of the services of any moneylender; or
(b)
receive any commission, reward, fee, payment or other benefit whatsoever from any moneylender in respect of any moneylending transaction.
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (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.
No holding of transaction monies
7.—(1) No estate agent or salesperson shall hold or handle any money for or on behalf of any party in relation to any of the following property transactions:
(a)
the sale or purchase of any property situated in Singapore; and
(b)
the lease of HDB property.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not prevent any estate agent or salesperson from —
(a)
delivering on behalf of any party a crossed account payee cheque or cashier’s order drawn in favour of another party to the transaction; or
(b)
receiving such remuneration or reimbursement in relation to the management, repair or renovation of the property as the estate agent or salesperson may be entitled to under a written contract or authorisation.
(3) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.
Use of Council symbols and representations
8.—(1) No estate agent, salesperson or any other person shall, except with the express written permission of the Council —
(a)
use any name, symbol, mark or representation that is identical to or which incorporates or resembles that of the Council; or
(b)
use Internet domain names, World Wide Web addresses or email addresses that incorporate characters, initials or representations of the Council which may deceive or cause confusion.
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.
Display of estate agent card
9.—(1) Salespersons and estate agents who are natural persons must display upon themselves the estate agent card issued by the estate agent that they represent at all times when carrying out estate agency work.
(2) The person displaying the estate agent card under paragraph (1) shall show the card to any person who may reasonably request to see the card and allow such person to record any information from the card.
(3) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.