The report highlights the increased number of unqualified agents in recent months because of the rapidly rising property market. While we welcome the growth in the industry and improved earnings of agents, we need to maintain a minimum level of professional competence and standards in the real-estate industry. To this end, we strongly advocate agents and agencies to seek accreditation under the Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies (SAEA) scheme. The scheme has the participation of major industry players as well as government agencies involved in the real-estate industry. All our accredited agencies have been told that their agents will need to pass the Common Examination for House Agents (CEHA) by Dec 31, 2008 before they are accredited.

Discerning buyers and sellers will recognise that agents from SAEA-accredited agencies can provide better and more reliable service as they need to comply with the code of conduct and practice required under the accreditation scheme. We encourage consumers to engage the services of agents from accredited estate agencies for greater certainty.

More information is available on our website at www.saea.org.sg.

Manisah Jalil (Ms)

Secretariat

Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies