Recently, I encountered an agent from a top agency who tried to reduce the sale price of my flat and pressure me into quickly closing the sale.

I made a complaint to the agency. But it replaced the agent only after he had filed successfully, against my wishes, with the HDB for the first appointment.

Many people are using a large portion of their CPF money to buy a roof over their heads. Hence, I urge government agencies to do more to protect HDB flat owners from rogue agents. It should not be left to the industry to self-regulate as this has been unsatisfactory so far.

I suggest the following:

>>That agents representing sellers cannot represent buyers for the same property, that is, buyers' agents must be independent of sellers' agents because of conflict of interest.

>>That a list of registered agents be maintained as well as a list of barred agents and that no agency is allowed to employ agents who have been debarred to practise under its umbrella.

>>That HDB conduct workshops to educate flat owners on all the procedures, legal forms and declarations, etc, involved in the sale and purchase of HDB flats.

I hope the relevant authorities can look into these suggestions.

Goh Hock Tee