Misleading Potential Tenants Regarding Ownership of Rental Property – Property for sale Singapore
Facts of Case.
The Respondent represented the buyers of the seller’s former HDB flat (‘former flat’).
The seller needed to rent a HDB flat for her family to stay before they could move
into their new HDB flat. The Respondent sought to lease a HDB flat (‘the Property’)
to the seller during such transition period. Property for sale Singapore.
The Respondent told the seller that the Property was owned by her cousin and also
passed her an HDB ownership information sheet printed from HDB e-services, which
had been altered to show that the Property was solely owned by the cousin. Property for sale Singapore.
Unknown to the seller, such representation was false as the person alleged to be the
cousin was actually the Respondent’s ex-husband and the Property was co-owned
by the Respondent and her ex-husband. It was common ground that the Respondent
did not represent the seller, and did not act as a salesperson, in the leasing out of
the Property. Property for sale Singapore.
The seller proceeded to enter into a tenancy agreement to lease the property but she
could not proceed to occupy the Property (as the previous tenants of the Property
were allowed to extend their lease). The seller complained to CEA. Property for sale Singapore.
Charge – property for sale Singapore
The Respondent was charged with misleading the seller, by using a falsified HDB
information sheet, that the Property was owned by her cousin in contravention of
paragraph 7(1) read with paragraph 7(2)(a) of the Code of Ethics and Professional
Client Care.
Outcome
After a trial, the DC found the Respondent guilty of the charge and ordered that she
be suspended for 3 months and that she pay fixed costs of $1,000 to CEA.
Source: CEA website
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