RES exam question on Leasing of Private Property: Ethan do about the new occupier
Ethan, a salesperson, arranged a two-year tenancy of a condominium unit for three flatmates. Eight months in, one flatmate leaves, and Ethan agrees to help the tenants bring in a replacement, a work-pass holder who will live there but will not sign the tenancy. What must Ethan do about the new occupier?
- AObtain the tenants' signed declaration of his status and lodge it with CEA within 14 days
- BNothing further, since CEA's checks attach to the signing of the tenancy agreement alone
- CInspect his pass alone, since an occupier who signs nothing is outside the full set of checks
- DRepeat the checks: inspect his original pass and passport, match him face to face, and verify the pass
Show answer & explanation
Answer
D. Repeat the checks: inspect his original pass and passport, match him face to face, and verify the pass
Explanation
Answer: Repeat the checks: inspect his original pass and passport, match him and verify the pass. Ethan is facilitating the change, so this applies though he signs nothing.Watch out: That the new occupier signs nothing changes nothing about the checks.Rule: A salesperson checks every tenant and every occupier: for a foreigner, inspect and copy the original pass, cross-check it against the original passport, match the photograph face to face, and verify the pass with ICA or MOM, or FileSG for a digital Long-Term Pass. If a tenant or occupier changes during the tenancy and the salesperson agrees to facilitate it, the same steps are run on the new person.Source: CEA Practice Guidelines on Due Diligence Checks under the Women's Charter 1961 and Immigration Act 1959, in force from 24 March 2023; /learn/leasing-private-residential-property
Why the other options are wrong
- Lodge the tenants' declaration of his status with CEA: A declaration lodged with CEA is not a step the guidelines require.
- Nothing, as the checks attach only to signing: The duty is not confined to signing. A change the salesperson agrees to facilitate triggers the same steps.
- Inspect his pass alone: Every occupier gets the full checks, not a pass inspection alone, whether or not he signs anything.
Study the concept behind this question: Leasing Private Residential Property (Singapore)
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