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RES exam question on Regulation & the CEA Framework: route does the Estate Agents Act give him

MediumRegulation of the Estate Agency Industry · Paper 2

Farid, who passed the RES examination, is refused registration by CEA because of a conviction for cheating eight years ago. He believes CEA gave too little weight to his conduct since then, and he wants the refusal reviewed by someone outside CEA. What route does the Estate Agents Act give him?

  1. AAppeal to the Appeals Board, which hears appeals against CEA's own decisions as well as committee orders
  2. BAsk CEA to refer the refusal to a Disciplinary Committee, which rehears the application in full
  3. CApply to the High Court for a rehearing, since registration refusals fall outside the Appeals Board
  4. DStart CEA's Dispute Resolution Scheme, whose arbitrator can direct CEA to register him
Show answer & explanation

Answer

A. Appeal to the Appeals Board, which hears appeals against CEA's own decisions as well as committee orders

Explanation

Answer: Appeal to the Appeals Board, which hears appeals against CEA's own decisions as well as committee orders. The refusal is CEA's own decision.Watch out: A dishonesty conviction does not bar him outright: CEA has a discretion to find him fit and proper.Rule: A person convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or fraud is not fit and proper unless CEA otherwise determines. Anyone aggrieved by a decision of CEA or a Disciplinary Committee may appeal to the Appeals Board, which is independent of CEA and whose decision is final.Source: Estate Agents Act 2010 (EAA), s 3(2)(a) and s 59 (sso.agc.gov.sg, current version at 1 Oct 2026)

Why the other options are wrong

  • Refer to a Disciplinary Committee for a rehearing: A Disciplinary Committee hears charges against registered persons. It does not review refusals.
  • High Court rehearing outside the Appeals Board: The High Court is not the forum. A refusal by CEA falls within the Appeals Board.
  • Dispute Resolution Scheme arbitrator: The scheme is for contractual disputes between clients and estate agents, not registration decisions.

Study the concept behind this question: Estate Agent Licensing vs Salesperson Registration (CEA)

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