1. simon68 said...

Estate Agent is Unregulated Profession in UK………..

You do not usually need any particular qualifications to become an estate agent in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland even though some employers may require their employees to possess relevant training and experience.

Why we insist teachers, social workers and nurses to get registration or licence with statutory regulatory bodies but not for Estate Agents?

In Hong Kong any person who wishes to do Estate Agent work must pass professional examinations and gain a licence with Hong Kong Estate Agent Authority.

http://www.eaa.org.hk/development/qe_paperbased.htm

In Singapore, any person who wishes to get into the profession of Estate Agent must fulfil the following requirements:-

Step 1

Become a Certified Estate Agent. Do this by joining the Institute of Estate Agents (see Resources below).

Step 2

Fulfill the requirements of IEA certification. Applicants must be 21 years of age with 3 years of continuous experience in the industry.

Step 3
Pass an SISV Real Estate Agency course (see Resources below).

http://www.iea.org.sg/index.cfm?GPID=26

Similar examinations and registration requirements exist for Estate Agent profession in Malaysia:-

Written Estate Agents Examination Part I & Part II – Q&A
3:29 pm in Exam by admin

Q: What are the procedures to become an estate agent?
A: One is required to pass both Part I & Part II of the estate agent’s exam and the TPC before one becomes eligible to be registered as an estate agent.

Q: When is the date of examination?
A: Usually in June or July depending on the availability of halls.

Q: What are the fees involved?
A: RM50.00 processing and RM50.00 per subject.

Q: What are the minimum entry requirements?
A: Candidate must possess an SPM/MCE with not less than 5 subject passes of which at least 3 shall be credit level passes and at least 1 of the credit level passes shall be Mathematics or Science or Accounts or Commerce, or Any other higher qualifications recognized by Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam or Lembaga Akreditasi Negara.

Q: Can I apply for exemptions?
A: Yes, if the diploma or degree is recognized by the Board.

Q: What are the recognized diplomas/ degrees?
A: Please refer to the board website which displays the entire list.

Q: Can I self study?
A: Yes, you may.

Q: When does it open for registration?
A: 2 nd January until 2 nd May every year.

Q: How many subjects are there in both Part I & Part II?
A: Each part consists of 6 subjects.

Q: Can one take only a few subject and not all 6 subjects?
A: Yes, may take one or two subjects provided all 6 subjects shall be complete within 3 years

Q: Where can I get the registration form?
A: At the Board’s office.

Q: Would I be exempted from the Estate Agent’s Written Examination on a subject to subject basis?
A: No. Exemption will only be given for Parts.

http://www.malaysiaestateagent.com/2010/05/written-estate-agents-examination-part-i-part-ii-qa/

Similar requirements exist in China & Taiwan (even in Mumbai, India):-

Article 2

The Junior Examination for Professional and Technical Personnel in the category of real estate agent (hereunder referred to as the Examination) shall be held once every year or once every other year.


Article 3

(Evoked)


Article 4

The Examination shall take the form of a written examination.


Article 5

A person who belongs to any one of the categories below may not sit the Examination:

1.Any person liable under the terms of the various subparagraphs of paragraph 1 Article 8 of the Professionals and Technical Personnel Examinations Act;

2.Any person liable under the terms of the various subparagraphs of paragraph 1 Article 6 of the Land Registration Agent Act.


Article 6

Citizens of the Republic of China of twenty years of age or older and who possess any one of the following qualifications are eligible to sit the Examination:

1.Persons who have graduated and hold a diploma from a public or accredited private senior high school or a vocational high school or above;

2.Persons who have passed the Qualifying Examination for Taking the Senior or Junior Examination ;

3.Persons who have been employed in professional land registration practices prior to the amendment and promulgation of Article 37 (-1) of the Land Law on December 29, 1989; and who have continued to be actively engaged in the profession without a certificate but who hold documentary evidence from pertinent land registration agencies attesting to the said professional engagement.

3. mark said...

there are two agents in Cheshire / merseyside which collude to deceive buyers, they "sell" swap and trade properties, they do this so they can make the market look as if it is selling, they firstly place a sold sign up, then it goes off market as if it has sold, then 2 months later it appears on the market again with the other agent, these two agents repeat this process many times with same properties. I am sure this is misleading and probably illegal somehow.

5. mark said...

another point, this is highest priced item people will ever buy other than a car and car dealers are more strictly regulated! In fact mobile phones are more strictly regulated than the home buying process.

This is something very chilling, people will put themselves in debt for years yet rogue agents, solicitors and builders can destroy someones life.. yet the system is allowed to go on unregulated.

captcha Chillier Problems

7. uncle tom said...

Now if I was our George, looking for money to save, I might think that the OFT was ripe for a haircut...

9. mark said...

simon68 the property is never actually sold, they just make it look that way..

one of these agents even put 5 of his own rental properties on the market, I know one of his tenants and I know the properties, the tenants were told not to worry it was a mistake the signs went up, a few weeks later the properties were sold!! yet they were never actually on market or sold, only BS signs to make public think market is moving fast, they even say that when you phone the agents..

11. Crunchy said...

Look, it's very simples. If you regulate estate agents you in turn regulate the banks.

There lies the rub. No discharge for the banks financial soldiers.

Recaptcha - be concrete

13. simon68 said...

We want a fair (transparent) market and honest banking/estate agency services, isn’t too much a desire?

15. Rental John said...

I though the qualifications required were gelled hair and acne.....

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