HDB residents irked by unsightly flyers from property agents cluttering their gates might see fewer of them from 1 April.
This will happen after five major real estate agencies committed to distributing flyers to HDB flats in ways that do not leave them publicly visible.
Source: Benni Hill via Complaint Singapore on Facebook
In a press release last Friday (13 Feb), the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents (SIEA) said a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been signed on “Proper Flyer Distribution to HDB Homes”.
It was inked by the Alliance for Action (AfA), which comprises the five biggest real estate agencies in Singapore:
Source: Huttons Group on Facebook
According to the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA), these five agencies represent 32,271 out of the 36,816 property agents in Singapore as of 1 Jan.
In signing the MOU, the five agencies acknowledged the need to minimise the negative impact of flyers left “improperly” at gates, doors and common areas of HDB estates.
They thus committed to “a unified industry-led approach” to ensure these flyers are distributed properly by real estate agents and supported by CEA.
To that end, flyers distributed to homes and other premises must not be visible to members of the public other than the intended recipients, SIEA said.
Source: Benni Hill via Complaint Singapore on Facebook
Agents may do this by placing them in mailboxes or engaging flyer distribution services.
Real estate agents who breach the rules will face consequences, with “a standardised approach” to be implemented for the penalties.
According to SIEA, agents will get a Letter of Caution for their first breach. A second breach will mean that they will have to attend an “Ethical flyer distribution training course”, on top of another letter.
Third-time errant flyer distributors will be suspended from giving out flyers to HDB homes for six months. Subsequent violations will see “continued escalation” till the offender achieves a clean record for two years.
Source: Singapore Institute of Estate Agents
If residents complain about agents, their agencies will inform SIEA, which will keep a record of breaches.
This “centralised approach” means SIEA can keep tabs on the behaviour of agents who switch agencies or leave the industry and come back later.
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Featured image adapted from Benni Hill via Complaint Singapore on Facebook.