# Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)

- Topic: Industry & regulation
- Last updated: 6 Nov 2026
- Fact-checked against official government sources: 6 Nov 2026
- Canonical URL: https://propertymeter.sg/glossary/cea/

## What is CEA (Council for Estate Agencies)?

The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) is the statutory board that regulates Singapore's real estate agency industry. Set up on 22 October 2010 under the Estate Agents Act and overseen by the Ministry of National Development, it licenses estate agencies, registers property salespersons, sets conduct rules and takes disciplinary action against misconduct.

## Rule change

From 1 January 2027, CEA moves from annual renewal to a three-year licensing and registration cycle (first cycle: 2027 to 2029). Salespersons must complete at least three qualifying property transactions in the cycle, or pass a Refresher Examination, to renew.

## Key facts

- **Established:** 22 October 2010, under the Estate Agents Act
- **Under:** The Ministry of National Development
- **Licenses:** Estate agencies
- **Registers:** Real estate salespersons (property agents)
- **Public Register:** Search an agent by phone number to check registration, recent deals and any disciplinary record
- **Commission:** Not fixed by CEA; it is negotiable
- **From 1 January 2027:** Three-year licensing and registration cycle, with a new Currency Requirement for salespersons

## What CEA does

CEA's mission is to raise the professionalism of the real estate agency industry and safeguard consumers. Its responsibilities include:

| Area | What CEA does |
| --- | --- |
| Licensing | Licenses estate agencies and registers salespersons |
| Conduct | Regulates practice through the Code of Practice and the Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care |
| Competence | Runs the industry examination and continuing professional development framework |
| Enforcement | Investigates and takes disciplinary action |
| Consumers | Educates the public on using property agents |

## What the Public Register shows

| Detail | Shown |
| --- | --- |
| Registration status | Whether the agent's registration is valid |
| Recent transactions | Residential deals in the last two years, and which party they acted for |
| Awards | Industry accolades |
| Discipline | Any disciplinary records |

## Example

You see an advertisement for a condo, with an agent's name, registration number (such as R123456A) and phone number. Before replying, you search the phone number on the CEA Public Register. The profile appears, matching the name and agency, with no disciplinary record. If no profile appeared, you'd treat the advert as a likely scam.

## Common mistakes

- **Checking only the name or registration number.** Scammers can copy those. Search by the phone number you were given.
- **Assuming commission is a fixed rate.** It is negotiable.
- **Signing without the prescribed agreement.** Use CEA's prescribed estate agency agreement, even with an agent you know.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I check if a property agent is registered?

Search the CEA Public Register using the phone number of the person you are dealing with. If no agent profile appears, the number isn't registered with CEA, and you may be dealing with a scammer, even if the name and registration number look real.

### Does CEA set agents' commission?

No. Commission is not fixed and can be negotiated. Record the agreed amount or rate in CEA's prescribed estate agency agreement before you sign.

### What does CEA do about misconduct?

It investigates complaints and takes disciplinary action for offences, unsatisfactory conduct or misconduct in estate agency work.

## Sources

1. [About CEA](https://www.cea.gov.sg/about-cea/) (CEA)
2. [Vision and mission](https://www.cea.gov.sg/about-cea/who-we-are/vision-and-mission/) (CEA)
3. [Check if your property agent is registered](https://www.cea.gov.sg/consumers/engaging-a-property-agent/check-if-your-property-agent-is-registered/) (CEA)
4. [CEA's new three-year licensing and registration cycle and Currency Requirement (30 July 2026)](https://www.cea.gov.sg/about-cea/newsroom-publications/ceanergy-blog/cea-new-three-year-licensing-and-registration-cycle-and-currency-requirement-what-it-means-for-you/) (CEA)

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Source: PropertyMeter (https://propertymeter.sg/glossary/cea/). General information only, not financial, legal or tax advice.