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Commission fees are variable, and it is not uncommon for tenants represented by agents to pay their tenant-agent a commission

Such arrangements are typically made known upfront, instead of after the contract is signed. If any commission is to be paid, this would be something you need to have agreed to, or the agent won't be able to charge you.

Kay Cloud
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Propnex Realty Pte Ltd
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If there is no agreement prior to signing the deal, I don't see that you are liable to pay the commission.

——

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(✔1) If no commission arrangement was agreed before signing, you generally should not be liable to pay the agent’s commission.

(✔2) However, check the property advertisement carefully. If it clearly stated that the landlord would not pay the listing agent and the commission would be charged to the tenant, the situation would be different.

“Clarity in understanding prevents confusion in agreement.” — Unknown

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**Do not pay the agent.** You have no legal obligation to pay her commission, and demanding it from you is a direct breach of Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) regulations.

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### 1. Why You Do Not Owe Any Commission

* **No Contractual Agreement:** An agent can only collect commission from the principal who formally engaged them under a signed **CEA Estate Agency Agreement**. If you found the listing yourself and never engaged this agent to represent you, no agency relationship exists between you and her.
* **The Landlord’s Sole Liability:** The commission dispute is strictly a private contractual matter between the landlord and their appointed agent. If the landlord defaults or refuses to pay, the agent’s legal recourse is to claim against the landlord (e.g., via the Small Claims Tribunal or CEA mediation)—**not** to pass the debt onto the tenant.
* **Dual Representation Prohibition:** Under Regulation 5 of the *Estate Agents (Estate Agency Work) Regulations 2010*, dual representation is illegal. An agent representing the landlord cannot collect fees from the tenant for the same transaction. Doing so is an offence carrying fines up to S$25,000 and possible imprisonment.

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### 2. Immediate Steps to Take

1. **Refuse in Writing:** Politely decline via WhatsApp or email:
> *"I did not engage you as my tenant agent, nor did I sign an Estate Agency Agreement with you. Your commission arrangement is strictly between you and the landlord. Under CEA regulations, you cannot demand commission from an unrepresented tenant."*

2. **Preserve All Evidence:** Take screenshots of her messages demanding payment, the listing details, and your signed Tenancy Agreement (TA).
3. **Escalate to Her Agency’s KEO:** If she persists or threatens your tenancy, identify her agency from the CEA register and contact her Key Executive Officer (KEO). Agencies treat unauthorized commission demands severely.
4. **Lodge a Report with CEA:** If the harassment continues, file an official complaint directly through the **CEA Feedback & Complaint portal** (`cea.gov.sg`).

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Gan Eng Joo Onassis 颜荣裕, REALTOR®

MSc BIT (Middlesex, England, United Kingdom); BBA (South Australia)

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