Renting Apartment without paying Agent fees?

[franchupe]

thx ecureilx. indeed, some law has recently changed prohibiting the agents to have a dual representation (tenant and landlord).

My agent is using this change to convince me to pay him a commision fee as my tenant agent. For info, i am willing to pay a rent over 3k and commit to a 2 year lease.

His point is that the new law prohibite him to get money from the landlord agent and can ONLY receive money from me, therefor i have to pay him.

is this true?

[beppi]

You have to pay him if
- he told you beforehand what fees are due under which circumstances - and you agreed to this
- he found the place for you and did the arrangements (i.e. delivered the service you agreed to pay for)
- a rental agreement is signed
- he is a registered property agent ("moonlighting" agents are no longer legal - check his credentials with the authorities)

There is no set fee level, so you can negotiate (even if he tells you not so).

[Saint]

thx ecureilx. indeed, some law has recently changed prohibiting the agents to have a dual representation (tenant and landlord).

My agent is using this change to convince me to pay him a commision fee as my tenant agent. For info, i am willing to pay a rent over 3k and commit to a 2 year lease.

His point is that the new law prohibite him to get money from the landlord agent and can ONLY receive money from me, therefor i have to pay him.

is this true?

Did you sign an Estate Agency Agreement for lease of residential property by a tenant as perscibed by the CEA under the Estate Agents Act 2010?

http://www.cea.gov.sg/cea/content/binar ... Tenant.pdf

Your "Agent" can really complain if he/she didn't follow the correct procedures by either getting a signed agreement from either the Landlord or the Tenant as it's been in place since the beginning of 2011

[franchupe]

thank you Saint and beppi,
this is great feedback. no i did not sign anything.
the agent did help me by arraging a few viewing but i have not found yet what i am looking for.
thx again.