Dennis Wee Realty hit with record $66,000 fine and ban

Property firm Dennis Wee Realty (DWR) has been fined a record $66,000 for not highlighting to investors the risks involved in buying overseas property.

The firm was also banned from transacting or marketing property abroad for 12 months with effect from Nov 24.

The fine is the largest penalty meted out by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) to a property agency for failing to abide by regulations on the sale or marketing of overseas real estate.

The CEA said in a statement yesterday that DWR is liable for "six charges of failing to provide a written advisory message to six sets of investors to draw their attention to the risks involved in purchasing foreign properties".

"Throughout the marketing process, DWR's agents did not provide a written advisory message stating that the investors must conduct due diligence.

"They did not highlight the risks... involved for consumers buying foreign property, and that the transaction is subject to foreign laws and to any change in policies and rules in the UK."

Singapore

Jail, caning for man who sexually assaulted step-niece

Apr 18, 2024

Related Stories

Foreigner who bankrolled house purchases worth $6m fined $45,000

Cyclist in East Coast road rage likely affected by brain tumour

Pritam Singh appoints ex-state counsel to defend him in court over his alleged lies to Parliament

In 2014, investors had bought 18 units in two hotel developments in Britain through DWR - the Ibis Budget Hotel in Lymm and the Ibis Budget Hotel in Knutsford, Cheshire.

The investors made full payment of £1.64 million (S$3.37 million) to the British developers, Hotel Options (Lymm) and Hotel Options (Knutsford).

A unit in the Lymm project was sold for £94,500, while one in the Knutsford development was sold for £82,500. When the developers entered into administration in 2015, investors did not receive the amounts promised as investment returns.

DWR's agents had told investors they would obtain annual returns ranging from 8 per cent to 12 per cent for the first three years after their purchase.

They would also get a capital uplift on the purchase price ranging from 9 per cent to 20 per cent, with a guarantee by the developers to buy the property back at the end of three years.

The CEA said the investors received returns for periods ranging from one month to six months before the payments ceased.

They have still not been paid the remaining guaranteed annual monthly returns and the capital uplift as promised.

DWR conducted seminars in Singapore in 2014 to market the two hotels. To entice people, DWR had made false representations in its advertisement, such as inviting them to "meet the developer" and other claims, the CEA said.

DWR knew the developers would not be present. Four of the six sets of investors had attended the seminars.

The CEA warned consumers to exercise due diligence before agreeing to buy property abroad and not rely entirely on the advice from representatives of the foreign developer.