S'porean agent tried to sublet HDB rental flat
A 48-year-old Singaporean was convicted for unlicensed estate agency work.
Jordan Goh Swee Thye was sentenced to a fine of $16,000, or in default six weeks imprisonment.
Investigations by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) revealed that Jordan Goh Swee Thye had advertised a HDB flat in Block 92 Henderson Road for rental on www.gumtree.com.sg.
The flat was a HDB rental flat and HDB does not allow any sublet of the flat, the CEA said in a statement.
A subtenant saw the advertisement, contacted him and arranged to view the property.
Jordan Goh conducted the viewing and assisted in negotiating rent between the main tenant and the subtenant.
Tenancy agreement
The monthly rent was agreed at $1,200 and a tenancy agreement was signed for a year from February 2012 till February last year.
Jordan Goh collected $600 commission each from the tenant and subtenant.
He was aware it was a rental flat and he knew it was not supposed to be tenanted out.
HDB then took action against the main tenant and repossessed the flat in June 2012 after it was discovered that the flat was illegally sublet.
As a result, the subtenant was unable to occupy the flat.
He reported the matter to CEA.
He was unable to recover the rental deposit from the main tenant and his commission from Jordan Goh.
After investigation, Jordan Goh was charged by CEA in court on June 18 and sentenced on Sept 10.
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