Tag Archives: Tan Chuan-Jin

New guides for real estate industry to safeguard consumer interests

Posted on 27 Apr 2013 | Comments Off on New guides for real estate industry to safeguard consumer interests

Singaporeans can expect more information and clarity in the real estate industry with the launch of two new guides.

These spell out the do’s and don’ts for both consumers and salespersons.

The Guide on Sale, Purchase and Rental of Properties, a brochure for consumers, highlights important considerations in the transaction process, complaints and disputes.

It also includes a section on buying foreign properties.

The guide is jointly produced by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).

A new set of practice guidelines by the CEA for salespersons is also now available; it sets out the responsibilities and duties of real estate service.

The guidelines include restricting the current practice of collecting blank cheques and requiring salespersons to provide current and accurate data on property prices. They are also required to exercise extra care when dealing with vulnerable customers, like those who are illiterate or face financial problems.

Speaking at a consumer conference where the guides were launched, Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin said the guidelines will promote fair and honest practices in the industry, and in turn better safeguard consumer interests.

Source : CNA – 27 Apr 2013

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Posted in Government

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HDB to look into the possibility of allowing cats in flats

Posted on 4 Jun 2011 | Comments Off on HDB to look into the possibility of allowing cats in flats

The Government will look into the possibility of allowing cats in HDB flats, Minister of State (National Development and Manpower) Tan Chuan-Jin told MediaCorp yesterday.

Brigadier-General (NS) Tan was responding to MediaCorp’s queries following National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s blog post yesterday on encouraging cats to be sterilised instead of being culled.

Adding that BG (NS) Tan will help him tackle the issue – given the former’s interest in this area – Mr Khaw said he would like the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to “seriously consider reviewing its culling programme for cats”.

Mr Khaw noted that killing the cats was not the best solution. The right thing to do is for cat lovers to own the problem and to eliminate problems caused by irresponsible behaviour, he added.

When contacted last night, BG (NS) Tan said that allowing cats to be kept in HDB flats was one of the issues they were looking into.

According to the HDB’s website, flat owners “are not allowed to keep cats in HDB flats, as it is generally difficult to confine cats within the flat premises”. It added: “Nuisance caused by cats such as shedding of their fur, defecating/urinating in public areas or even the caterwauling sounds that they make can cause a lot of disturbance, which affects the environment and disrupts neighbourliness in our housing estates.”

Cat Welfare Society vice-president Veron Lau welcomed BG (NS) Tan’s comment but she said the society would like to work with HDB and AVA to educate people to be responsible cat owners.

Last year, the AVA put down 5,100 stray cats.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) executive director Deirdre Moss said it was “already very happy” that Mr Khaw brought up sterilisation as an option instead of culling.

Said Ms Moss: “In addition to this good news, we are overjoyed that (BG Tan) has agreed to look into allowing cats to be kept as pets in HDB flats. It’s very encouraging that the minister is promoting kindness to animals.”

Source : Today – 4 Jun 2011

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Posted in General, HDB

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