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Paper 2 · Lesson 2 — Code of Practice, Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest

Handling transaction money

The bar on holding sale/HDB-lease money; cheque payee/crossing; no lending; no moneylender referral fees.

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Question 1

Mr Lau asks Ms Naidu to hold a large cash deposit for "safekeeping" until completion of this Singapore property sale.

  1. (i) Ms Naidu must not hold Mr Lau's cash deposit for this Singapore property sale.
  2. (ii) On a sale and purchase of Singapore property, the only monies she may handle are the commission and the valuation fee.
  3. (iii) She may deliver a crossed, account-payee cheque drawn in favour of another party, as a permitted exception.
  4. (iv) She may hold the cash deposit as long as she issues Mr Lau an official receipt.
  1. A. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
  2. B. (ii) and (iii) only
  3. C. (i), (ii) and (iii) only
  4. D. (i) and (iii) only
Show the answer and full explanation

Answer: C

The rule. A salesperson must not hold transaction money for a Singapore property sale. On a sale and purchase, the only monies she may handle are the commission and the valuation fee. The one carve-out is delivering a crossed, account-payee cheque drawn in favour of another party.

Why C is correct. (i) not holding the deposit, (ii) commission and valuation fee only, and (iii) the crossed-cheque exception are correct. (iv) is false — a receipt does not let her hold the cash deposit.

The other options.

  • A adds the false (iv), holding the cash against a receipt.
  • B drops the no-holding point at (i).
  • D drops the commission-and-valuation-fee point at (ii).

Exam note. Never hold the deposit; a receipt changes nothing. The crossed account-payee cheque is the only route in.

A salesperson must not hold transaction money for a Singapore property sale →

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