Starting from 1 April, HDB residents in Singapore may notice fewer property flyers cluttering their gates and doors. This comes after five major real estate agencies agreed to distribute flyers in ways that are not publicly visible, according to the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents (SIEA).
Agencies Commit to Proper Distribution
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on “Proper Flyer Distribution to HDB Homes” was signed by the Alliance for Action (AfA), which includes PropNex Realty Pte Ltd, ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd, Huttons Asia Pte Ltd, OrangeTee & Tie Pte Ltd, and SRI Pte Ltd. These five agencies represent 32,271 out of 36,816 property agents in Singapore as of 1 January.
SIEA said the agencies recognized the need to reduce the negative impact of flyers left “improperly” at gates, doors, and common areas. The MOU commits agents to “a unified industry-led approach” supported by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA), ensuring that flyers are distributed properly.
Guidelines for Distribution
Under the new arrangement, property flyers must not be visible to the public and should only reach the intended recipients. Agents may place flyers in mailboxes or engage professional flyer distribution services to comply with the rules.
Consequences for Breaches
SIEA outlined a “standardised approach” for penalties. Agents will receive a Letter of Caution for the first breach. A second breach requires attending an “Ethical flyer distribution training course” along with another caution letter. For a third breach, agents will be suspended from distributing flyers to HDB homes for six months. Subsequent violations will escalate until the agent maintains a clean record for two years.
The SIEA also noted that agencies will report complaints from residents, allowing the organization to keep a central record of breaches. This ensures that even agents who switch agencies or leave the industry are tracked and held accountable if they return.
