Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act

Study notes

The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act sits behind every property deal: it lists the unfair practices that are barred and gives consumers and the regulator routes to act when a trader crosses the line.

What you must know

• The CPFTA applies to consumer transactions — including real estate services supplied to individuals.
• Unfair practices include misleading representations, false claims about availability or price, taking advantage of a consumer, and bait-and-switch tactics.
• Puffery is tolerable; specific false claims are not — the line is whether a factual representation is deceptive.
• The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) administers the Act and can seek injunctions and issue directions against unfair practices.
• Consumers have private remedies — they may seek a declaration and avoid or rescind the contract, and claim damages where warranted.
• The Act supplements, not replaces, common-law remedies like misrepresentation and negligence.