The EAA and licensing

What the Estate Agents Authority is and does, who must hold a licence, the requirements for a salesperson's licence, and the rules on the register, registered address, renewal, conditions, suspension and revocation. Syllabus 2.1 to 2.3.7 is tested at Level 3, so expect scenario questions with dates and named people as well as straight recall of numbers.

Part I · Stand-alone questions8 min read9 sections

Checked against the Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap. 511), ss.2, 5–9, 13–17, 21, 23–25, 27, 29, 31 and Schedule; Estate Agents (Licensing) Regulation (Cap. 511A), ss.6, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 15; Estate Agents (Exemption from Licensing) Order (Cap. 511B), ss.2–3; EAA Licence fees, Licence expiry and renewal and Mandatory CPD Scheme pages; EAA Examination Handbook, Aug 2026; EAA, A Study Guide to Estate Agency Law and Practice, Part 2; checked 11 Oct 2026.

Must-know for the exam

EAA's three functions (s.5): regulate and control practice; promote integrity and competence; and, if it thinks fit, liaise with education and training bodies.
Authority: Chairman, Vice-chairman and up to 18 ordinary members, all appointed by the Chief Executive; at least one public officer; terms of up to 2 years.
No one may carry on, advertise or hold out as an estate agent without an estate agent's licence (s.15); salespersons need their own licence (s.16).
Licence requirements: aged 18+ at application, Form 5 education or equivalent, passed the exam within 12 months before applying, and fit and proper.
SQE pass supports a salesperson's licence only; an EAQE pass supports either an estate agent's (individual) or a salesperson's licence.
Licences last 12 or 24 months; apply to renew not more than 3 months and not less than 1 month before expiry (Cap. 511A, s.13).
Change of registered address: notify the EAA in writing within 14 days (s.14). A company's registered address is its registered office.
Suspension or revocation (s.27): written notice with reasons, 21 days for representations, decision notified within 21 days and published in the Gazette.
After refusal or revocation, no new application for 12 months unless the Authority finds refusal unreasonable (s.25; Cap. 511A, s.15).
Salesperson's licence fee (since 1 Jan 2002): HK$1,280 for 12 months, HK$2,510 for 24 months.

On this page · 9 sections

Traps that cost marks

Candidates assume the EAA sets commission rates; it does not.
Candidates think the EAA can discipline clients who refuse to pay commission; its disciplinary powers reach only licensees.
Candidates assume the Chief Executive can intervene in individual cases; section 7 allows only general directions.
Confusing the Chief Executive (who appoints Authority members) with the Secretary for Housing or the Authority's own Chief Executive Officer.
Candidates think practitioners are barred from the Authority altogether, or that the bar covers only the Chairman.
Candidates assume every committee member must sit on the Authority board; board-appointed outsiders are allowed.
Candidates forget the 3-member minimum or the majority rule for standing committees.
Candidates think appeals are heard inside the EAA; appeal tribunals are independent of it.

Why this matters in the exam

Licensing questions are some of the most predictable in Part I. They test numbers (18, 12 months, 24 months, 3 to 1 months, 14 days, 21 days), the difference between the two licences, and who is outside the licensing rules. Learn the numbers as a set and check each scenario against its dates.

The Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap. 511) (EAO) sets up the Authority and the licensing system. The Estate Agents (Licensing) Regulation (Cap. 511A) adds the details: age, education, renewal window and the Statement of Particulars of Business (SPOB).

The Authority: functions, structure and powers

•Functions (s.5): regulate and control the practice of estate agents and salespersons; promote their integrity and competence and raise the status of the trade; and, if it thinks fit, liaise with education and training bodies.
•Powers (s.6): include settling commission disputes referred under s.49. Disciplinary powers are used only against licensees.
•Chief Executive (s.7): may give written general directions in the public interest, which the Authority must follow. He cannot direct the outcome of a particular case.
•Composition (Schedule): Chairman, Vice-chairman and not more than 18 ordinary members, all appointed by the Chief Executive. At least one ordinary member must be a public officer. Practitioners may be ordinary members but not Chairman or Vice-chairman. Terms are up to 2 years.
•Committees (s.8): at least 3 members, all appointed by the Authority; a standing committee needs a majority of Authority members. The five standing committees are Strategic Development and Management, Disciplinary, Licensing, Practice and Examination, and Professional Development.
•Delegation (s.9): the Authority may delegate any function except the power to delegate, appointing committees and making regulations.

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Salespersons Qualifying Examination