CPD 25 Feb 2027 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
When Property Deals Go Wrong: Navigate Deposit Disputes and Reduce Your Legal Risk
When Property Deals Go Wrong: Navigate Deposit Disputes and Reduce Your Legal Risk is a practical three-hour legal training programme designed to help property agents understand what happens when a property transaction encounters default, termination or dispute.
- Date
- 25 Feb 2027
- Time
- 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
- Mode
- online
- Venue
- Microsoft Teams
- CPD
- 3 CPD hours APPLIED with BOVAEP
Property transactions do not always proceed according to plan. A purchaser may withdraw after paying an earnest deposit, a vendor may refuse to proceed with the sale, financing may be rejected, parties may dispute whether a deposit should be refunded or forfeited, or representations made during negotiations may later become the subject of a dispute.
When a transaction begins to fall apart, property agents are often the first persons approached by both parties for answers. What an agent says, promises, records or does at this stage can significantly affect the dispute and may potentially expose the agent or agency to liability.
When Property Deals Go Wrong: Navigate Deposit Disputes and Reduce Your Legal Risk is a practical three-hour legal training programme designed to help property agents understand what happens when a property transaction encounters default, termination or dispute.
The course examines common problems arising from the offer and earnest-deposit stage through execution and performance of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (“SPA”). Particular emphasis will be placed on purchaser and vendor defaults, withdrawal from transactions, loan-related issues, treatment of earnest deposits, contractual remedies, misrepresentation and the legal boundaries of an agent's role.
Through practical scenarios, participants will learn how to identify warning signs, determine which documents and contractual provisions should be examined, communicate appropriately with the parties, preserve relevant evidence and recognise when a matter should be referred to a lawyer.
The objective is not to turn property agents into lawyers, but to equip them with sufficient legal awareness to manage difficult transactions professionally while protecting their clients, themselves and their agencies.
Key topics
- When Is a Deal Binding? — Offers, acceptance, loan conditions and WhatsApp communications.
- When Buyers or Sellers Back Out — Loan rejection, changes of mind and failure to complete.
- Deposit Disputes — Refunds, forfeiture and what to check before responding.
- Problems After Signing the SPA — Payment delays, completion deadlines and vacant possession.
- Protecting Yourself as an Agent — Misleading statements, unauthorised promises and proper record keeping.
- Practical Cases and Q&A — Common deal disputes, client communication and when to refer matters to a lawyer.
Learning outcomes
- Recognise common problems when buyers or sellers fail to proceed with a deal.
- Identify the terms and documents to check when a deposit refund or forfeiture is disputed.
- Understand common issues after signing the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA).
- Recognise statements and promises that could expose agents to liability.
- Communicate appropriately with clients, keep supporting records and know when to involve a lawyer.
Who will benefit
- Registered Real Estate Agents (REA)
- Probationary Estate Agents (PEA)
- Real Estate Negotiators (REN)
- Real Estate Agency Managers
- Property consultants handling developer projects
- Developer sales teams
- Real estate agencies involved in new project sales
- Professionals involved in residential landed and strata developer project transactions