Q. What is age of majority? What about becoming a REN when I am 17 years old? How about PEA and REA?
A.
This question is important to understand Age of Majority. Let us see Age of Majority Act, 1971.
The Age of Majority Act, 1971 puts at S.3(2) that a person is deemed to have attained the age of eighteen years at the beginning of the eighteenth anniversary of that day. Hence, the "Age of Majority" is 18 years old. After attaining this age, a person is a legal person to enter into a contract, like owning a property, buying a car, or entering into a contract like tenancy agreement, etc. Therefore, if you are a student studying in a local college and below 18 years old, you still cannot sign the tenancy agreement. Your guardian or parent is to do that for you.
Age of 17 is mentioned in Rule 32 Eligibility of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Rules, 1986. It says "not less than seventeen years of age on the 1st January of the year of the examination. This means, if a person's birth date is 02 Jan, he would have to wait for 1 whole year to become 17 years old + 11 months and 30 days to be allowed to take the examination.
Age of 21 is the age requirement for PEA and REA. In S.22A (registration of REA) and S.22E (registration of PEA) it is stated a person for registration has to attain the age of 21 years and of sound mind, good character and has not been convicted of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty or moral turpitude during the five years immediately preceding the date of his application;
There are other requirements like not an undischarged bankrupt, etc. which you may refer to the sections of the law.
As REN is a new inserted position in the law - Act 242 Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Act, 1981, there is no mention of the minimum age of REN by any section of the main legislature or the Rules, 1986. However, as PEA and REA are limited to age of 21 years or more.
Added correction
Notwithstanding, being that REN has no mention of age requirement in the Act 242, a 17 year old person cannot be engaged as REN. This is found in the below form.
In the REN01 form for registration of REN, BOVAEP has the minimum age set at 18 years old as well. See below extract of REN01.
Hence, the minimum age of REN is 18 years old.
23 Nov, 2024
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