Verify an Industrial Property Agent in Malaysia: REN, PEA

Key Takeaways

Check any agent free on the BOVAEP public register at bis.lpeph.gov.my/search: "Search for Negotiator" for a REN number, "Search for Member" for an REA or PEA, and "Search for Firm" for the firm's E number.
A REN (real estate negotiator) cannot act alone. A REN works for one registered estate agent's firm, full time, and that agent may employ at most 50 negotiators.
A PEA (probationary estate agent) has passed the Board's estate agent exams and is in at least 2 years of supervised training under a registered estate agent. An REA (registered estate agent) has also passed the Test of Professional Competence and can practise independently.
REN tags are renewed every year and expire on 31 December, so the register should show "Active" for the current year (for example "Active (2026)").
Acting as an estate agent without registration can bring a fine of up to RM300,000, up to 3 years' jail, or both, plus RM1,000 for each day the offence continues.
Pay deposits only to a registered estate agency firm or a legal stakeholder such as the lawyer, never to an agent's personal account.

To verify an industrial property agent in Malaysia, ask for their REN, PEA or REA number and the firm's E number, then search both on the register kept by the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (BOVAEP). The entry should show "Active" for the current year, the same name and mobile number as the advert, and the same firm named on the appointment letter. For a factory or warehouse deal, then test the agent on power supply, floor loading, zoning and whether they share the deal with other agents (co-broke).

Who regulates property agents in Malaysia

Estate agency is regulated under the Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Act 1981 (Act 242), administered by BOVAEP under the Ministry of Finance (in Malay, Lembaga Penilai, Pentaksir, Ejen Harta Tanah dan Pengurus Harta, now abbreviated LPEPH). The Board's functions include keeping the register of estate agents, probationary estate agents and firms, prescribing the scale of fees and holding disciplinary proceedings.

The Board's website has moved. The old address lppeh.gov.my now shows a notice pointing to lpeph.gov.my, and the register search runs on the Board Information System (BIS) at bis.lpeph.gov.my. Older guides that link to search.lppeh.gov.my are out of date.

Agents must also follow the Board's standards, circulars and directives, including the Malaysian Estate Agency Standards, as Circular 3/2023 reminds them.

REA vs PEA vs REN: what the letters mean

Title	What it means	How they qualify	Can they act independently?	Number format
REA (Registered Estate Agent)	A fully registered estate agent	Passed the estate agents' written exams Parts I and II (or exempt through a recognised degree), 2 years of supervised training, then the Test of Professional Competence (TPC)	Yes. Can practise in their own name and head a branch office	"E" plus digits
PEA (Probationary Estate Agent)	Registered with the Board and training to become an REA	Passed the written exams and registered as a PEA (minimum Diploma); now in the 2 year supervised training	No. Practises under the supervision of a registered estate agent	"PEA" plus digits, for example PEA 1478
REN (Real Estate Negotiator)	A salesperson employed by a registered estate agent	Completed the Negotiator Certification Course (NCC); registered with the Board by their estate agent; renewed every year	No. Assists the estate agent under their direction and supervision	"REN" plus digits, for example REN 12771
Firm	The registered estate agency practice	Registered with the Board on Form N	Each branch office must be headed by a resident registered estate agent	Starts with "E", for example E (1) 1855

Sources: BOVAEP's FAQ, registration page, role of agents and negotiators and Notification 11/2024; number formats from the New Straits Times explainer Know your real estate practitioner.

Two rules matter most for a factory deal. First, the Board describes negotiators as "not authorised to act independently of the estate agency firm"; a REN works for one estate agent at a time, full time, and Circular 3/2023 caps each estate agent at 50 negotiators. Second, the same circular says registrants and negotiators are "not allowed" to collaborate with non-registered persons, so a "runner" who is not on the register cannot lawfully broker your deal.

How to look someone up on the BOVAEP register

The search is free and needs no login.

Step	What to do	What you should see
1	Open bis.lpeph.gov.my/search, or click "Search" on lpeph.gov.my	Three panels: Search for Firm, Search for Member, Search for Negotiator
2	For a REN, open "Search for Negotiator" and type the number (digits only work, for example 12771) or the name	The registered name (as on the IC), any registered nickname, photo, mobile number, REN number and status such as "Active (2026)"
3	Check the firm line in the same result	The firm name and its E number. Branches show a suffix after a slash
4	For an REA or PEA, open "Search for Member" and type the licence number	Name, licence number with its prefix (E or PEA) and the firm
5	Open "Search for Firm" and search the firm's E number	Firm name, registered address, phone and email, and whether the office is HQ or a branch
6	Compare with the advert and the documents you were sent	Same name, same mobile number, same firm and E number

Prefixes matter. A number search can return people with the same digits under different licence types, such as a property manager (PM) and a PEA. Make sure the prefix matches.
"Not active" means not renewed or terminated. RENs renew every year. BOVAEP Notification 29/2023 states that REN tags expire on 31 December each year and that a licence not renewed is deactivated. An entry showing "NOT ACTIVE" with an earlier year is a stop sign.
The phone number must match. BOVAEP's 17 July 2024 public advisory says advertised mobile numbers must correspond with those in the BOVAEP system.
Names follow the IC. Under Notification 29/2023, RENs are registered under their full name as per the NRIC. A nickname on a business card is allowed only if that name is registered with the Board.

What a REN tag shows

Circular 3/2023 makes it compulsory for every REN to wear the REN tag during business and asks the public to check the Board's website before appointing one. The tag carries the REN number, which the New Straits Times explainer notes must also appear in marketing materials. Tags are reissued yearly and old ones returned, so an out-of-date tag is a warning.

The same circular says a REN's business card may show only "Negotiator" or "Senior Negotiator". The Board's role page reserves titles such as "Property Consultant" for registered valuers. A REN card that says "Director" or "Property Consultant" breaks the Board's rules.

Red flags when dealing with a factory or warehouse agent

Red flag	Why it matters	What to do
Deposit to be paid into a personal bank account	BOVAEP says pay registered agencies or legal stakeholders	Pay the firm or the lawyer, against a receipt
No REN, PEA or E number in the advert	Required in marketing materials	Ask for it, then search it
Number not found, or shows NOT ACTIVE	Not registered, or not renewed this year	Do not proceed
Phone number differs from the register	Advertised numbers must match BOVAEP's system	Call the firm's office line from the register
No firm name, or "I work for several agencies"	A REN works for one estate agent only	Match the firm in the register and the letter
Refuses a physical viewing	BOVAEP says inspect in person before paying	View the factory before any payment
Asks both buyer and seller for a fee	The Board's code of conduct bars fees from more than one client in a transaction	Ask in writing which side they act for
The other side's agent is from the same firm, undisclosed	Needs both parties' knowledge and consent	Get the consent in writing

Practising without registration is a criminal matter. The New Straits Times reported that under the amended Act 242, a person acting as an estate agent without registration, or impersonating one, is liable to a fine of up to RM300,000, imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both, plus RM1,000 for each day the offence continues. The same applies to anyone who aids and abets. You can file a complaint through the Board's e-complaint form.

Commission: what is regulated and who pays

BOVAEP prescribes the scale of fees under Act 242, so a registered agent's commission has a regulated ceiling. Our industrial property agent commission guide sets out the scale for sales and tenancies and who pays. On industrial deals the owner side normally pays. The fee should be stated in the written appointment, and if an agent asks a buyer or tenant for an upfront "registration" or "viewing" fee, ask in writing which client they act for.

Exclusive vs open appointment

In an open appointment, several agents market the factory and only the one who brings the buyer or tenant earns the fee; the same factory often appears in many adverts at different prices. In an exclusive appointment, one registered firm has the sole right to market it for an agreed period, usually with commitments on marketing, co-broke and reporting. Either way, read the letter for the period, asking price, fee and whether other agents may bring buyers. For how an exclusive mandate works with Peter and Jason (a minimum period of 3 or 6 months and a written report every two weeks), see the exclusive agent page.

Questions to ask an industrial specialist

A residential agent can be fully registered and still be the wrong person for a factory. Ask:

Power. "What is the incoming TNB supply in amps or kVA, and can it be upgraded?" A good agent asks for your machine load first. You can size it with the factory power calculator.
Floor loading. "What is the slab rated for, in kN/m² or tonnes per m²?" Racking, presses and heavy stock need a figure, not "very strong". Check your need with the floor loading calculator.
Zoning and title. "Is the land category industrial, and what does the express condition allow?" The answer comes from a land search at the land office, not from the advert.
Approvals. "Does the building have a CCC or CF, and a current Bomba fire certificate if it needs one?" See our guide to the fire certificate for factories.
Co-broke access. "Will you share this requirement with other registered agents?" An agent who co-brokes can show you factories listed by other firms instead of only their own.
Local evidence. "What have comparable factories sold or rented for here?" Ask for recorded transactions, such as the JPPH-based Port Klang industrial transaction data, not asking prices.

How to choose an industrial agent in Port Klang

In the Port Klang belt (Westport, Pulau Indah, Telok Gong, Northport, Pandamaran, Kapar and Bukit Raja), add local checks: which roads take container trailers, which parks are in or near the free zone, which areas flood, and how many factories the agent has shown in that sub-area this year. Then verify the person on the register. Our Port Klang industrial property agent page lists the areas covered.

Checking FactoryHub's agents

FactoryHub is run by two people, and you can check both:

Peter Tan, REN 12771. When we searched REN 12771 on the BOVAEP register in October 2026, it showed "Active (2026)" under CID Realtors Sdn Bhd. See Peter Tan's profile.
Jason Low, PEA 1478. The register lists PEA 1478 under CID Realtors Sdn Bhd (E (1) 1855). As a PEA, Jason practises under the supervision of a registered estate agent. See Jason Low's profile.
The firm. Both are registered with BOVAEP under CID Realtors Sdn Bhd, E(1) 1855, searchable under "Search for Firm".

Both serve clients in English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese and both work the Port Klang belt; see the industrial property agent page. Buyers and tenants who want one contact for a whole-market search can use find me a factory.

Verification checklist

Get the agent's REN, PEA or REA number and the firm's E number in writing
Search the number on bis.lpeph.gov.my/search and confirm "Active" for the current year
Match the name, mobile number and firm with the advert and appointment letter
View the factory or warehouse in person before paying anything
Pay deposits only to the firm or the lawyer's stakeholder account, against a receipt
Confirm in writing which side the agent acts for and who pays the fee

FAQ

How do I check if a property agent is registered in Malaysia?

Go to the BOVAEP register at bis.lpeph.gov.my/search. Use "Search for Negotiator" for a REN number and "Search for Member" for an REA or PEA number, then "Search for Firm" for the E number. The entry should show "Active" for the current year, the same mobile number as the advert and the same firm as your documents.

What is the difference between REN, PEA and REA?

An REA is a fully registered estate agent who has passed the exams and the Test of Professional Competence and can head a firm. A PEA has passed the written exams and is in at least 2 years of supervised training under a registered estate agent. A REN is a negotiator who has completed the NCC and works for one registered estate agent's firm.

Can a REN close a factory deal without a firm?

No. The Board says negotiators are not authorised to act independently of the estate agency firm and may work for only one estate agent at a time. The appointment letter and receipts should carry the firm's name and E number.

Is it safe to pay the earnest deposit to the agent?

Only into the registered estate agency firm's account or a legal stakeholder such as the lawyer, against a receipt. BOVAEP's July 2024 advisory warned of impostors who collect earnest deposits and disappear, so view the property in person first.

What is the penalty for acting as an unregistered estate agent?

Under the amended Act 242, as reported by the New Straits Times, acting as an estate agent without registration or impersonating one carries a fine of up to RM300,000, up to 3 years' jail, or both. A further RM1,000 can be imposed for each day the offence continues, and the rule covers anyone who aids and abets.

How do I choose an industrial property agent in Port Klang?

Verify the agent on the BOVAEP register first. Then ask about TNB supply, floor loading, land category, CCC and fire certificate, container trailer access and recent recorded transactions in the exact sub-area. Finally, ask whether they co-broke with other registered agents so you see the whole market.

Are Peter Tan and Jason Low registered?

Yes. Peter Tan is REN 12771 and Jason Low is PEA 1478, both registered with BOVAEP under CID Realtors Sdn Bhd, E(1) 1855. You can confirm both numbers yourself on bis.lpeph.gov.my/search.

Buying or renting, talk to us

FactoryHub is the industrial-only platform of Peter Tan (REN 12771) and Jason Low (PEA 1478), registered with BOVAEP under CID Realtors Sdn Bhd E(1) 1855. We handle both rent and sale, and we co-broke across the whole market, so if the right unit is another agent's listing we will still put it in front of you.

Send us the numbers that decide the shortlist: required amps, built-up area, floor loading, preferred area and target date. We reply with what actually exists, including units that are not advertised publicly. For 800A to 4,000A+ requirements, see high-power factories in Selangor.

Agent	Licence	Mobile / WhatsApp	WeChat
Peter Tan	REN 12771	+6016-666 6872	peterindustrial
Jason Low	PEA 1478	+6012-288 1834	massiveaction

Factories and Warehouses in Port Klang

Live listings with power, ceiling height and floor loading for every unit:

Verify an Industrial Property Agent in Malaysia: REN, PEA, REA Checks and How to Choose One