RECA investigates all formal complaints against licensees to ensure they meet the required standards of conduct. If a complaint involves someone who isn’t licensed but is suspected of engaging in activities that require a licence, RECA will also investigate.
RECA does not oversee real estate or mortgage transactions. This means RECA does not review if a deal is fair or legal, and it does not investigate buyers, sellers, landlords, lenders, or borrowers.
It’s important to note that filing a complaint to RECA does not prevent you from taking legal action against a licensee or other party. RECA cannot obtain financial compensation for you however, you can seek compensation through the Courts
Who Does RECA Investigate?
RECA investigates the actions of licensed professionals in the following industries:
- Residential, rural and commercial real estate
- Property managers
- Mortgage brokers
- Condominium managers
Does RECA Investigate Unlicensed Individuals?
Yes. RECA investigates individuals and businesses if they are performing activities that require a licence but are not licensed.
To verify if someone is licensed, use RECA ProCheck.
Thinking about making a complaint?
You can file a complaint with RECA if you believe a licensed professional has acted improperly—but it’s important to know:
- Filing a complaint with RECA does not prevent you from also pursuing legal action. RECA can investigate conduct and take disciplinary action, but we cannot award financial compensation.
If you’re seeking compensation, you’ll need to go through the courts.
- RECA receives a complaint.
- If it qualifies for investigation, RECA notifies both the complainant and the licensee.
- RECA’s trained investigators carefully and objectively gather the facts, which may include interviews with the complainant, the licensee, and any witnesses.
- Confidentiality is an important part of the investigative process. RECA keeps information private whenever possible to protect everyone involved. However, if the case proceeds to a hearing, some details may become public, and the complainant may be asked to testify.
- The facts are given to the registrar to make a decision.
- Possible outcomes include:
– No action
– Advisory note
– Reprimand
– Penalty
– Referral to a Hearing Panel - RECA informs everyone of the decision and their appeal rights.
The time required to complete a professional conduct review depends on many factors such as complexity, the level of co-operation from parties, and the number of reviews underway.