Complaints, Investigations, and Discipline Orders: 2014/2015

Vancouver, British Columbia, February 12, 2016 —The Council wishes to correct reports in the media regarding the numbers of investigations conducted and discipline orders issued over the past year. Each complaint that we receive is carefully investigated in accordance with our complaint and disciplinary procedures. The Council is committed to protecting the public interest by ensuring that licensees meet the standards expected of professionals and fulfil their duties to clients, and so we take prompt steps to investigate all matters brought to our attention through formal complaints.

The Council also takes a risk-based, proactive approach through audits to ensuring that brokerages and licensees are complying with their legislated duties. Our auditors visit hundreds of brokerages each year, examining books and records, and ensuring there are proper controls in place to protect consumers’ money in brokerage trust accounts. The Council reviews independent accountant reports submitted annually by all 1,116 brokerages across the province.

When the Council’s auditors and investigators have collected sufficient evidence to warrant it, we can proceed to a discipline hearing. Real estate licensees, like individuals in most regulated professions, have the option to proceed to a hearing, or to “plead guilty” — in which case the Council may issue a discipline order known as a Consent Order.

During the Council’s last fiscal year, between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, the Council conducted 209 audits and opened investigation files on 536 complaints. During that time, the Council issued 88 Consent Orders, and held one hearing resulting in a discipline order against the licensee. Three individuals had their licences cancelled by the Council. Two emergency suspensions were issued. Twenty three licensees were suspended. The Council issued 28 fines, 84 reprimands, and accepted six permanent licence surrenders. In total, the Council issued discipline orders against 111 licensees.

Please note that numbers of investigations opened in 2014/15 do not correlate directly with the number of discipline orders issued during the same period. In some cases, the investigation and discipline process requires more than a calendar year to complete.

• Audits and Inspections Conducted — 209
• Complaints Received and Investigations Opened — 536
• Discipline Orders Issued — 89*
• These orders resulted in the following penalties:
  • Licences Reprimanded — 84
  • Licences Suspended — 23
  • Discipline Penalties (Fines) — 28
  • Licences Cancelled — 3
  • Permanent Surrenders of Licence — 6
• Emergency Suspensions Ordered — 2

*Disciplinary orders include Disciplinary Hearings and Consent Orders, which may involve multiple licensees. Some consent orders include multiple penalties.

For more information contact:

Marilee Peters, Communications Officer

Real Estate Council of BC

mpeters@recbc.ca 604-683-9664