Advisory

BCFSA Launches Consultation on Proposals to Strengthen Confidence in Real Estate Services
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Date
18 November 2025
Advisory Number
25-024
Distribution
Real Estate Professionals

Purpose

BC Financial Services Authority (“BCFSA”) is issuing this advisory to invite real estate agents and consumers to participate in a consultation on its exploratory discussion paper, “Strengthening Confidence in Real Estate Services”. This consultation aims to gather feedback on proposed approaches to help strengthen trust and confidence in real estate services in British Columbia.

Background

Building on BCFSA’s 2022 report, Enhancing Consumer Protection in British Columbia’s Real Estate Market: Report to the Minister of Finance, the discussion paper explores potential changes to enhance transparency, fairness and professionalism in real estate services in the province:

  • Transparency – proposed approaches include written service agreements with buyer clients, protections for buyers who make unconditional offers, requiring agents to obtain strata documents at the time of listing a home for sale, and additional disclosures in multiple offer situations.
  • Fairness proposed approaches explore fairness in compensation structures and enabling a broader range of remuneration models.
  • Professionalism – proposed approaches limit the ability of real estate agents to modify their fundamental agency and fiduciary duties to clients.

Have your say

BCFSA invites real estate licensees, members of the public, and other interested parties to provide feedback on the proposed approaches presented in the discussion paper.

To provide your feedback, visit the consultation feedback form and complete the discussion questions. Feedback must be submitted by January 31, 2026. For more information, visit the consultation webpage.

After the consultation period ends, BCFSA will review the feedback and publish a consultation summary report before deciding which proposed approaches to move forward with. BCFSA will undertake further consultation before any changes to the Rules are made.

Your feedback is important to BCFSA. By understanding your perspectives and concerns, we can create a more effective and responsive regulatory framework for real estate services in the province.

Feedback will help BCFSA decide on whether to proceed with implementing the potential consumer protection measures.

Additional information

For more information on the consultation, visit the consultation webpage or contact engage@bcfsa.ca.