Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is your complaint about a REALTOR®?

a. First determine if the Real Estate Agent is a Member of The Brooklyn Board of REALTOR® as we only have jurisdiction over members

Q. Do you have an Ethics or an Arbitration issue?

a. Please research the REALTORS® Code of Ethics to determine if the Real Estate Agent has violated any of the provisions of the code. Links to the REALTORS® Code of Ethics appear on several pages throughout this Web Site.

b. Arbitration usually involves a dispute over Commission or other monetary issues related to the sale of property. If this is the basis of your complaint; you may request Arbitration. Policies and provisions of arbitration are outlined, in great detail, within the Ethics and Arbitration Manual. You may also search our Ethics and Arbitration Database for more information.

c. If you have both, an Ethics issue an an Arbitration issue; the Arbitration issue will be resolved first. The Ethics Complaint will be addressed only after the Arbitration issue has been resolved.

Q. Who may file an ethics complaint?

a. Anyone can file an Ethics Complaint. You don't have to be a member of the Board of REALTORS®.

b. The Complaint must be in writing, stating the facts and issues, signed by the complainant and filed within one year of the incident.

c. Complaints may be filed from any location. However, the complaint must be filed with the Board of REALTORS® having jurisdiction over the incident.

Q. Who may file an Arbitration Request?

a. Arbitration Requests may be filed by the following:

1. REALTORS® and Non-resident members who are principal brokers.

2. REALTORS®, REALTORS®-Associates

3. Non-resident members who are not principals, provided his or her principal broker joins in the request.

4. Clients or customers of the REALTOR®.

b. The Complaint must be in writing, stating the facts and issues, signed by the complainant and filed within 180 days of the incident.

c. Policies, provisions and procedures for Arbitration are outlined in the REALTORS® Ethics and Arbitration Manual and in our Ethics and Arbitration Database. Please refer to those resources for more detailed information.

Q. What are the Board's powers and limitations with regard to Ethics and Arbitration Complaints?

a. The Board of REALTORS® only has jurisdiction over members and their professional conduct as it applies to Board Rules and Regulations.

b. The Board of REALTORS® has no jurisdiction or control of State Issued Licenses.

c. The Board of REALTORS® is not a Law Enforcement Agency or an Agency of the Government in any respect. Legal issues must be taken up with the appropriate agency.

d. The Board of REALTORS® can administer disciplinary actions against a member for Ethics Violations by recording a Letter of Warning or Reprimand, directing the member to attend appropriate classes, expel, suspend or place the member on probation or fining the member (limit $1000).

e. More detailed information can be found in the The Board of REALTORS® Ethics and Arbitration Manual or by searching our own Ethics and Arbitration Database

Q. How I file an Ethics Complaint?

a. Please reference the link (in the left hand colomn of this page): "Filing an Ethics Complaint" for more information.

Q. How do I file an Arbitration Request?

a. Please reference the link (in the left hand colomn of this page): "Filing an Arbitration Request" for more information.

Q. How does the Board Process the complaint?

a. Please reference the link (in the left hand colomn of this page): "Complaint Process" for more information.