Professional Standards
Steps for Filing an Ethics Complaint
2. Review the 2023-COE-Standards-of-Practice to determine which Article(s) you feel the REALTOR® has violated.
3. Complete Form E-1. You are the complainant and the REALTOR® that you are filing the complaint against is the respondent. You must write in the Article(s) of the Code of the Code of Ethics you think have been violated. Please provide all of your contact information that is listed on Form E-1. Print the E1 Ethics Complaint Form
4. You must also write a detailed description of the events and send in any documentation that is relevant to your complaint.
5. To file the complaint, please send in Form E-1, your detailed description and any documentation that is relevant to your complaint. Mail this information to the Georgia Association of REALTORS®, 6065 Barfield Road, Atlanta, GA 30328.
6. If the circumstances giving rise to this ethics complaint involve civil or criminal litigation or are in any proceeding before the Georgia Real Estate Commission or any other state or federal regulatory or administrative agency, the complaint may be held in abeyance until these matters have been resolved.
7. If you have any questions, please contact Lillie McLean, Legal Affairs Specialist, at 678-597-4114.
Before You File an Ethics Complaint
Boards and Associations of REALTORS® are responsible for enforcing the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics imposes duties above and in addition to those imposed by law or regulation which apply only to real estate professionals who choose to become REALTORS®.
Many difficulties between real estate professionals (whether REALTORS® or not) result from misunderstanding, miscommunication, or lack of adequate communication. If you have a problem with a real estate professional, you may want to speak with them or with a principal broker in the firm. Open, constructive discussion often resolves questions or differences, eliminating the need for further action.
If, after taking these steps, you still feel you have a grievance, you may want to consider filing an ethics complaint. You will want to keep in mind that…
*Only REALTORS® and REALTOR-Associates® are subject to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS®.
*If the real estate professional (or the broker) you are dealing with is not a REALTOR®, your only recourse may be the state real estate licensing authority or the courts.
*Boards and Associations of REALTORS® determine whether the Code of Ethics has been violated, not whether the law or real estate regulations have been broken. Those decisions can only be made by the licensing authorities or the courts.
*Boards of REALTORS® can discipline REALTORS® for violating the Code of Ethics. Typical forms of discipline include attendance at courses and seminars designed to increase
*REALTORS®’ understanding of the ethical duties or other responsibilities of real estate professionals. REALTORS® may also be reprimanded, fined, or their membership can be suspended or terminated for serious or repeated violations. Boards and Associations of REALTORS® cannot require REALTORS® to pay money to parties filing ethics complaints; cannot award “punitive damages” for violations of the Code of Ethics; and cannot suspend or revoke a real estate professional’s license.
*The primary emphasis of discipline for ethical lapses is educational, to create a heightened awareness of and appreciation for the duties the Code imposes. At the same time, more severe forms of discipline, such as fines and suspension and termination of membership may be imposed for serious or repeated violations.
Click here to read more about the process of filing an ethics complaint.
