Things you need to know before you file an ethics complaint
1.) An ethics hearing will NEVER result in a monetary award or settlement.
2.) Only the state of Virginia can terminate a real estate license.
3.) The REALTOR® Code of Ethics only covers very specific activities related to real estate transactions. If you believe there has been fraudulent or illegal activity in your real estate-related transaction you will need to file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, click here to file.
4.) You may want to consider using our FREE ombudsmen services to assist you in mediating your complaint with the agent and/or their broker or if you need assistance completing the complaint form. To request an ombudsman contact ethics@hrra.com.
5.) The ethics process is run by REALTOR® volunteers. Your complaint will be reviewed within 4-6 weeks of our receiving it. You can expect the entire process to complete within 3-5 months.
6.) The complaint form is specific in that it states if you plan to have witnesses or legal counsel at a hearing the association and other parties must be notified 15 days prior to the hearing, failure to do so will most likely result in the hearing being postponed and rescheduled.
7.) The REALTOR® Code of Ethics process cannot assist you in the return of a security deposit or escrow payment; ethics hearings will NEVER result in a monetary award. You may want to file a complaint with DPOR or speak to your legal counsel for steps related to a return of funds. If you are a REALTOR® the ethics process cannot help you enforce your independent contractor agreement with your broker; ethics hearings will NEVER result in a monetary award.
8.) Only Articles can be violated not standards of practice. The standards of practice listed in the Code document are primarily to assist the hearing panel in guiding their decisions but can assist you with examples that fit the Article.
9.) Decisions of the hearing panel can be appealed by either party within 20 days of receiving the decision of the hearing panel.
10.) Please alert your attorney, if you plan to have one at the hearing, that continuances are a right- not a privilege. The ethics hearing is not a court of law and the same rules of evidence and procedures do not apply.
11.) If you have a pending court case or DPOR complaint pending, the association will hold your case for review until after the court hearing or until the DPOR investigation has completed.
Important Considerations
Your complaint must be filed within 180 days of the facts being known or reasonably known.
You must state specific articles that you believe have been violated and why. Be as specific as possible, state the action or reason that you believe support the assertion that the article was violated. Your narrative should state when, where, who, and why. Create a narrative, a story, of what happened.
You may attach any copies of documents that you believe are relevant.
A timeline works best, it helps the grievance committee understand what happened in the transaction. Below is an example:
I believe REALTOR® A violated Article 4 because he showed me the property on January 19th, 2025 and really promoted its positive features and its value. My REALTOR®, REALTOR® A, encouraged me to put in an offer over list price as he was certain the home would have multiple offers. I closed on March 15, 2025. Later, I learned that a similar house down the street had recently sold for much less. I thought this was odd so I spoke to my adjacent neighbor on April 9th, 2025. It was then that l learned that the previous owner was my REALTOR®'s daughter, a fact he never disclosed to me. He had an obligation under Article 4 to disclose that he or his immediate family member had an interest in the property I purchased. I have included a statement from my neighbor, John Doe that the previous owner, Jane Smith, is in fact the daughter of my REALTOR®.
Click here for a copy of the Code of Ethics...
Make sure your complaint names the party you are filing against.
Make sure it is dated and signed and make sure you include the narrative timeline.