General information only: rules, fees, tax treatment, and processes can change. Confirm current requirements with the applicable regulator or a qualified legal, tax, financial, immigration, or compliance adviser.
Key Takeaways
- RECO is Ontario's delegated regulator for real estate services under TRESA.
- The public register can help confirm a registrant's name, registration status, and brokerage.
- Registration is not a ranking or recommendation, and a register search cannot assess whether an agent is right for your needs.
- Questions about conduct or a dispute should use RECO's current complaint and consumer-information channels.
Start with the public register
RECO administers registration under TRESA. Its public search helps you confirm a registrant's status and brokerage; it is not a substitute for judging fit or reviewing a contract.
This article is general information, not legal, tax, financial, immigration, or compliance advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant official authority and qualified advisers.
The short answer: search the public register
Before signing a representation agreement, search the Real Estate Council of Ontario's public register for the person's name. Check that the registration is current and that the brokerage shown matches the information you were given. Save the date of your check because registration information can change.
What the register can tell you
The register is a verification tool, not a service review. It can identify whether a person or brokerage is registered and may display public regulatory information. Read the register's own explanations and confirm any result directly with RECO if the record is unclear.
- Use the exact spelling and compare the brokerage name.
- Treat a name match as a prompt to verify, not proof that two people are the same.
- Do not infer quality, price, or experience from registration alone.
If something does not match
Pause before sharing documents or signing. Ask the brokerage for clarification, then contact RECO through its official website if you need help understanding the registration record or filing a complaint. A lawyer can advise on a contract-specific dispute.