| Complaints |
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| Complaint Process |
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Understanding what the Real Estate Agency regulates
The Real Estate Agency regulates:
- the actions of real estate brokers in the course of their professional real estate activity as described in ORS 696.010(15).
- the actions of real estate property managers while managing rental real estate as described in ORS 696.010(12).
- unlicensed individuals who collect or attempt to collect a fee for representing a person in a real estate transaction.
- unlicensed individuals who collect or attempt to collect a fee for managing another person’s rental property.
- the activities of escrow agents as defined by ORS 696.505.
The Agency does not regulate:
- real property transactions between private parties not involving real estate licensees
- landlord and tenant laws.
If an investigation is opened and a licensee is found to have committed violations of the laws or rules administered by the Real Estate Agency, then administrative action may be taken against the person’s license. This means a reprimand, suspension, or revocation may be issued against the licensee. The Real Estate Agency cannot help consumers recover civil or monetary damages.
Exhaust your other options
Because the complaint process can take some time, the Real Estate Agency recommends that you discuss your concerns with the licensee first. If the licensee is an affiliated licensee, you may also try communicating with the licensee’s principal broker. Regardless, you may file a complaint with the Agency at any time.
Filing a complaint
If you believe a real estate or escrow licensee may have acted improperly, you can file a complaint simply by writing a letter to the Real Estate Agency, or using the Agency’s complaint form. Please include copies of any relevant documents you may have. Also, it is helpful if your submission includes a list of other parties that have knowledge of the facts surrounding your complaint. Please include their contact information
The Regulations Division Manager of the Real Estate Agency, or their designee, may contact the parties to determine whether or not to start an investigation. If the Manager feels an investigation is warranted, the investigation will be assigned to an Investigator/Auditor. It may take several months for the investigation to be completed. When the Investigator completes the investigation, they prepare a report for the Manager. Based upon that report, the Manager may either close the case (with or without an “educational letter of advice”) or seek administrative action against the person’s license.
If the Real Estate Agency seeks administrative action against a licensee, the licensee has due process rights that allow an appeal of the Agency’s decision. If the licensee agrees to the administrative action proposed by the Agency (settles) or is not successful in appealing, the administrative action or settlement goes into effect. All administrative actions and settlements are published in the Oregon Real Estate News-Journal. The action also becomes part of the licensee’s record at the Agency. The file then becomes a matter of public record.
Real Estate Agency staff is available to answer questions about the complaint process at (503) 378-4170, selection 3.
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| Complaint Form |
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Go to Complaint Form -pdf
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