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The Illinois REALTORS® Ethics Citation Program is an expedited process that allows complaints to be filed alleging violations of certain Articles as supported by some Standards of Practice of the Code of Ethics (qualifying violations).
Anonymous complaints are allowed under in this program.
The ethics citation complaints that are filed are reviewed monthly by the Ethics Citation Panel, a group of members from around the state who are appointed to serve in this capacity. If the Ethics Citation Panel determines the allegations contained in the complaint are a potential violation of one of the qualifying Articles of the Code of Ethics, a citation is issued to the Respondent. A copy of the citation issued is also provided to the managing broker of the Respondent and the Complainant, if named.
Once a citation is issued, the Respondent has 30 days to either accept the citation or request a hearing on the matter.
From January 1, 2021, through October 31, 2021, 68 ethics citations were issued.
The most frequent ethics citation issued during this time period was for a violation of Article 3, supported by Standard of Practice 3-9, which carries a $2,500 fine.
Article 3 requires cooperation between brokers, and Standard of Practice 3-9 states: “REALTORS® shall not provide access to listed property on terms other than those established by the owner or the listing broker.”
The second most frequent ethics citation issued was for a violation of Article 12, which carries a $250 fine.
Article 12 states: “REALTORS® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations. REALTORS® shall ensure that their status as real estate professionals is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing, and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from a real estate professional.”
The third most frequent ethics citation issued was for a violation of Article 12, supported by Standard of Practice 12-5, which also carries a $250 fine.
Article 12, Standard of Practice 12-5 states: “REALTORS® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise real estate services or listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of that REALTOR®’s firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner either in the advertisement or in electronic advertising via a link to a display with all required disclosures.”
Please visit www.IllinoisRealtors.org/Ethics/Ethics-Citation-Program to learn more about the Ethics Citation Program.
