Have you seen the latest updates to our legal forms? Illinois REALTORS® recently updated several of the forms available to our members on our website and added new documents related to the Illinois Radon Awareness Act

All the Brokerage Agreements were amended to add immigration status to the list of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act. The Compensation for Services paragraph in the Exclusive Right to Sell Contract and the Exclusive Seller Representation Contract were also amended.

The “Fair Housing Is a Serious Matter!” pamphlets (Sellers’ Guide and A Guide for Real Estate Professionals) were both brought up to date by adding immigration status as a protected class and updating the federal fair housing penalties.

The following minor changes were made to the Sample Office Policy Manual:

• p. 5 We added “convictions under certain circumstances” to the list of protected classes, because that is the employment section. We also added the following at the end of that section on the top of the page [Consult with local legal counsel for accuracy and any needed changes] This is just advice to you to check with your own attorney on employment provisions since we are not the experts in that area.
• p. 6 added immigration status to the list of protected classes in Harassment paragraph after familial status.
• p. 25 added immigration status between familial status and source of income in 2nd paragraph under Fair Housing. Under 3. we removed the named protected classes in favor of “…because of their membership in any protected class.”
  • Under 4. added immigration status in same location
  • Under 7. added immigration status in same location
  • Under 8. we removed the named protected classes in favor of “…based on anyone’s membership in any protected class.”
• p. 53 Under 8. “…on the basis of anyone’s membership in any protected class.”

Finally, two new forms were added to the library: Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards (For Lessees/rentals of a residential dwelling unit) and Radon Guide for Tenants.

About the writer: Victoria Munson is the Illinois REALTORS® Legal Hotline Attorney.