Consequences for the real estate broker who fails to meet his obligations

As a real estate broker, you must ensure that you meet certain regulatory obligations to keep your record up to date.

Obligations to be met

To be done every year:

Update your information via the Online Checkout. If any changes take place during the year, you must inform the OACIQ immediately by accessing the Statements: Changes during the year section in the Brokers’ Area
Pay the applicable licence renewal fees
To be done every two years:
Complete the Mandatory Continuing Education Program (MCEP) by earning the required number of continuing education units (CEUs). For more information, read this article
To be done every five years:
Update your licence photo on the Brokers’ Area
Depending on your situation:
Complete a mandatory training activity, notably following an undertaking, within the specified time period

Dates to remember

Annual licence renewal period: from mid-March to April 30
Current MCEP cycle: from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2027
Your licence photo’s expiry date appears in the Brokers’ Area

Good to know:

Available during the licence renewal period, the Online Checkout allows you to:

Update your personal information
Pay your licence fees
Renew your subscription to InstanetForms^TM electronic forms

What happens if you fail to comply with your regulatory obligations

Licence suspension:

If you do not update your personal information within the specified period
If you do not Complete the MCEP or any specific mandatory training activity prescribed by the Organization on time
If you do not update your licence photo within the specified period
If you do not complete a required training activity within the specified period after an undertaking

Licence revocation :

If you do not pay your annual licence renewal fees

From the date of your licence suspension or revocation, you and, if applicable, your business corporation will need to:

Cease any brokerage activities immediately. Read this article for more details.
- Examples of prohibited activities:
  - Being on call
  - Referring clients in exchange for remuneration
  - Soliciting clients
  - Making real estate advertising or representations
  - Showing properties
  - Qualifying clients
  - Taking up brokerage contracts or having brokerage contracts in force
  - Drafting or presenting promises to purchase
  - Signing brokerage transaction documents
  - Using OACIQ brokerage forms
  - Attending a building inspection
  - Going to the notary’s
  - Providing after-sales service
  - Using a real estate broker’s title or leading others to believe that you hold a valid licence, for all real estate or leasing brokerage activities
  - Etc.
Remove all advertising
Notify the parties concerned, depending on your situation
- If you are acting on behalf of an agency, you must:
  - Immediately notify in writing the parties you represent that you are no longer authorized to act on their behalf
  - Inform them of the name of the broker appointed to replace you
  - Indicate the parties’ right to continue doing business with your agency or to terminate the contract (more details in this article)
- If you are acting on your own account, you must:
  - Immediately notify your clients of the automatic termination of your brokerage contracts

To return to practice, you must:

Declare whether you carried out any brokerage activities during your licence suspension or revocation period. If necessary, the syndic will be informed and may take any measures he deems appropriate
Certify that you have notified all your clients that you are no longer authorized to carry out the current brokerage contracts

If your licence is revoked, you must also:

Complete and send the Application for issuance– Real estate broker licence (PDF) form
Undergo a criminal record check if it has not been done in the last six months
Pay the applicable fees for the licence application and for checking your criminal record (these fees are not refundable if the application is submitted to the Licence Issue and Maintenance Committee [LIMC] and the LIMC finally decides not to issue a licence), in addition to the chargeable fees and any other amount due to the OACIQ
If you are operating within a business corporation, complete the Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation form and pay the related fees

If your licence is suspended, you must also:

Pay a fee of $400 to request the lifting of licence suspension (after failing to fulfil your obligations), plus any other amount due to the OACIQ
Complete and send the Request for lifting of licence suspension – Real estate broker – Real estate agency – Natural person (PDF)
Show that the reason for the licence suspension no longer exists. For instance, you may have to:
- Update your information by accessing the Statements: Changes during the year section in the Brokers’ Area
- Complete the Mandatory Continuing Education Program (MCEP), a specific mandatory training course covering a specific topic prescribed by the Organization, or a given training activity after an undertaking
- Change your photo

Processing times

In general, our processing times can take up to 10 business days. Please note, however, that depending on the type of request and the nature of the regulatory compliance verifications required, some processing times may be extended. If you are acting on your own account and cease your activities

If you are acting on your own account and cease your activities

You must submit to the Inspection Department the required information by means of the form Mandatory Declaration – Ceasing of activities by a real estate agency or by a real estate broker acting on his own account, in accordance with section 15 and following of the Regulation respecting records, books and registers, trust accounting and inspection of brokers and agencies.

Deadline to be met

The form must be sent within 15 days.

Failure to meet this deadline

If the duly completed form is not received within the specified period:

Your registers and records may be seized and archived by the Organization
In this case, all costs incurred must be paid

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