File a complaint
Want to file a complaint about a real estate broker or agency, or report a situation? You may file a request for assistance with the OACIQ.
Here are a few examples of situations that could lead to a request for assistance:
- A broker who does not respond to your requests, for example for a visit or information, or for a follow-up on the conditions of a promise to purchase.
- You have bought a property through a broker, and you have received incorrect information about the property.
- You wish to report a broker who has not represented your interests properly or has not treated you fairly.
- You wish to report a person who is performing or has performed real estate brokerage acts without a valid OACIQ licence.
- If the analysis of your request shows that one or more violations of the Real Estate Brokerage Act may have been committed, your request may lead to an investigation by the Syndic's Office or an investigation for illegal practice of the profession.
At the end of the investigation, if necessary, a complaint will be filed with the Discipline Committee or penal proceedings will be brought before the Court of Québec.
Note that by submitting a request for assistance, you may also apply for monetary compensation to one of the following funds:
- The Fonds d'assurance responsabilité professionnelle du courtage immobilier du Québec (FARCIQ) (link to video)
- The Fonds d’indemnisation du courtage immobilier (FICI) (link to video)
Warning: A broker's violation of ethical rules does not automatically result in monetary compensation. However, by reporting any problems encountered during your transaction, you are helping to protect the public and assisting the OACIQ in overseeing real estate brokerage.
Requests for assistance may not be used to request information, cancel promises to purchase or sell, or force additional deadlines.
Also check
Before submitting your request
Before you begin, make sure you have enough time to complete the form. You will need to detail the events occurred, the damage suffered, and provide, among other things:
- Information about you
- Information about the broker, agency or person targeted by your request
- A digitized copy of all relevant documents, such as brokerage contract, declarations by the seller of the immovable, promise to purchase, annexes, documents describing the immovable, email exchanges, etc.
- The amount of your claim, if you are filing a claim, and the details of the damage
- After submitting your request, including all relevant documents, an analyst from the Public Assistance Department will be assigned to your file.
- He will review your request and then contact you. Based on the nature of your request and the documents provided, he may forward the file to the Syndic's Office for investigation or close it. For example, the file could be closed if the problem does not fall within the competence of the OACIQ or if the alleged events do not require an investigation. If necessary, he will forward your claim to the Fund you have selected.
- In all cases, you will be informed in writing of the outcome of his analysis.
The submission of a request for assistance does not interrupt the legal period within which you are required to institute legal proceedings, which is generally three years. If you want to assert your rights before civil courts, we suggest that you seek the help of a legal counsel who will be able to inform you about your rights and remedies, as well as the time period you have to exercise them.
Protection mechanism
A broker's violation of ethical rules does not automatically result in monetary compensation for the consumer, but by informing us of any problem encountered during your transaction, you contribute to the protection of the public and enable the OACIQ to oversee real estate brokerage.
- Reference number
- 200037
- Last update
- April 23, 2025