Professional Standards
By joining a REALTOR® association, members agree to comply with the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and to arbitrate commission disputes with other REALTORS®.
Ethics Complaints
REALTORS® are required to comply with the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. If you wish to file a Complaint, regarding a possible violation of one or more of the Articles of the Code of Ethics, please review the following information.
Please review the following documents that pertain to ethics complaints:
- Before You File An Ethics Complaint
- E – 1 Ethics Complaint Form – SAMPLE
- Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice
- NAR Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual
If the parties involved in the proceeding (Complainant and Respondent) belong to the same Member Board, the ethics complaint should be filed at that Member Board. To file this complaint, please obtain an Ethics Complaint Form from the applicable Member Board.
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When an ethics complaint involves two (2) or more REALTORS® from different Member Boards, who are involved in the same transaction as Respondents, the complaint should be filed at the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS®. This allows for consolidation of the complaint and eliminates the need for the Complainant to attend multiple hearings at different Member Boards.
Arbitration Requests/Commission Disputes
- Arbitrable Issues-Appendix I
- Arbitration Guidelines – Factors
- A-1 Request and Agreement to Arbitrate Form – SAMPLE
- No Findings of Fact in Awards – Appendix IV
- Arbitration Worksheet
- NAR Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual
If the parties involved in the transaction (Complainant and Respondent) belong to the same Member Board, the Arbitration request should be filed with that Member Board.
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When the Complainant and the Respondent, who are involved in the same transaction, belong to different Member Boards, Arbitration requests should be filed with the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS®.
Mediation
The Rhode Island Association of REALTORS® (RIAR) requires REALTORS® (Principals), pursuant to Article 17 of the Code of Ethics, to mediate all arbitrable disputes. When RIAR receives a Request for Arbitration, it shall notify all parties regarding participation in mediation.
Please review the following documents that pertain to mediation:
NAR Resources
- NAR Code of Ethics & Arbitration Manual
- NAR Code of Ethics & Professional Standards
- REALTOR® Commitment to Excellence