News Bulletin - May 15, 2024

Commission Committee Submissions Now Open!
Important Deadlines Reminder

 

Deadline May 29, 2024

The Commission invites licensees and members of the public to submit their name to serve on the following committees for the June 2024 - June 2025 term: Commercial, Complaints Review, Discipline, Education, Forms and Licensing. The deadline to apply is 4:30 pm on Wednesday, May 29. Submissions after the deadline will not be considered. Current committee members who wish to serve another term are still required to submit their name.

All individuals who complete the committee submission will be entered into a draw for a $100 gas gift card.

To be eligible to serve on a committee, licensees must be in good standing per Commission by-law 225.

Here is the link to submit your name: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3RJQGKH

For more information about committees:

Commission Committees

Commission committees play a vital role in self-regulation of the real estate industry in Nova Scotia.

The committees are chaired by a member of the Board and may be comprised of licensees and public members, including lawyers, who work collaboratively to help shape policies and make recommendations to the Commission Board of Directors on conduct, trade practices and standards of business practice.

Contacting Committees

If you have a question or recommendation for a committee, please send an email to the relevant committee chair.

Joining a Committee

Committees play a vital role in shaping policies, making recommendations, and ensuring the smooth operation of our organization. By joining a committee, you have the opportunity to contribute your expertise and help steer the direction of the industry to protect the public interest. Committee membership offers a unique chance for personal and professional growth and the satisfaction of making an impact on the industry. The Commission invites passionate individuals with diverse perspectives and experiences to join us by dedicating your time to serve on a committee.

Committee membership is open to licensees and members of the public, including lawyers.

To be eligible to serve on a committee, licensees must be in good standing per Commission by-law 225:

(a) Hold a valid real estate licence;
(b) Not have been convicted of an offence pursuant to the Act, the Regulations, or the By-law resulting in</i >
(i) a disciplinary suspension within the past 10 years; or
(ii) a disciplinary licence restriction; or
(iii) a fine greater than $500 within the past two years; or
(iv) a fine of $500 or less within the past year.
(c) Not be a director, officer, board member or employee of another real estate organization whose role is to defend the interests of the industry.

The Board of Directors strongly encourages participation from individuals of diverse backgrounds, as the Commission believes diversity enriches our organization and fosters innovation and inclusivity in our decision-making processes.

Committee Meetings

Committee meetings are limited to committee members and the assigned Commission staff who support the work of that committee.

All committee meetings are held via Zoom, allowing for individuals from all regions of the province an equal opportunity to participate. Committee meetings typically last 1-2 hours.

There are different responsibilities and time investments for each committee. Some committees have a set schedule that meet four times every year while others only meet on an as-needed basis at the discretion of the committee chair. For more information, see the individual committee.

Commercial Committee

The Commercial Committee’s role is to address matters of interest to commercial real estate licensees, such as the organization of educational events for commercial licensees. The committee is chaired by the commercial appointee on the Board of Directors and meets on an as-needed basis.

Complaints Review Committee

The role of the Complaints Review Committee (CRC) is to review all of the Registrar’s complaint decisions, including proposed settlement agreements, no charges, and any dismissed complaints. The CRC may accept, reject or make recommendations to amend the decisions. The CRC meets four times a year and has a greater time investment than most committees as members are required to review documents prior to each meeting.

Discipline Committee

The Discipline Committee as a whole does not meet together, other than for training purposes. The committee members serve to form a roster for hearing panels in the event of a discipline hearing. The committee’s role is to hold discipline hearings and render decisions about alleged infractions of licensees, including unprofessional conduct, and breaches of the Real Estate Trading Act, the Regulations and the By-law. If required, members may serve in a one-to-three-day hearing, and spend additional time spent writing the hearing panel decision.

Education Committee

The role of the Education Committee is to identify issues and opportunities relating to the development and delivery of real estate licensing, continuing professional education, and then make recommendations to the Commission Board of Directors. They meet four times a year.

Forms Committee

The role of the Forms Committee is, at the direction of the Board of Directors, to review and revise mandatory forms, and when necessary, create new forms and recommend their approval to the Board. The committee meets on an as-needed basis.

Licensing Committee

The Licensing Committee is responsible for setting entrance standards for the industry that promote professionalism, ethical conduct, and integrity. The committee serves as an independent review panel to hear appeals of the Registrar’s decision to deny a licensing application. The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on licensing issues. The committee is also tasked with ensuring the Commission’s licensing processes are fair and transparent. They meet four times a year.

Important Deadlines Reminder

If you have already completed the 2023-2024 CPE, and completed your licence renewal(s) you can disregard the rest of this email.

June 15, 2024: CPE Deadline

The deadline for licensees to complete the CPE is June 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm. The course is available online via the NSAR Learning Platform. There are currently still 1,166 licensees who have not completed the course.

All licensees who fail to complete their mandatory CPE before the deadline will have their licences terminate effective 12:00 am on July 1, 2024. The course will be unavailable from June 16 - July 11. If you let your licence terminate, you must immediately cease all trading activities, including taking down signage, advertising, and social media. To have your licence reinstated after the deadline has passed, you must complete the course, apply to have your licence reinstated, pay the renewal fee, and be issued a licence, at which point you may resume trading activity. 

If you have questions about the course, email the NSAR Education Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

June 30, 2024: Online Licence Renewals

The deadline for online licensing renewals is June 30, 2024 at 11:59 pm. 1,748 licensees and 116 brokerages still need to complete their renewals

Brokers will be responsible for renewing the brokerage licence, audit fees, any branch office licences, their broker licence, and, if applicable, their approved sales corporation licence. Brokers can use the Brokerage Reports in the licensee portal to view licence renewals and CPE completions of the brokerages' licensees.

All other licensees are responsible for renewing their real estate licence and, if applicable, their approved sales corporation licence. To verify if you have completed your licence renewal, you can check the licensee portal.

If you need help, the Licence Renewal Resource page is available with video tutorials, a user manual, and important information about payment methods and deadlines.