REALTORS, Brokerages and real estate boards need to collect, use and
disclose some personal information to help you sell, buy or lease real
estate. We respect your privacy and want to ensure you understand how
and why your information is collected, used and disclosed in a real
estate transaction.
How is my personal information collected?
Most personal
information will be collected directly from you through the contracts
and other documents you fill out (e.g., Multiple Listing Contract,
Contract of Purchase and Sale, Offer to Lease, seller's Property
Disclosure Statement) and through discussions you have with your
REALTOR. Some information may be collected from other sources such as
government departments and agencies (e.g., Land Title Offices, BC
Assessment), financial institutions and mortgage brokers.
To whom may my personal information be disclosed?
Your
information may be disclosed to (or may be accessible by) the Boards
and their staff and members, other real estate boards and their staff
and members, other REALTORS and their clients, government departments
and agencies, financial institutions, legal advisors, service
providers, the British Columbia Real Estate Association, the Real
Estate Council of British Columbia, The Canadian Real Estate
Association and members of the public, for the purposes described on
the next panel.
Not all of your information will be accessible to each of the
above-mentioned entities. For example, once the listing term has ended,
the general public will not have access to your information unless it
is otherwise available through public registries (e.g., BC Assessment,
Land Title Offices).
PURPOSES FOR COLLECTING, USING AND DISCLOSING PERSONAL INFORMATION
Why is my personal information collected, used and disclosed?
Your information may be collected, used and disclosed for some or all of the following purposes:
- A. To allow members of real estate boards (including REALTORS and appraisers) to appraise your property.
- B. To list your property with the Multiple Listing ServiceŽ in order to market your property.
- C. To market your property for sale or lease through any other media (both print and electronic).
- D. To help you locate suitable property to purchase or lease.
- E. To facilitate the purchase and sale or lease transaction
(by cooperating with financial institutions, legal advisors and
government departments and agencies).
- F. To allow Boards and other real estate boards and their
members (including REALTORS and appraisers) to compile current
historical statistics on sales and property prices and lease rates, and
to conduct comparative market analyses. Information about your property
will be retained in the Multiple Listing ServiceŽ for these purposes
after your property has sold or leased or your listing has expired (if
you are a seller/landlord) and after you have purchased or leased your
property (if you a re a buyer/tenant).
- G. To enforce codes of professional conduct and ethics for
members of real estate boards (by cooperating with real estate boards,
the British Columbia Real Estate Association, the Real Estate Council
of British Columbia, The Canadian Real Estate Association and other
regulatory bodies).
- H. To comply with legal requirements and to act pursuant to legal authorizations.
The above-mentioned collections, uses and disclosures are a necessary part of your relationship with your REALTOR.
PURPOSES FOR COLLECTING, USING AND DISCLOSING PERSONAL INFORMATION
Will my personal information be collected, used and disclosed for any other purposes?
Your information may also be collected, used and disclosed for the following additional purposes:
- A. Your REALTOR may communicate with you in future to determine whether you require additional real estate services.
- B. Your REALTOR may communicate with you to provide other information about other products or services which may interest you.
- C. Other REALTORS may communicate with you to determine whether you require additional real estate services.
These additional purposes are optional. If you do not want
your personal information disclosed or used for these purposes, please
contact the Board's privacy officer. Contact information for all real
estate boards within BC can be found at British Columbia Real Estate
Association (BCREA) website: www.bcrea.ca or telephone 604.683.7702 or
toll free 1.877.361.3626.
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