RECO, consumer deposit protection and how complaints work
Doorvia Guides · July 9, 2026
Ontario real estate agents are registered with RECO, which handles complaints and administers deposit insurance.
Every real estate salesperson, broker and brokerage in Ontario must be registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario. You can check a registration online before you hire anyone.
RECO also administers consumer deposit insurance that protects deposits held in brokerage trust accounts in defined circumstances such as insolvency or fraud, and it investigates complaints about registrant conduct.
If something goes wrong, document it in writing and raise it with the brokerage's broker of record first, then with RECO. Keep copies of all agreements, disclosures and written communication - complaints are decided on the record.
More from the newsroom
Market update
GTA market update: what buyers are seeing this fall
Listing counts are up across the Greater Toronto Area while price growth stays flat, giving buyers more room to negotiate.
Buying guide
Ontario land transfer tax: the rates and how the bill is calculated
Ontario land transfer tax is charged in brackets, so the rate rises only on the portion of the price above each threshold.
Pre-construction
The 10-day cooling-off period on a new Ontario condo
Buyers of a new condominium from the developer get a statutory 10-day right to rescind without penalty.