London, Ontario real estate agency guide
Buying, selling, or working as an agent in London, Ontario means dealing with more than just a brokerage. Below is a curated list of the real regulators, associations, and legal resources that oversee and support real estate activity in the city and across Ontario. It's meant to help homeowners, buyers, and agents alike find the right body to check credentials, file a complaint, or get legal guidance.
Government & regulatory
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Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)
Licenses and regulates real estate agents and brokerages across Ontario under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, handles consumer complaints and enforcement, and lets consumers verify that an agent or brokerage is in good standing before doing business with them.
Visit website → Phone: Toll-free 1-800-245-6910, Office 416-207-4800 3300 Bloor St W Suite 1400, West Tower, Toronto, ON, M8X 2X2 -
Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA)
Ontario government agency that regulates mortgage brokers, agents, brokerages, and administrators, promoting high standards of business conduct. FSRA can review complaints and take regulatory action against a mortgage broker or agent found non-compliant with the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act.
Visit website → Phone: 416-250-7250, Toll-free 1-800-668-0128 -
Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (Ontario), Consumer Protection Ontario
Ontario government ministry that administers the Consumer Protection Act and oversees consumer protection legislation relevant to real estate service disputes not covered by RECO. Formerly the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, it now also administers RECO oversight.
Industry & professional associations
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Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA)
Represents Ontario's local real estate boards and their brokers and salespeople, and advocates for the real estate profession and for homeowners. It is not a regulatory body.
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Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
National trade association for the real estate industry across Canada. It owns and operates REALTOR.ca, the country's most popular real estate listing site, and controls the REALTOR trademark, meaning only CREA members can call themselves REALTORS.
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London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR)
Local real estate board representing over 2,300 REALTORS® across London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Middlesex County, and Elgin County. It runs the local MLS® system and provides arbitration, education, professional standards oversight, and government and community relations for members, all of whom are RECO registrants licensed under REBBA.
Legal help
This is general information, not legal advice. Speak to a qualified professional about your specific situation.
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Law Society of Ontario (LSO)
Regulates Ontario's lawyers and paralegals in the public interest and operates the Law Society Referral Service, which connects the public with a lawyer or paralegal for up to 30 minutes of free initial consultation on matters like purchase agreements and real estate disputes.
Need a provider rather than a resource? Find an agent.