By Hello Asia News Desk, Canada
SARNIA, ON — A recent disciplinary decision by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) is drawing attention to the importance of ethical conduct and consumer protection in local real estate transactions.
RECO has fined $12,000 and ordered mandatory ethics training for Harminder Pal Singh, registered professionally as Harminder Singh, a Sarnia-based real estate broker with LPRE Inc., operating as Coldwell Banker Southwest Realty. The decision relates to a residential property transaction at 1063 Leckie Drive and concerns the handling of buyer representation rules.
According to RECO’s publicly released findings dated October 1, 2025, the broker proceeded with a purchase while aware that the buyer—or a related party—was already bound by an active Buyer Representation Agreement (BRA) with another brokerage. Buyer representation agreements are intended to protect consumers by clearly defining who represents their interests during a property purchase.
RECO found that the transaction was structured in a way that temporarily excluded the original buyer, with the intention of adding them after the existing agreement with another brokerage expired. The regulator also noted communications that discouraged discussion of the matter with the buyer’s previous real estate representatives. The sale later closed on June 7, 2024.
Following a complaint and investigation, the matter was resolved through an Agreed Statement of Facts and Penalty, without the need for a full disciplinary hearing. RECO’s Discipline Committee determined that the conduct breached Ontario’s real estate Code of Ethics, which requires honesty, integrity, and respect for existing client relationships among real estate professionals.
In addition to the fine, the broker must complete the REIC 2600 – Ethics in Business Practice course. While the broker’s registration remains active, the disciplinary history is publicly available through RECO’s online registrant search, allowing consumers to make informed decisions when choosing a real estate professional.
RECO encourages homebuyers and sellers—especially first-time buyers and newcomers—to ask questions, understand representation agreements, and verify a registrant’s standing before entering into any real estate transaction. The regulator says transparency and accountability are key to maintaining public trust in Ontario’s real estate market.