MLS® Compliance - Top Breaches

Under the PropTx MLS® Rule 5.05 - marketing material includes photos, videos, floor plans, virtual tours, graphics, surveys — and even listing descriptions — must be created by you, purchased by you, or used with written permission.

Using images pulled from MLS®, outdated photos that no longer reflect the property, or images from GeoWarehouse® without proper permissions, can all raise issues.

PropTx MLS® Rule 3.05 - Not Permitted in a Public Facing Field

Public-facing fields must not contain self-promotion, contact requests, hashtags, URLs, or references to other listings. However, the Brokerage Remarks field may include the name, address, telephone number, and/or email address of the Member(s) to be contacted for more information about the property.

3.05 - Information published on the MLS® System shall relate directly to the listed real estate and the MLS® Listing Agreement.

Public facing fields of an MLS® Listing shall not include any information that promotes goods and services, or any form of solicitation. Specifically, an MLS® Listing must not include any form of self-promotion of the Member or third-party information, including but not limited to, telephone number, email addresses, and website URLs with the exception that the phrases “visit my website for further information about this Listing” or “visit the REALTOR® website for further information about this Listing.”

The Brokerage Remarks field may include the name, address, telephone and/or email address of Member(s) to be contacted for more information concerning the property.

Not Permitted ANYWHERE:

"adjacent lot available";

"must be purchased with ## anywhere street";

“adjoining lot will be provided at additional [no] cost"; and

“Also on another Board’s MLS® System MLS® No. X1234567”.

Working with a financial institution doesn’t change your professional obligations. MLS® Rules, the REALTOR® Code, and RECO requirements still apply in full.

That means:

• You must verify information and avoid misrepresentation

• You must disclose known defects and ensure accurate MLS® data

• You cannot include language that limits responsibility, like “Buyer to verify”

For more information:

https://members.lstar.ca/members/resources/mlsr/listing-power-sale-rules-still-apply

Members may choose to list a property in multiple applicable categories, such as Commercial Investment and Residential Duplex or Triplex, to broaden search visibility and ensure the listing appears in relevant searches.

This option is permitted under PropTx MLS® Rule 3.10, which allows only one (1) MLS® Listing per trade function signed by the same Seller to be placed on the MLS® System at any one time. Examples of separate trade functions include Sale/Lease, Furnished/Unfurnished, and Sale by Property Owner/Power of Sale. Properties with both Residential and Commercial uses may be listed in both the Residential and Commercial classes.

Members are encouraged to ensure all listings remain compliant with MLS® Rules and accurately reflect the property’s use and classification.

For more information: https://members.lstar.ca/members/resources/mlsr/member-bulletin-listing-properties-residential-and-commercial-uses

It is a violation of PropTx MLS® Rule 4.02 if an expired condition has not been updated on the MLS® system.

When a Buyer places a condition in an offer for financing, or inspection for example, sometimes they need extra time to get the condition fulfilled. It is the responsibility of the Listing Agent to update the MLS® system with the new, amended dates.

See the video below to learn how:

https://members.lstar.ca/members/resources/education/extending-conditions-expiry-date-addedit

PropTx MLS® Rule 3.07- Listing Information and Attachments

Members are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all MLS® information, including property taxes. Where property taxes are a Mandatory Field, the current year’s annual taxes must be entered, or the prior year’s if current taxes are unavailable. If neither is available, the listing must clearly indicate “taxes not yet assessed" in the brokerage remarks. A mandatory field is not considered complete unless the information is accurate, and Members must correct any inaccuracies immediately.

3.07 - Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and the other provisions of the MLS® Rules, any such MLS® Listing shall not be accepted by the Association as an MLS® Listing:

d) If all Mandatory Fields have not been completed.

i. Where realty taxes are required to appear on the MLS® System as a Mandatory Field, the amount to be shown shall be the current year’s annual taxes or if not available, the prior year’s annual taxes. In instances when the current or prior year’s annual taxes are not available, an MLS® System field selection indicating “taxes not yet assessed” will be chosen, if available, or the Brokerage Remarks shall be updated to read “taxes not yet assessed.”

ii. A Mandatory Field will not be deemed complete unless the information in the field is accurate.

iii. All registered title holders must be included in the Seller field. If there is insufficient space in the Seller field to list all names, then this information may be continued in the Brokerage Remarks field.