2 Winnipeg real estate agents disciplined after house buyer files complaint

Vera-Lynn Kubinec · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 10, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

A ailment filed by a Winnipeg homebuyer has resulted successful 2 existent property agents being disciplined by their manufacture association. 

Chantal Orsak bought a location successful 2022 but filed a ailment to the Manitoba Real Estate Association due to the fact that she was dissatisfied with her existent property agent's handling of the purchase. 

The relation notified Orsak successful February of the result of a reappraisal by its investigating squad — much than 2 years aft her ailment was filed.

"I privation the members of the nationalist to recognize and cognize my story, due to the fact that determination are individuals retired determination who are expected to beryllium helping and safeguarding you erstwhile you're making specified a ample acquisition for the archetypal clip successful your life, similar a house," Orsak said.

In Feb. 10 letters, the MREA's manager of nonrecreational standards informed Orsak that "disciplinary measures person been imposed" against her real property agent, Paige Derksen Rodrigues, and the seller's agent, Marcia Bergen, some of Royal LePage Prime Real Estate. 

The letters accidental the subject was imposed connected each cause "as a effect of her acceptance of a violation" of the existent property association's codification of morals and standards.

The letters bash not accidental what the disciplinary measures were.

As a first-time location buyer, Orsak bought a one-and-a-half-storey location successful Winnipeg's Lord Roberts neighbourhood. The location is much than a period old.

She paid $331,100 for the house, which was listed for merchantability astatine $249,900 — a quality of $81,200, oregon much than 30 per cent supra the asking price. Sale documents bespeak determination were 5 different offers.

"This location is not worthy what I paid.… Absolutely not," Orsak said, successful airy of issues with the information of the location that she discovered aft she took possession of it.

"I person suffered a large deal, not conscionable financially, but emotionally and psychologically implicit this situation."

The letters accidental the 2 agents violated an nonfiction of the codification of morals regarding their work to the client, which says an cause indispensable "protect and beforehand the interests of his oregon her client" and has a "responsibility of dealing reasonably with each parties to the transaction."

It besides says that successful cases wherever determination are competing offers, a listing cause who is "acting arsenic a dual cause shall not usage the accusation contained successful different connection to enactment either lawsuit astatine a competitory advantage." 

Being a "dual agent" refers to a existent property salesperson oregon brokerage representing some the purchaser and seller successful a transaction.

In Manitoba, that's referred to arsenic "limited associated representation," said Marko Bilandzija, communications manager for the Manitoba Financial Services Agency,  which regulates existent property professionals and issues registration for existent property agents to practise successful the province.

Joint practice is permitted successful Manitoba nether definite conditions. 

Orsak and the seller of the location signed a papers acknowledging, and agreeing, that Royal LePage Prime Real Estate could be placed successful a constricted associated representation by representing much than 1 enactment successful a sale, according to the acquisition agreement.

That statement says that "in the involvement of fairness and confidentiality," the broker oregon salesperson indispensable not disclose definite information, specified arsenic "the terms and presumption that immoderate enactment whitethorn beryllium prepared to hold to," or the presumption of competing offers.  

The subject papers did not bespeak whether the buyer, Orsak or the seller got a "competitive advantage."

'Fully complied' with investigation

In a connection provided to CBC News connected behalf of the 2 existent property agents, Royal LePage said the institution and its agents "strive to uphold the highest nonrecreational standards, and instrumentality allegations of misconduct seriously."

"We person afloat spot successful the Manitoba Real Estate Association's judicial process. All parties person afloat complied with the probe conducted by the investigating squad of the MREA," communications manager Anne-Elise Cugliari Allegritti wrote.

The Manitoba Real Estate Association, which represents much than 2,700 members, told CBC it receives about 30 complaints a twelvemonth connected average, with astir 17 per cent resulting successful disciplinary measures. 

Kim Gandier, a spokesperson for the manufacture association, declined an interview, saying successful an email that "all matters relating to MREA complaints and investigations are confidential and private."

Gandier said the association's complaints process "is a closed proceeding, which ensures fairness, maintains confidentiality and protects the integrity of our investigative process."

Orsak said the organization should beryllium much transparent, noting the MREA doesn't enactment the disciplinary findings connected its website.