Privacy Law & Real Estate

REALTORS recognize and respect the privacy expectations of today’s consumers and the requirements of applicable federal law. REALTORS believe that making you aware of how we use your personal information and to whom it is disclosed will form the basis of a relationship of trust between you and your REALTOR and the public that we serve. The collection, use and retention of personal information requires your informed consent.

The following is en excerpt from the brochure “Working with a Real Estate Agent” issued by the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission. It is intended to inform the public about the type of information that needs to be shared with other parties when a Realtor is acting on their clients behalf either selling their home or buying them a new home.

SELLER

The seller consents to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the Broker for the purpose of listing and marketing the property including, but not limited to:

  ( i )   listing and advertising the property using, using any medium including the internet;     
  ( ii )  disclosing property information to prospective Buyers, Brokers, Salespersons and others who may assist in the sale of the property;
  (iii )  such other use of the Seller’s personal information as is consistent with listing and marketing of the property.

The Seller consents to placement of the listing and sales information by the Broker into the database of the appropriate MLS system. The seller consents that such listing and sales information shall survive the expiry date of the listing contract or the sale date of the property. The Seller further acknowledges that the Association/Board may:

     ( i )   distribute the information to any persons authorized to user such service which may include other Brokers, government departments, appraisers, municipal 
              organisations  and others;
     ( ii )  market the property, at its option, in any medium, including electronic media;
     ( iii ) compile, retain and publish any statistics including historical MLS data, which may be used by licensed members of the Association/Board to conduct
              comparative market analysis and for other listing and marketing purposes, in accordance with the MLS rules and regulations of the Association/ Board; and
    ( iv )  make such other use of the information as the association/Board deems appropriate in connection with the listing, marketing and selling of real estate.

BUYER

The Buyer consents to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the Broker for such purposes that relate to the real estate services provided by the Broker to the Buyer, but not including, but not limited to:

  ( i )     locating, assessing and qualifying properties for the buyer;
  ( ii )    advertising on behalf of the Buyer;
  ( iii )   providing information as needed to third parties retained by the Buyer to assist in  a transaction ( e. g.) financial institutions, building inspectors, etc…..); and
  (iv )     such other use of the Buyers information as is consistent with the services provided by the Broker in connection with the purchase or prospective purchase of the property.

The Buyer agrees that the sale and related information regarding any property purchased by him through the Broker may be retained and disclosed by the Broker and/or the association/Board for reporting, appraisal and statistical purposes.