Yes, you can fire your realtor in Ontario, but how easily you can do it, and whether it costs you anything, depends on the representation agreement you signed. That agreement is with the agent’s brokerage, not the agent personally, and it sets out when and how either side can end it. Ontario doesn’t give you a general right to cancel a representation agreement simply because you’ve changed your mind. The agreement’s own terms decide.
The good news is that most problems can be solved without a fight. In my experience, a conversation with the agent or their broker of record resolves most situations. When it doesn’t, you need a written release before you sign with anyone else. Otherwise you risk owing two brokerages for the same purchase or sale.
I’m Jason Polonski, an Ottawa REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty. Below are the steps I’d give a friend who wants out, for sellers and buyers, plus what to do when the issue is misconduct rather than a bad fit.
Be specific about what isn’t working. Common, legitimate reasons include:
Put your concerns in writing, by email, and give the agent a reasonable chance to fix them. A clear written record helps if you later ask the brokerage for a release, and RECO recommends keeping records of these conversations. Sometimes the fix is simple: a weekly update call, a refreshed listing, or a different showing strategy.
Pull out the listing agreement or buyer representation agreement and look for these terms. RECO’s page on signing a contract with a real estate brokerage explains what each should contain.
For a deeper read of these clauses, see my guides to the listing agreement in Ontario and the buyer representation agreement. If anything is unclear, a real estate lawyer can review the agreement before you act.
Every brokerage has a broker of record who is responsible for its agents and its compliance with the law. RECO describes the broker of record as often the best place to start when you can’t resolve a problem with an agent, because they may be able to fix it quickly.
Because your agreement is with the brokerage, the broker of record has options your agent doesn’t:
Ask calmly and in writing, and explain what you’ve already tried. Brokerages generally don’t want unhappy clients tied to them, and many will agree to a release when the relationship clearly isn’t working.
This is the step people skip, and it’s the one that costs money. If you sign with a new brokerage while your old agreement is still in force, both brokerages could claim a fee on the same deal. Before you sign anything new:
Be careful not to start working informally with a new agent first. Under Ontario’s rules, an agent who gives you advice or negotiates on your behalf can create an implied representation agreement even without a signature, which only adds to the tangle.
Changing listing agents is usually about a home that isn’t selling. Before you switch, look honestly at why. In Ottawa it’s almost always one of three things: price, presentation or exposure. My guide on what to do if your house isn’t selling works through each one.
If you do switch, plan the relaunch rather than just moving the sign:
Sellers in a holdover period should check before accepting an offer from a buyer who first saw the home through the previous agent.
Buyer agreements tend to be easier to manage, because their scope and term are often narrower. If your agent isn’t showing you the right homes, isn’t responsive when a good listing hits, or can’t explain sold prices, raise it, then follow the same steps: read the agreement, talk to the broker of record and get a written release.
Watch for two traps. First, don’t book showings or make an offer through a new agent until you’re released. Second, if you saw a home with your original agent and want to buy it now, the holdover clause may still give that brokerage a claim, so sort that out before you offer.
When you choose your next agent, ask for a shorter term, the services listed in writing and a clear exit clause. Buyers who work with me can receive cash back of up to $3,000 at closing, and I’ll put my commitments in the agreement rather than leaving them to a verbal promise.
A personality clash isn’t misconduct. But if an agent has misled you, pressured you into something, failed to disclose a conflict or mishandled your deposit, that’s a matter for the regulator. The Real Estate Council of Ontario enforces the Trust in Real Estate Services Act and its Code of Ethics.
You can file a complaint through RECO’s online complaint form. You don’t have to speak to the agent or broker of record first. Gather your evidence: the representation agreement, offers or the agreement of purchase and sale, any consents or acknowledgements you signed, the listing, and your emails and texts. RECO’s page on its complaints process explains what happens next, and the Ottawa Real Estate Board also outlines the process for Ottawa consumers.
RECO’s role is to review the agent’s conduct and protect the public. If your issue is purely about money owed under a contract, talk to a lawyer as well.
The easiest way to avoid this is to set the relationship up properly from the start:
For how agents, lawyers and lenders fit together in a transaction, see the Ottawa real estate guide.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Your rights depend on the agreement you signed, so have a real estate lawyer review it if you’re unsure, and check RECO’s current guidance.
Jason Polonski is a full-time REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty who has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers across Ottawa for more than 15 years, from Kanata and Stittsville to Barrhaven, Nepean and Westboro. He puts his commitments in writing and handles every client’s file personally. His background in construction and the electrical trades helps sellers decide which repairs are worth making before a relaunch, and his Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance, guides how he prices and markets each home. If you’re ready for a fresh start, call or text Jason at (613) 601-9333 or read his client reviews.
Yes, but the terms depend on your representation agreement with the brokerage. Read the termination and holdover terms, talk to the broker of record, and get a written release before you hire someone else.
Only on the terms in the agreement or with the brokerage’s agreement. Ontario doesn’t give sellers a general right to cancel a listing agreement because they’ve changed their mind. Many brokerages will agree to a release when the relationship isn’t working.
It’s a term that can make you owe the brokerage a fee for a sale or purchase completed within a set period after the agreement ends. The length is negotiable and should be agreed before you sign.
Often, yes. Because your agreement is with the brokerage, the broker of record can assign a different agent. If your agreement names a designated representative, the change needs your agreement in writing.
You could if two agreements overlap or a holdover clause applies. Get a written release from the first brokerage that addresses the holdover before you sign with a new one.
The broker responsible for a brokerage’s compliance and for supervising its agents. RECO describes them as often the best place to start when you can’t resolve a problem with your agent.
Use RECO’s online complaint form, with copies of your agreement, offers and correspondence. You aren’t required to raise the issue with the agent or brokerage first.
If the expiry is close, waiting can be the simplest route. If it’s months away and the listing is going stale, ask the brokerage for a release so you can relaunch with a new plan.