"Realtors are all about putting people into safe homes and working with consumers," said Lynn Martin. She said the problem of illegal basement apartments has been around for years, and it exists in every city, not just Brampton.

"I don't know a city that doesn't have them," she said. "Brampton is not unique. Every city in Ontario deals with basement apartments." However, the City of Brampton approached the board about more than a year ago with concerns about advertising homes with rental units inside, and the board agreed to help educate homeowners about the city's bylaws. Often, Martin said, homeowners are not aware of the bylaw.

BREB members, who number approximately 750, do not report illegal apartments to the city, she said. "That's not our job," Martin said. Instead, realtors provide tenants with information about government programs available to them that might help them find alternate accommodations, and they talk to homeowners about safety and the city's bylaw.

Selling point

She said homeowners often think having a basement apartment is a selling point because it offers extra income, but if the apartment is not legal, BREB members will not do that.

"We try to keep the public aware, and we constantly keep our realtors up-to-date," Martin said.

BREB also works to educate the more than 1,000 other realtors that "service" Brampton from outside the city, based in surrounding communities such as Mississauga and Toronto.

"We have education sessions, four or five, every year," she said. The rules in every municipality are different, Martin said.

A realtor is someone who has chosen to become part of "organized real estate", Martin said.

In addition to following the code of ethics set out by the Real Estate Council of Ontario, realtors are also governed by the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Association.

City staff are putting together a report on the illegal basement apartment issue and the problem and possible solutions will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.