Complaint Resolution and Consumer Questions
If you are a borrower:
In the case of mortgage financing, the lender is typically the client who can decide who pays for an appraisal and whether they provide you with a copy.
If you are NOT the current homeowner, confidentiality and privacy laws may apply to both the lender and the AIC Member (appraiser).
If you are refinancing your own home:
In the case of mortgage re-financing, the lender typically is the client.
A homeowner has a right to their own personal information contained in an appraisal report, so you may contact the lender or a AIC Member (appraiser) to request a copy of a redacted report with only your personal information.
The AIC does NOT have copies of appraisal reports.
- An appraisal does not determine market value but rather provides an estimate of market value.
- This estimate is considered to be the most probable value that a property will garner in a specific real estate market over a specific period of time.
- The accuracy of an appraisal is highly dependent on the availability and reliability of data, both of which will vary for each type of property and each location across Canada.
- There is an expectation of accuracy within the parameters of the conditions and assumptions and given the availability of information at the time, however there is no specific margin of error.
A “letter of transmittal” is similar to a cover letter for a report. It provides an executive summary of the report, including but not limited to: identifying who the client the report is addressed to, the purpose of the report, the intended use of the report and a final estimate of value.
A “letter of reliance” provides authorization for a different Client or Intended User to rely on a Report. You have an appraisal report completed for a lender and that lending transaction does not take place. You then look to a new lender for financing. The new lender may wish to rely on the report produced for the first lender. If certain criteria are met, the appraiser may issue a letter of reliance allowing the new lender to rely on the report to make its lending decision.
For any enquiry not addressed here, or for more information contact the Director, Professional Practice
Toll free: 1-888-551-5521
Phone: 613-234-6533
Email:
Anyone may file a complaint, including a third party that may have obtained a copy of an appraisal report, or utilizes the real property valuation services of an appraiser.
Yes, an AIC member can file a complaint against a fellow AIC Member. AIC Members are reminded that the identity of the complainant will be provided to the member subject to their complaint.
Professional Practice will investigate complaints that deal with:
- Breaches of CUSPAP (the Standards) whether they are related to Ethics, Real Property Appraisal, Review, Consulting, Reserve Fund Study and/or Machinery and Equipment Standards
- Any conduct that does not adhere to AIC Regulations or AIC By-laws, and which may affect the Institute, the profession or another Member.
The CRP will not:
- Arbitrate the final opinion of value provided in a report
- Provide an opinion on the final opinion of value presented in a report
- Be a technical review of a report
- Recommend financial compensation
- Order financial compensation to be paid to the complainant
- Review a member’s fees or disbursements
- Act as a court of law
- Enforce contractual agreements
- Compel an appraiser to redo their report
- Give legal advice
Any complainant looking for these types of remedies is advised to seek redress through other means.
Conduct deserving of Sanctions includes:
- any act or omission that is detrimental to the best interests of the public or harms the integrity of the profession
- non-compliance with CUSPAP
- invalid insurance
- improper registration in the AIC Candidate Co-Signing Registry
- improper registration in the AIC Non-Member Registry
- improper registration in the fee or non-fee category
- inappropriate disclosure of information
- inappropriate conduct directed towards a Complainant
Sanctions include:
- Fine
- A fine not to exceed $10,000.00
- Education
- A sanction intended to provide the educational foundation to permit a Member to improve their valuation practice. It is completed at the Member’s expense.
- Peer Review
- An administrative review conducted in accordance with the AIC’s peer review program of a report on a professional service rendered by an AIC Member
- Reprimand
- A written warning calling the attention of the Member to a breach of the Institute’s Bylaws, Regulations, Policies and/or CUSPAP
- Censure
- A formal written expression of criticism and disapproval for a breach of the Institute’s Bylaws, Regulations, Policies or CUSPAP
- Suspension
- The suspension of a Member’s membership.
- The suspension of a designated Member’s Co-signing privileges.
- Expulsion
- A permanent expulsion of the member from the Institute. A Member that has been expelled may be considered for reinstatement of membership after a period of five (5) years
A case summary of the facts relating to the outcome of a Complaint matter will be published on the public area of the AIC website for a period of twelve (12) months.
Depending on the type of Sanction, the Case summary may or may not be redacted. Redaction means that information that might identify the Member is removed. However, a hearing panel may order that the Case Summary be posted unredacted on the public page for the twelve-month period.
In exceptional cases where there is an overriding need to protect the public good will a Conduct Sanction be published in a local newspaper.
An AIC member’s PPC record is confidential. The AIC will not release information about an AIC member’s PPC record to a third party unless it is in accordance with the AIC Regulations as they pertain to Disclosure.
If someone enquires about an AIC member’s standing with the Institute, the AIC will provide the following information (depending on the AIC member’s status with the Institute):
- The AIC Member is a member in good standing.
- The AIC Member is not a member in good standing.
- The person is not a Member of AIC.
Yes, a complaint file can be placed in abeyance. The AIC member may apply to have an investigation or a hearing placed in abeyance if there are pending legal issues. This means that the administration of the complaint may be put on hold for a period of time or until the outcome of the legal matter has been decided.
The complainant will be provided with the findings and any resulting Sanctions relating to the substance of their complaint provided in:
- a Sanction Consent Agreement,
- the final decision reached by an Adjudicating Sub-Committee, or
the final decision reached by an Appeal Sub-Committee hearing panel
For more information, please click here.
