Real estate agents who sell homes in Brampton, have been advised by the Brampton Real Estate Board that they are not to talk about basement apartments in their listings for Brampton homes. Apparently it has been passed in Council that as at January 31, 2006 no more basement apartments will be "registered." If an apartment is not "registered," it is an "illegal" basement apartment. A buyer must be made aware of that, otherwise it is false advertising.

Several weeks ago, all Brampton real estate brokerage offices received registered mail threatening that the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) would be contacted by the City, and agents not complying with the instruction of the legal department at the City of Brampton, would have action taken against them.

It would appear that many apartments, turning single family homes into multiple family dwellings, even when there is a separate entrance, are being tauted and sold as income-producing properties, and that in many cases the apartments were built without building permits, and in some cases jeopardize the lives of the occupants.

If you find yourself, as a homeowner, in this postion and you wish to sell your home, perhaps you would be well-advised to contact the City of Brampton prior to putting your home on the market. This information is just meant as a heads' up, so homeowners and agents can all work together and do the right thing.

We would like for members of the public to not blame the real estate agent community for the decision made by the City. We were not consulted regarding this issue.

Feel free to post your feelings on this topic here on the forum, if you are a homeowner who finds themselves involved in this situation, or if you are an agent dealing with this situation as well.