CODE OF ETHICS
AND
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
FOR
GREATER SUDBURY LANDLORD ASSOCIATION (GSLA)
INTRODUCTION: The Greater Sudbury Landlord Association (GSLA) promotes a high standard of business ethics, professionalism, and fair housing practices. All members of the Greater Sudbury Landlord Association must abide by the following Code of Ethics and Standards of Professionalism (the “Code”).
DEFINITIONS: Capitalized terms throughout the Code shall have the following meanings:
“Tenant” means an individual or entity that rents and/or occupies property managed by the Property Manager or the Owner of the Property.
“Written” or “in writing” means communication in the form of a record and includes both hard copy and electronic forms.
“Landlord” means the person responsible to collect rent and govern the tenancy. This could be either the owner or the property manager.
Article 1: RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC
The Landlord shall protect the public against fraud, misrepresentation, and unethical practices in property management.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
- The Landlord shall endeavor to eliminate, through the normal course of business, any practices which could be damaging to the public or bring discredit to the GSLA.
- The Landlord shall cooperate with the governmental agency charged with regulating the practices of the Residential Tenancy Act.
- The Landlord shall comply with all relevant local and provincial rules and bylaws regarding real estate law, licensing, insurance, and banking, ie: interest paid on last month’s rent.
- The Landlord shall not reveal confidential information of Clients, Tenants or others except as required in the course of performing his or her duties or as otherwise required by law. The Landlord shall take all reasonable precautions to protect confidential information.
1-6 The Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that information on his or her website, or advertising in local media or social media shall not be discriminatory. It will not include, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
1-7 The Landlord will not advertise or solicit from the GSLA Website or at any of the meetings held by the GSLA.
1-8 The Landlord shall disclose all details of the rental properties with no hidden known facts that would effect the usage of the property or otherwise.
1-9 The Landlord shall not exaggerate, misrepresent, misinform, or conceal pertinent facts in the advertising, leasing, and management of property.
1-10 The Landlord shall make reasonable attempts to remove from the Internet listings for rentals that are no longer available.
Article 2: DISCRIMINATION
The Landlord shall not discriminate in the management, rental, lease, or negotiation for real property, shall operate consistent with laws and regulations and shall comply with all federal, provincial, and local laws concerning discrimination.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
- It is the duty of the Landlord to educate those with whom the Landlord is affiliated to comply with all tenancy laws and laws regarding discrimination.
2-2 The Landlord shall not deny service to any person due to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Article 3: RESPONSIBILITY TO TENANT
The Landlord shall treat all Tenants honestly and professionally when they are applying for, living in, and/or vacating a residence, including through the last month’s rent process.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
3-1 The Landlord shall use written agreements, and written extensions, if required, outlining all responsibilities and rents. The tenant will be provided a copy of all signed agreements and extensions, and the Landlord will retain a copy.
3-2 The Landlord shall review and verify all Tenant applications to determine the applicant’s ability to pay rental fees and to assess the likelihood that the applicant will comply with all provisions of the rental agreement.
- The Landlord shall offer all prospective Tenants a written application.
3-5 The Landlord shall provide all Tenants with a copy of the signed rental agreement and extensions with all addendums attached.
- The Landlord shall respond promptly to requests for repairs.
Article 4: CARE OF RENTAL PROPERTIES
The Landlord shall hold a regard for the safety and health of those lawfully at a rental property and shall rent all properties in accordance with safety and habitability requirements of the local jurisdiction.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
- The Landlord shall not refuse to maintain their property in accordance with safety and habitability requirements of the local jurisdiction.
- The Landlord shall terminate the tenancy of a property if the property does not comply with habitability requirements.
Article 5: RECORDS
The Landlord shall hold all records on behalf of tenancies in order to discredit false claims against the Landlord.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
5-1 The Landlord shall keep appropriate records and accurate and timely financial reports relating to the tenancy to prove innocence if claims arise.
The Landlord must provide competent service within his or her area of expertise, and refrain from the unauthorized practice of any other profession for which he or she is not licensed or qualified.
6-1 The Landlord shall perform only such services in such locations for which he or she is qualified and can reasonably be expected to perform with professional competence.
6-2 The Landlord shall not perform and shall not represent that he or she can or will perform services outside of his or her area of expertise, particularly services that require a separate license or qualification – such as law, accounting, financial planning, construction, and/or contracting – unless the Landlord independently possesses such license or qualification.
Article 7: RELATIONS WITH OTHER LANDLORDS
The Landlord shall not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements about other Landlords or their business practices, or otherwise attempt to take business from other landlords by deceptive means.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
7-1 The Landlord shall deal with other landlords in an honest and professional manner and shall not knowingly engage in any practice or take any action against a landlord in an un-businesslike manner.
7-2 In the event of a controversy between Landlords, the Landlords shall use best efforts to resolve the dispute prior to litigation.
7-3 The Property Manager shall cooperate with other property managers when it is in the best interests of the Client or Tenant to do so.
Article 8: TRUTH IN ADVERTISING
The Landlord shall ensure that all advertising is clear and forthright and includes only accurate and truthful statements about the property advertised.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
8-1 Regardless of the type of media used, advertising content shall be truthful and honest at all times.
8-2 All marketing materials, whether printed or electronic, shall comply with provincial laws.
Article 9: RESPONSIBILITY TO GSLA AND THE PROFESSION
The Landlord shall comply with all policies of GSLA and all relevant laws and rules of the jurisdiction in which he or she works, and shall strive to stay informed of and to educate others about relevant matters affecting the rental field.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
9-1 The Landlord shall strive to improve the Landlord profession and GSLA by sharing with others his or her lessons of experience for the benefit of all.
9-2 The Landlord shall strive to be informed about relevant matters affecting the rental field on a local, provincial, and national level.
9-3 The Landlord shall abide by GSLA’s bylaws and any other policies and procedures of GSLA, and shall do no harm to the organization.
9-4 The Landlord shall ensure that all electronic communications and marketing he or she prepares is professional with respect given to the recipients.
Article 10: COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
The Landlord shall comply with this Code and shall participate in and/or cooperate with any investigation conducted by GSLA.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM
10-1 The Landlord shall review and shall take all necessary action to understand and to comply with these rules.
10-2 The Landlord shall not interfere with any GSLA action to investigate a violation of or to the rules.
10-3 The Landlord shall promptly supply any information requested by GSLA during any investigation pursuant to the rules.