Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® provides members and consumers multiple opportunities to resolve issues of potentially unethical conduct. Claims of unethical conduct may be resolved through use of the ombudsman, mediation or citation programs or a full due process hearing. This hearing process is conducted in two parts by the Grievance Committee and the Professional Standards Committee.
Grievance Committee
Members of the Grievance Committee meet as needed to review ethics complaints and requests for arbitration received by Tri-County Suburban REALTORS®. The Grievance Committee serves as a screening committee whose role is to determine if a complaint falls within the purview of the REALTOR® Association.
Professional Standards Committee
Professional Standards Committee members may be called to serve on Grievance OR Hearing panels at various times throughout the year to adjudicate ethics complaints and requests for arbitration forwarded by the Grievance Committee.
Grievance Panels: Grievance Panels are called as needed to review ethics complaints and requests for arbitration received by the Tri-County Suburban REALTORS®. The Grievance Panel serves as a screening committee to determine if the ethics complaint or arbitration request should be forwarded to a hearing panel. Meetings are held at the Association office and can last anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes.
Hearing Panels: Hearing panels meet as needed to hear testimony and evidence from the parties to determine if the Code of Ethics has been violated OR to determine entitlement to a commission. A hearing can last anywhere from 1.5 hours to a full day.
Members of the Grievance and Professional Standards committees are appointed annually by the Board of Directors. Committee members must complete annual training.
No member may serve on a Grievance and Hearing Panel for the same case.
Responsibilities & Commitments of a Committee Member
Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® is part of a regional co-operative with Bucks County, Greater Philadelphia, and Lehigh Valley Associations of REALTORS®. Hearing panelists may be called on by, and must be willing to travel to, any one of the four Associations.
Training and Qualifications:
Mandatory training is provided. Mandatory training typically takes place in March or April of each year. Dates and locations should be available in early 2026. First-year committee members will also attend an additional half day orientation in January or February at Tri-County Suburban REALTORS in Malvern, PA.
No member may serve who has been found in violation of the Code of Ethics or License law within a three-year period prior to the service year. Any member found in violation of the Code of Ethics or License Law during their service year will be required to step down.
Every effort is made to assemble a professional and effective committee that is balanced in every aspect possible.
If you are interested in being considered to serve or have questions about the committees, please contact Allison Barto at abarto@tcsr.realtor or call 610-560-4800.
