As a real estate brokerage or agent, you must follow the CRTC’s Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules when contacting potential clients by phone.
Failing to comply can result in significant monetary penalties and reputational damage.

 

Key Obligations

Register & Subscribe

Your brokerage must register with the National DNCL operator and purchase subscriptions
for every area code you plan to call. DNCL downloads must be updated every 31 days.

Internal Do-Not-Call List

Keep your own internal list. If someone asks not to be called, you must add their number
within 14 days and keep it for 3 years.

Scrubbing & Calling Hours

Always check numbers against both the DNCL and your internal list. Calls are allowed only
between 9am–9:30pm (weekdays) and 10am–6pm (weekends).

 

Exemptions & Existing Business Relationships

You may call clients you’ve worked with in the last 18 months or people who contacted you in the last 6 months, even if they are on the DNCL.
However, you must still follow all other telemarketing rules such as proper disclosure and calling hours.

 

Liability

The brokerage is responsible for ensuring compliance, even if an agent or a third-party lead generator makes the calls.
Penalties can reach $1,500 per violation for individuals and $15,000 per violation for corporations.

 

Best Practices

  • Create a written telemarketing policy for your brokerage.
  • Train agents on scrubbing, record-keeping, and handling “do not call” requests.
  • Ensure contracts with lead generators require compliance with DNCL rules.
  • Keep detailed records of DNCL downloads, scrubbing, and consumer requests.
  • Audit regularly to avoid penalties.

 

Resources

For complete details, visit the official CRTC page:

Realtor Telemarketing Obligations (CRTC)