Discover Rules & Policies.
Best Practices and More.

The Compliance Center answers all of your questions in one place. Browse information on the complaint process, advertising, listing photos, and conduct violations. Get clear guidance on the rules that keep the MLS accurate, fair, and working for everyone.

    1. Complaint is submitted through Flexmls, Matrix or the MLS Conduct Complaint form.

    2. Complaint appears in the iCheck database the following business day

    3. MLS Staff reviews the complaint and determines if an error or violation has occurred

    4. If the listing is in violation and there is sufficient evidence, staff makes the correction and informs the listing agent via a notice from iCheck. If there is not sufficient evidence to make the correction, staff sends a courtesy notice to the listing agent and their broker requesting they update the listing or clarify the error.

    5. If the error is a repeat violation, staff corrects the listing and issues a fine notice

    6. Depending on the rule in violation a grace period of 2-7 days is given when a courtesy notice is generated

    7. If the listing remains in violation, staff calls the listing agent to inform them of the correction needed and generates a follow-up email.

    8. If there is no answer from the listing agent, staff contacts the listing broker and/or office administrator to address the violation.

    9. A fine is assessed if the violation is not addressed by the grace period.

  • Once you file a complaint, there is a detailed process. Unfortunately, you may not be able to see the inner workings of all the details, but we assure you that our Compliance Team receives every complaint. Keep in mind, not every claim that is submitted is a violation of the BeachesMLS rules. Sometimes, the reported issues are fixed, and other times, they do not warrant a violation. There are also times when the listing agent has not willingly cooperated, and a subsequent fine is assessed.

    It is also important to note that listings that begin with the letter A or T were entered by agents from other MLSs. Those complaints were sent to their respective MLSs for processing.

  • Since there is a step-by-step process, it can take anywhere from one to five days to correct an error on a listing.

  • Automatic emails are sent when a complaint is processed. If you have not received an email from compliance and would like to know the status, contact our compliance team at 561-353-9170 or compliance@rworld.com.

  • Our compliance team can help you at 561-353-9170 or by e-mail at compliance@rworld.com.

  • Those prefixes identify listings from other MLSs. Their respective Compliance Departments receive and handle complaints on their listings.

  • Try avoiding submitting the claim more than once. This could ultimately slow down the process.

Understanding Compliance, Complaints, and the Process

MLS rules and requirements are an important part of keeping the marketplace accurate, transparent, and reliable. The Compliance Hub gives you easy access to MLS rules, policies, guidelines, and resources to help you understand requirements, avoid common violations, and keep your listings in compliance.

Additional Compliance Information

  • All Active listings require at least one front exterior photo that accurately depicts the entrance to the home or building for Commercial, Residential, Residential Income and Rental properties. Virtually staged photos must be clearly identified as being virtually staged within the first 180 characters of the public remarks and photo descriptions. Photos must contain only physical characteristics of the property and its vicinity. They cannot contain any content that may be perceived as branding, advertising or promoting a broker or agent, or any other individual or entity affiliated with them or their office. Furthermore, photos may not contain any of the following, including, but not limited to:

    1. Photo frames

    2. Audio or visual contact Information (i.e., real estate signs, business cards, flyers etc.)

    3. Audio or visual branding characteristics

    4. Watermarks including copyright and photographer logo/branding (with the exception of the BeachesMLS logo)

    5. The listing broker, team, and/or agent

    6. Text or overlays of any kind, unless it is solely for exterior location identification purposes

    7. Photo collages (more than one photo in a group)

    8. People and/or pets unless they are in the background of public photos

    9. Nude Photos (as defined by Webster’s dictionary)

    10. QR Codes, URLs and/or any other means of redirecting to another site

  • The Any Broker Advertise field allows listing agents to determine whether the listing is allowed to be advertised by other agents (restrictions apply). When a listing is marked “Yes,” other agents are allowed to market the listing with the following restrictions: In the advertisement, you must not portray the listing as your own; The listing content cannot be altered in any way and must paint a true picture of the property; The listing brokerage must be credited with the words “Courtesy of” in a readily visible font and typeface. Note that readily visible means it cannot be hidden in small print or in a link that has to be clicked on to expand; and Agents can change this field at any time so remember to check it often and keep a copy of the listings marked “Yes.” If the field is changed to "No" then the advertisement should be removed. Failure to comply will result in an Unauthorized Advertising Violation. For more information, see MLS Rules and Regulations and Compliance Guide.

  • Conduct violations refer to how an agent conducts their business; such as advertising another agent’s listing without their permission. Most of these are situational rather than data-related and reported by other agents. The violating agent and broker then receive a notice with an automatic fine and an opportunity to request a hearing to dispute the violation. Requesting a hearing is new; this opportunity was not previously available.