ExamPassREBBA vs TRESA: What Changed
REBBA, the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002, became TRESA, the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002, when a set of amendments renamed and modernized Ontario's real estate legislation, with the most significant Phase 2 changes taking effect on December 1, 2023. The headline changes are these: the old "customer" category was removed and replaced by the self-represented party, designated representation was introduced alongside brokerage representation, the rules around multiple representation and disclosure were tightened, registrants must now give consumers the RECO Information Guide before providing services or assistance, and a modernized Code of Ethics replaced the former one. For the exam, the practical message is that material written for the old framework can be wrong under the current one.
| Topic | Under REBBA (former) | Under TRESA (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-client category | Customer, who could receive limited services | Self-represented party, owed honesty and fair dealing only |
| Representation structure | Brokerage representation | Brokerage and designated representation |
| Consumer guide | No required information guide | RECO Information Guide required before services or assistance |
| Code of Ethics | Former Code of Ethics | Modernized Code (O. Reg. 365/22) |
What was REBBA, and what is TRESA?
REBBA and TRESA are the same statute at two points in its life. The Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 governed Ontario brokerages and registrants for years; amendments then renamed it the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 and updated what it requires. The administering body, the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), did not change, but the duties, the consumer categories, and the Code of Ethics did. TRESA is therefore not a brand new law so much as a substantially modernized version of the one before it.
When did the TRESA changes take effect?
The changes arrived in phases, and the one that matters most for current practice and exams is Phase 2, in force December 1, 2023. That is the point at which the self-represented party replaced the customer, designated representation became available, and the updated disclosure and Code of Ethics rules took effect. Whenever you pick up study material, the safest question to ask is whether it reflects the post December 1, 2023 framework.
What changed for consumers and representation?
The biggest consumer-facing changes concern who you are dealing with and what they are owed. The "customer" category is gone; a person who is not a client is now a self-represented party, defined by reference to not being a client of the brokerage (O. Reg. 567/05, section 1(5)). Designated representation, where named individual registrants represent a client rather than the whole brokerage, now exists alongside traditional brokerage representation. The rules for multiple representation were tightened, so the situation must be disclosed and consented to and the registrant must remain objective and impartial (O. Reg. 567/05, section 22). And registrants must now provide and explain the RECO Information Guide before providing services or assistance (O. Reg. 567/05, section 13(3) and section 13(4)).
What changed for registrant conduct?
A modernized Code of Ethics (O. Reg. 365/22) replaced the former one, carrying forward core duties such as acting with honesty, integrity, and good faith (section 1), promoting the best interests of clients (section 8(1)), providing conscientious and competent service (section 9), and maintaining confidentiality (section 12). As part of the Phase 2 changes, TRESA also changed how registrants may handle competing offers, permitting a more open process where the seller directs it, and it expanded RECO's oversight and enforcement powers. The specifics of these conduct changes should be confirmed against the current Act and regulations.
Why does REBBA vs TRESA matter for the exam?
Because outdated material is a common source of wrong answers. A candidate studying from a pre-2023 textbook, or coached by someone licensed under the old rules, may reach for "customer" status or may misstate the multiple representation and disclosure duties. For example, a candidate working from an older study guide reads a scenario about a buyer who walks into an open house unrepresented and answers that the registrant should sign the buyer up for "customer" service. Under the current framework that option is simply wrong: the buyer is a self-represented party, owed honesty and fair dealing but not representation, and the credited answer reflects that. The dated vocabulary is the tell.
How do you study the current TRESA framework?
Learn the current duties by who owes them, who they protect, and what triggers them, and practise applying them in scenarios. ExamPass questions are written to the current TRESA framework, with every option explained, and the AI Tutor can clarify any rule that has changed. Related reading: TRESA exam prep, client vs self-represented party, and designated vs multiple representation.
This guide is a study aid and a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The current text of TRESA and its regulations is always the final authority. ExamPass is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by RECO, Meazure Learning, Humber Polytechnic, Career College Group, Fleming College, Algonquin College, or any other education provider. Provider and exam names are used only to identify the courses students are preparing for.