The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors has approved changes to the portions of its Code of Ethics that deal with hate speech and harassment during this week’s legislative meetings in Washington, D.C. 

The revised language in the Standard of Practice 10-5 and Professional Standards Policy Statement 29, which are part of Article 10 in the Code of Ethics, now matches the NAR’s Code of Conduct definition of harassment and focuses on situations where REALTORS® are acting in a professional setting. 

Article 10 prohibits REALTORS® from denying equal professional services and employment opportunities based on protected characteristics and remains unchanged.  

Effective immediately, harassment is now defined as unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile, abusive or intimidating environment which adversely affects access to equal professional services or employment opportunities. The revision prohibits members of NAR from harassing any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. 

According to NAR, discussions of revisions to these policies have been underway for almost a year.  

“NAR continually assesses and, when appropriate, amends the Code of Ethics to ensure the specific articles are clear in their language and intent, and can be enforced fairly and consistently,” said NAR President Kevin Sears. “Consistent with our deep commitment to upholding principles of fair housing and equal treatment for all consumers, these amendments provide clarity to our members, reduce risk for state and local associations enforcing the Code of Ethics, and bring Article 10 in line with similar requirements applied by other large trade associations.”