Journal of Property Management

the iReM online course, “sustainable Real estate Management,” has been approved for continuing education credit for leeD professionals by the u.s. green building council (usgbc).

“sustainable Real estate Management” was developed with iReM Member-experts. the course focuses on cost-effective ways to meet owner, tenant, and resident demand for “green” real estate and increase a property’s noi through sustainable real estate management techniques. Requiring approximately six hours to complete, the course is self-guided and features open enrollment.

“sustainable Real estate Management” also is eligible for elective credit toward the national association of REALTORS® (naR) green Designation.

USGbC APPROvES ONLINE IREM COURSE ON SUSTAINAbILITY

INSIDE IREM ETHICS REpORT • MEMbERSHIp FIGURES

Ethics Board Active at IREM 2009 Fall Meetings

The Board of Ethical Inquiry reviewed two new complaints. In the first complaint, a homeowner’s association (HOA) charged a property management firm with failure to provide accurate financial records and a lack of fiduciary responsibility. The Board found reasonable cause to forward this complaint for hearing. The second complaint concerned a security deposit dispute between a CPM® and a young woman who secured another tenant when she had to leave for school. The CPM maintained the young woman became the landlord by subletting the space. The complaint was dismissed as no evidence of unethical or improper conduct was found.

The Ethics Appeal Board conducted one hearing. The complainant, a condo owner whose main residence is in another state, alleged negligence and lack of fiduciary responsibility on the part of the CPM Member whose firm managed his property. The complaint was filed when the kitchen pipe burst, flooding the condo. According to the complainant, he and the association officers made repeated attempts to resolve the matter, which the CPM ignored.

The Hearing Board had previously found the CPM in violation of the IREM Member Pledge and three articles of the IREM Code of Professional Ethics having to do with loyalty to client, managing the assets of a client, and the duty to protect the health and safety of tenants. The discipline was an unpublished letter of censure and the requirement to successfully complete Ethics 800 in the next year. The CPM respondent filed a request for appeal, stating that he was not employed as a manager of the complainant’s individual condo unit. The Appeal Board reviewed the written appeal and found the Respondent had a fiduciary responsibility to the common elements of the building. The Board affirmed the findings of the Hearing Board. The discipline becomes effective immediately and the decision is binding.

>> For more information on the course or to register, visit www.irem.org/green.

IREM MEMbERSHIp FIGURES heRe aRe the YeaR-enD MeMbeRship nuMbeRs, incluDing all MeMbeRship t Ypes FoR the uniteD states anD inteRnational chapteRs: CPM MeMBeRS: 8,772 CPM CANdIdAteS: 3,250 ARM MeMBeRS: 3,631 ASSOCIAte MeMBeRS: 2,058 StUdeNt MeMBeRS: 323 ACAdeMIC MeMBeRS: 21 TOTAL MEMbERS: 8,055