Checking a Mortgage Agent's Licence in Ontario

Key points

• Mortgage brokerages, brokers, agents and administrators in Ontario are licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) under the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006.

• An individual may not deal in mortgages in Ontario for remuneration without a broker's or agent's licence, unless exempt.

• FSRA keeps a public registry where anyone can search mortgage agents and brokers.

• FSRA reviews complaints for regulatory non-compliance, but says it cannot force a refund, seek compensation for a consumer or resolve individual disputes.

Who must be licensed

Under the Act, "dealing in mortgages" includes soliciting a person to borrow or lend money on the security of real property, giving a lender information about a prospective borrower, assessing a borrower for a lender, and negotiating or arranging a mortgage for someone else. No individual may deal in mortgages in Ontario for remuneration unless they hold a mortgage broker's or agent's licence and act on behalf of a mortgage brokerage, or are exempt. A mortgage agent's licence authorizes the agent to deal or trade in mortgages on behalf of one specified brokerage, and only under the supervision of a mortgage broker. A Mortgage Agent Level 1 licence permits the agent to deal or trade in mortgages only with lenders that are financial institutions or approved lenders under the National Housing Act (Canada), subject to a limited exception where the agent's brokerage is a finance company that is the lender or an affiliate of the lender. FSRA says that a consumer seeking a mortgage from an alternative or private lender must work with a Level 2 mortgage agent or a mortgage broker. Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions defined in the Act do not need a brokerage licence, and their directors, officers and employees do not need a broker's or agent's licence when dealing in mortgages for the institution in the ordinary course of their duties. No one may use the title "mortgage agent", or a description that might reasonably lead someone to believe they are a mortgage agent, unless licensed as one.

How to check a licence

FSRA's Chief Executive Officer must keep a register of licensees that the public can inspect. FSRA's public registry lets anyone search mortgage agents and brokers by last name or by city or town, and it lists brokerages, administrators, brokers, Level 1 agents and Level 2 agents. FSRA says new licensing classes for mortgage agents and brokers took effect on April 1, 2023, and that an agent or broker licence is issued for a one-year term. Search the registry: FSRA mortgage licensee registry.

What the Act says about disclosure and enforcement

A mortgage brokerage must disclose the cost of borrowing to each borrower, expressed as a rate per annum. A person or entity cannot bring a court action to recover remuneration for dealing in mortgages unless they were licensed, or did not need to be, at the time. Acting as a mortgage agent or broker without a licence is an offence under the Act, and on a conviction the court may also order compensation or restitution. FSRA's Chief Executive Officer may suspend or revoke a licence, including where the licensee contravenes a requirement under the Act. Read the Act: Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006 on e-Laws.

Complaints to FSRA

FSRA says a consumer with a complaint should first complain to the mortgage brokerage, broker, agent or administrator and get its written response, keeping notes of conversations with dates, times and names. FSRA's complaint form asks for a copy of the complaint, the final written response and supporting documents; for a complaint about a mortgage agent, the principal broker must have responded in writing. FSRA's complaint form says it cannot review a complaint unless the person or entity has given a final written response. FSRA's complaint webpage also says that if the company has not given a written response, a complaint may still be filed if the person shows proof of attempts to obtain it. FSRA says it reviews complaints for non-compliance with regulatory requirements and may respond with education, warning letters, closer supervision or enforcement action. FSRA also says it does not have authority to force a refund, seek compensation for a consumer or resolve individual disputes; those go through the company's internal dispute process, external dispute resolution or the courts. FSRA's guidance: Submit a complaint to FSRA.

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Related: Refinancing your mortgage in Ontario | Checking a builder's licence and Tarion status | Private mortgages

Sources: Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 29, ss. 1, 2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 23, 28, 48 and 50, e-Laws currency date November 5, 2026 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06m29); O. Reg. 409/07, Mortgage Brokers and Agents: Licensing, ss. 5.0.1 and 5.0.2 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070409); FSRA mortgage licensee registry (https://mbsweblist.fsco.gov.on.ca/); FSRA, Mortgage Brokering (https://www.fsrao.ca/consumers/mortgage-brokering); FSRA, Become a Mortgage Agent Level 2 (https://www.fsrao.ca/licensing/mortgage-agent-level-1/become-mortgage-agent-level-2); FSRA, Submit a complaint to FSRA (https://www.fsrao.ca/submit-complaint-fsra); FSRA Complaint Form GF-012E (2025) (https://www.fsrao.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/GF-012E.pdf).

This article is general information about Ontario law as of November 9, 2026. It is not legal advice.

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