Membership Terms & Conditions

1. About ERCAAN Membership

The Estate, Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN) is a professional association established to promote professional standards, ethical practice, integrity, and responsible conduct within estate, rent, and commission agency practice in Nigeria.

Membership provides an opportunity for eligible practitioners and other persons recognised under the Association’s governing framework to participate in the activities and professional community of ERCAAN.

Membership does not, by itself, guarantee the outcome of any property transaction or professional engagement.

2. Eligibility for Membership

Eligibility for ERCAAN membership is determined in accordance with the Association’s Constitution, applicable membership rules, and requirements established by the Association.

Applicants may be required to provide information or documentation necessary to establish their identity, professional status, business information, eligibility, or other relevant circumstances.

ERCAAN may request additional information where reasonably necessary to process an application.

Meeting a general eligibility requirement does not automatically guarantee admission to membership.

3. Membership Application

Applications submitted through the ERCAAN website or other authorised channels must contain accurate and complete information.

Applicants must not:

• Provide false or misleading information;
• Submit documents belonging to another person without authorisation;
• Misrepresent professional qualifications or experience;
• Misrepresent their business or organisation;
• Conceal information that is materially relevant to an application; or
• Attempt to obtain membership through fraudulent means.

ERCAAN may verify information supplied as part of an application.

Where information cannot reasonably be verified or an applicant does not satisfy applicable requirements, the application may be declined or additional information may be requested.

4. Verification

ERCAAN may conduct appropriate verification before approving an application or maintaining membership.

Verification may include confirmation of:

• Identity;
• Professional information;
• Business information;
• Contact information;
• Supporting documents;
• Membership history;
• Chapter or location information; and
• Other information relevant to eligibility.

The nature and extent of verification may vary depending on the membership application and applicable ERCAAN requirements.

Providing documents or information for verification does not guarantee approval.

5. Membership Approval

Membership becomes effective only when the application has been formally approved through the applicable ERCAAN process and any required membership requirements have been satisfied.

Submitting an application, making a payment, or receiving an automated acknowledgement does not necessarily constitute confirmation of membership.

Where an application is unsuccessful, ERCAAN may communicate the applicable outcome and any available next steps in accordance with its procedures.

6. Membership Records

ERCAAN may maintain records relating to members and membership applications.

These records may include:

• Member name;
• Contact information;
• Professional information;
• Business information;
• Membership status;
• Membership number;
• Chapter or unit affiliation;
• Application information;
• Verification information;
• Renewal information;
• Relevant correspondence; and
• Other information required for legitimate Association administration.

Membership information will be handled in accordance with the ERCAAN Privacy Policy and applicable data protection requirements.

7. Membership Identity and Credentials

Where ERCAAN issues a membership number, identification card, certificate, digital credential, badge, or other evidence of membership, such item remains subject to the Association’s rules and may be withdrawn, suspended, replaced, or invalidated where appropriate.

Members must not:

• Transfer membership credentials to another person;
• Allow another person to represent themselves as the member;
• Alter official membership documents;
• Create counterfeit ERCAAN credentials; or
• Use expired, suspended, withdrawn, or invalid credentials to represent themselves as an active member.

8. Member Responsibilities

Members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the objectives, values, professional standards, and applicable rules of ERCAAN.

Members should:

• Conduct professional activities honestly and responsibly;
• Treat clients, members of the public, colleagues, and other practitioners professionally;
• Provide accurate information in professional dealings;
• Respect applicable laws and regulations;
• Maintain appropriate professional records;
• Avoid misleading or deceptive representations;
• Disclose relevant information where professionally or legally required;
• Protect confidential information;
• Avoid conflicts of interest or appropriately disclose them;
• Keep membership and contact information accurate; and
• Comply with applicable ERCAAN rules and professional standards.

Additional obligations may be established by the ERCAAN Constitution, Code of Conduct, regulations, policies, or other authorised Association instruments.

9. Professional Conduct

Membership of ERCAAN carries an expectation of professional and ethical conduct.

Members may be required to comply with the Association’s applicable professional and ethical standards, including requirements relating to:

• Honesty and integrity;
• Professional competence;
• Client relationships;
• Agency disclosure;
• Property representations;
• Advertising;
• Fees and commissions;
• Conflicts of interest;
• Confidentiality;
• Handling of client or transaction information;
• Professional relationships with other practitioners; and
• Compliance with applicable law.

Where a separate ERCAAN Code of Conduct or professional standard applies, members are expected to comply with that document.

10. Use of ERCAAN Membership Status

Members may identify themselves as ERCAAN members only while their membership is valid and in good standing under the applicable Association rules.

A member must not represent membership in a way that:

• Creates a false impression of government appointment or authority;
• Suggests ERCAAN has guaranteed a particular transaction;
• Suggests ERCAAN has endorsed a particular property or business where it has not;
• Misrepresents the member’s professional status; or
• Falsely suggests that a person or organisation is an authorised ERCAAN representative.

Membership status must not be used to mislead clients, tenants, landlords, buyers, sellers, investors, or members of the public.

11. ERCAAN Name and Logo

Members must use the ERCAAN name, logo, insignia, certificates, badges, or other Association identity materials only in accordance with applicable ERCAAN requirements.

Membership does not automatically grant unrestricted permission to use ERCAAN branding for:

• Advertising;
• Property listings;
• Commercial products;
• Political activities;
• Campaigns;
• Events;
• Publications;
• Social media accounts; or
• Other commercial or public activities.

Where approval is required, members must obtain the appropriate authorisation before using ERCAAN branding.

12. Public Member Directory

ERCAAN may maintain a public directory or other publication containing selected information about members or participating practitioners.

Where applicable, directory information may include:

• Member name;
• Business or organisation name;
• Professional information;
• Business location;
• Contact information;
• Membership status; and
• Other information considered appropriate for professional identification.

The directory is intended to help members of the public and other stakeholders identify practitioners associated with ERCAAN.

A directory listing does not constitute a guarantee by ERCAAN of a member’s services, property transactions, financial standing, or conduct.

Members are responsible for ensuring that information submitted for publication is accurate and current.

13. Updating Member Information

Members should notify ERCAAN when relevant membership information changes.

This may include changes to:

• Name;
• Telephone number;
• Email address;
• Business address;
• Office location;
• Business name;
• Professional information;
• Chapter affiliation; or
• Other information maintained in the member’s record.

ERCAAN may request supporting documentation where necessary to verify a requested change.

14. Membership Fees and Payments

Where membership fees, renewal fees, registration charges, event fees, training fees, or other Association charges apply, the applicable amount and payment requirements will be communicated through official ERCAAN channels.

Members and applicants should use only official ERCAAN payment channels.

ERCAAN will not be responsible for payments made to unauthorised persons or unofficial accounts where the payer failed to verify the authenticity of the payment instructions.

Specific refund, cancellation, or payment terms may apply to individual services.

15. Membership Renewal

Where membership is subject to renewal, members are responsible for completing the renewal process within the applicable period and maintaining any required membership information.

The consequences of failure to renew, including any change in membership status, will be determined in accordance with the applicable ERCAAN rules.

Members whose membership has expired, been suspended, or otherwise ceased must not represent themselves as active ERCAAN members.

16. Changes to Membership Information or Requirements

ERCAAN may update membership requirements, administrative processes, forms, documentation requirements, or digital membership services where permitted by its governing framework.

Material changes will be communicated through appropriate official ERCAAN channels where necessary.

Where a change affects an existing member’s rights or obligations, the applicable ERCAAN governing document or decision-making process will apply.

17. Suspension or Restriction of Membership

Membership may be suspended, restricted, or otherwise affected where permitted under the ERCAAN Constitution, applicable rules, professional standards, or authorised Association procedures.

Possible grounds may include matters such as:

• Serious or repeated violation of Association rules;
• Misrepresentation;
• Fraudulent membership information;
• Misuse of ERCAAN identity or credentials;
• Serious professional misconduct;
• Failure to comply with applicable Association requirements; or
• Other grounds established by the Association’s governing framework.

Any suspension or other membership action should be administered in accordance with the applicable ERCAAN procedures and the member’s applicable rights.

18. Complaints and Disciplinary Matters

Complaints concerning the professional conduct of a member may be submitted through ERCAAN’s designated complaint channels.

The submission of a complaint does not establish that a member has committed misconduct.

Where a matter falls within ERCAAN’s applicable disciplinary or professional procedures, it may be considered in accordance with those procedures.

Members may be required to cooperate with legitimate Association processes and provide information reasonably required for the consideration of a matter, subject to applicable rights and legal requirements.

Further information is provided in the ERCAAN Complaints & Disciplinary Procedure and applicable professional standards.

19. Resignation or Termination of Membership

A member may request to resign from ERCAAN membership in accordance with the applicable Association procedure.

Membership may also cease or be terminated in circumstances permitted by the ERCAAN Constitution or other applicable governing documents.

Upon cessation of membership, the former member must stop representing themselves as an active ERCAAN member and must cease using any membership credentials or benefits that are restricted to current members.

20. Events, Training and Association Activities

ERCAAN may provide members with access to:

• Meetings;
• Conferences;
• Training;
• Workshops;
• Seminars;
• Professional development programmes;
• Publications;
• Networking activities; and
• Other Association programmes.

Participation may be subject to additional registration requirements, fees, eligibility requirements, event rules, or cancellation policies.

Registration for an event or programme does not automatically create or change ERCAAN membership status.

21. Member Communications

ERCAAN may communicate with members using the contact information provided during membership or subsequently updated.

Communications may relate to:

• Membership administration;
• Renewal;
• Association notices;
• Meetings;
• Professional information;
• Events;
• Training;
• Changes to Association requirements;
• Chapter activities; and
• Other matters relevant to membership.

Members are responsible for ensuring that ERCAAN has accurate contact information.

22. Privacy and Personal Information

ERCAAN collects and processes personal information for membership administration and other legitimate Association purposes.

Personal information may include identity, contact, professional, membership, verification, payment, and communication information.

ERCAAN’s handling of personal information is governed by the ERCAAN Privacy Policy.

Members should review the Privacy Policy to understand how their information may be collected, used, stored, disclosed, and retained.

23. Accuracy of Information

Members and applicants are responsible for the accuracy of information they provide to ERCAAN.

Providing false, misleading, incomplete, or fraudulent information may result in:

• Delays in processing;
• Requests for additional verification;
• Rejection of an application;
• Correction of membership records; or
• Other action permitted under applicable ERCAAN rules.

24. No Guarantee of Business or Transaction Success

ERCAAN membership does not guarantee:

• Clients;
• Business opportunities;
• Property transactions;
• Income;
• Commissions;
• Professional success;
• Access to particular properties;
• Customer referrals; or
• Any particular commercial outcome.

Members remain responsible for their own professional activities and business relationships.

25. Relationship With Clients and the Public

Membership of ERCAAN does not make ERCAAN a party to contracts or transactions entered into by a member.

For example, ERCAAN is not automatically a party to:

• Agency agreements;
• Tenancy agreements;
• Lease agreements;
• Sale agreements;
• Property management agreements;
• Commission agreements; or
• Other contracts entered into by a member.

The parties to such transactions remain responsible for understanding and fulfilling their contractual obligations.

26. Compliance With Applicable Law

Members are responsible for complying with laws, regulations, professional requirements, contractual obligations, and other legal requirements applicable to their activities.

Membership of ERCAAN does not replace any licence, registration, approval, certification, permit, or other legal requirement that may apply independently under Nigerian law.

27. Intellectual Property

ERCAAN’s name, logo, publications, membership materials, website content, certificates, digital resources, and other Association materials may be protected by intellectual property rights.

Members must not reproduce or commercially exploit protected ERCAAN materials without appropriate permission.

28. Changes to These Membership Terms

ERCAAN may update these Membership Terms & Conditions from time to time to reflect:

• Changes to Association rules;
• Changes to membership procedures;
• Changes to digital services;
• Changes to applicable law;
• Changes to the Association’s organisational structure; or
• Other legitimate administrative requirements.

The current version will be published through the official ERCAAN website or communicated through other appropriate Association channels.

29. Governing Documents

These Membership Terms & Conditions should be read together with applicable ERCAAN governing documents, including, where relevant:

• The ERCAAN Constitution;
• Applicable Association rules and regulations;
• ERCAAN professional standards;
• ERCAAN Code of Conduct;
• Applicable chapter rules;
• Membership policies;
• Complaints and disciplinary procedures; and
• Other duly authorised Association policies or decisions.

Where a conflict exists between these Terms and a binding provision of an applicable ERCAAN governing document, the governing document will take precedence to the extent of the conflict.

30. Governing Law

These Membership Terms & Conditions shall be interpreted in accordance with applicable laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nothing in these Terms removes or limits any legal right available to a member or applicant under applicable law.

31. Contact ERCAAN

For questions concerning membership, membership applications, verification, member records, or these Membership Terms & Conditions, please contact ERCAAN through its official channels.

Estate, Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN)

Official Website: https://ercaannational.org.ng/

Membership Email: members@ercaannational.org.ng

General Email: info@ercaannational.org.ng

National Secretariat Address: Swan Building, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria