From time to time agents are concerned about their duties if they have more than one prospective Buyer for a property. Usually, this will be the Listing Agent who has more than one Buyer following an Open House.
RECO has sp0elt out the steps, so let’s start there.
Multiple Representation
March 1, 2016
Bulletin #2016-2
This bulletin describes the disclosure obligations of a brokerage before it enters into a multiple representation situation. This includes representing a buyer and seller or multiple prospective buyers in the same transaction.
Services
In all situations, before entering into an agreement regarding trading in real estate, registrants are required to:
- Describe the services that are generally available to buyers and sellers;
- Describe the services that will be provided and the alternatives available to the potential client or customer;
- Inform prospective buyers and sellers of the possibility of multiple representation, including a description of the services the brokerage would provide in a multiple representation situation; and
- Make it clear to prospective buyers and sellers that the brokerage cannot represent multiple clients in a transaction unless all of the potential clients consent in writing to that representation.
Written consent from clients
When a multiple representation situation arises, registrants must explain how the services provided to the client will differ from a single representation situation, including any differences in the sharing of information. These disclosures are to be made at the earliest practical opportunity and before an offer to purchase is made.
The brokerage must also obtain the written consent of all of the parties it is representing in that transaction, via their salespersons or brokers.
Written consent is required in situations where a single brokerage represents two or more clients in a trade, even if different salespersons or brokers are involved. Given that the brokerage has a fiduciary relationship with more than one client to a trade, it must be clear to all clients to the trade how information related to the transaction will be exchanged and how services will be provided.
Consent to multiple representation is required when:
- A brokerage is representing both the buyer and seller in a transaction; or
- A brokerage is representing multiple prospective buyers in a single transaction.
In the case of multiple buyers, it may not be clear to the buyer’s brokerage that a single brokerage is representing multiple buyers until one or more buyers have expressed interest in the same property. This knowledge may come through the listing brokerage, or its representatives, as they are in a position to know the source of all buyers. The listing brokerage is then expected to pass on this information to the buyers’ brokerage. In such situations, consent to the multiple representation would be required as soon as the brokerage becomes aware that it is operating in a multiple representation situation.
IF WRITTEN CONSENT FROM A CLIENT IS REFUSED
In situations where a client refuses to consent to multiple representation, the brokerage must release one or more of its clients to seek alternate representation with another brokerage. The brokerage cannot represent more than one party to a trade without the written consent of all parties it is representing in that transaction.
Multiple customers
A customer is a person who has entered into a service agreement with a brokerage related to a real estate transaction, but who is not being represented by that brokerage as a client. This might apply to a situation in which a brokerage has entered into an agreement with a person to assist in a real estate transaction, but the brokerage or its representatives are not providing any fiduciary advice or services to the person as part of that agreement.
Registrants must treat customers with fairness, honesty and integrity, but do not have the obligation of protecting the customer’s best interest as they would with a client.
With respect to services provided to customers, registrants must disclose to buyers and sellers that they may act for more than one customer in a transaction. A brokerage does not require a customer’s or client’s written consent to provide services to an additional customer in a transaction.
Relevant sections of REBBA 2002 and the Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics: Sections 3, 4, 5, 10, 16 and 17
General Regulation: Section 22
Registrar’s Bulletin — Multiple Representation
“trade” includes a disposition or acquisition of or transaction in real estate by sale, purchase, agreement for purchase and sale, exchange, option, lease, rental or otherwise and any offer or attempt to list real estate for the purpose of such a disposition, acquisition or transaction, and any act, advertisement, conduct or negotiation, directly or indirectly, in furtherance of any disposition, acquisition, transaction, offer or attempt, and the verb “trade” has a corresponding meaning;
“real estate” includes leasehold interests and businesses, whether with or without premises, and fixtures, stock-in-trade and goods connected with the operation of a business;
Code
Disclosure before multiple representation
16. A brokerage shall not represent more than one client in respect of the same trade in real estate unless it has disclosed the following matters to the clients or prospective clients at the earliest practicable opportunity:
1. The fact that the brokerage proposes to represent more than one client in respect of the same trade.
2. The differences between the obligations the brokerage would have if it represented only one client in respect of the trade and the obligations the brokerage would have if it represented more than one client in respect of the trade, including any differences relating to the disclosure of information or the services that the brokerage would provide. O. Reg. 580/05, s. 16.
Nature of relationship
17. If a registrant represents or provides services to more than one buyer or seller in respect of the same trade in real estate, the registrant shall, in writing, at the earliest practicable opportunity and before any offer is made, inform all buyers and sellers involved in that trade of the nature of the registrant’s relationship to each buyer and seller. O. Reg. 580/05, s. 17.
General
Multiple representation
22. A registrant shall not represent more than one client in respect of the same trade in real estate unless all of the clients represented by the registrant in respect of that trade consent in writing. O. Reg. 567/05, s. 22.
Brian Madigan LL.B., Broker