Background: The Department of Licensing (DOL) is responsible for the licensing required for real estate transactions.

Real Estate Brokers and Managing Brokers. Chapter 18.85 RCW addresses the licensing of the persons and entities that perform real estate services. This chapter was overhauled in 2008 and included changes in terminology. The licensing of real estate brokers, managing brokers, designated brokers, and real estate firms replaced the previous licensing structure of real estate salespersons, associate brokers, and brokers.

Real Estate Brokerage Agency Relationships. Chapter 18.86 RCW addresses the real estate brokerage relationships. Until 1996, the duties owed by a real estate broker or sales agent to a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant were based on the common law of agency. Agency is a consensual relationship between two persons where one (the principal) empowers the other (the agent) to act, and the agent acts based on that authority. Agency relationships can be created expressly in writing, or by words or conduct. Conduct that determines an agency relationship in real estate sales and leasing includes paying a commission to the agent. Duties owed by an agent to a principal in a real estate transaction generally include loyalty, obedience, disclosure, confidentiality, reasonable care and diligence, and accounting. The scope of those duties evolved through the courts.

In 1996, the common law fiduciary duties owed by an agent were changed by the passage of the new chapter on real estate brokerage relationships. A number of duties concerning the relationship of an agent to the principal – buyer or seller, landlord or tenant – are set forth in statute. These statutory duties specifically superseded the common law rules applied to real estate licensees to the extent that they are inconsistent.

An agent may represent only the buyer or the seller unless otherwise agreed in writing. Absent an agreement, the agent represents the buyer. A pamphlet describing the statutory duties must be provided to all parties by the real estate agent before:

any agency agreements or real estate offers are signed;
a party consents to dual agency; or
a party waives any rights that may be waived.

General Duties of a Licensee. An agent is a licensee who has an agency relationship with a buyer or seller. Certain duties apply to licensees generally when performing real estate brokerage services as an agent, including the duty to:

exercise reasonable skill and care;
deal honestly and in good faith;
present all written offers, notices, and other communications in a timely manner;
disclose all material facts known by the licensee and not easily ascertainable to a party;
account for all money and property received in a timely manner;
provide a pamphlet on the law of real estate agency to all parties; and
disclose what party a licensee represents in a real estate transaction.

These duties cannot be waived.

An agent need not conduct an independent investigation of the property or of either party's financial condition. The agent has no duty to verify any information the agent reasonably believes to be reliable.

Duties of an Agent. Certain duties apply between an agent and a seller, an agent and a buyer, or in a dual agency relationship, including the duty to:

be loyal by taking no action that would be adverse to the client;
disclose any conflicts of interest in a timely manner;
advise the client to get expert advice on matters relating to the transaction that are beyond the agent's expertise; and
refrain from disclosing confidential information about the client except under subpoena or court order.

These duties cannot be waived. The only duty that can be waived is the duty to make a good faith and continuous effort to seek a buyer for a seller or a seller for a buyer. It is not a breach of duty to the principal for the agent, in the case of a seller, to show or list competing properties or, in the case of a buyer, to show properties to competing buyers.

A licensee may represent both the buyer and the seller if all parties agree in writing. The consent to this dual agency relationship must include the terms of compensation.

Duration of the Agency Relationship. The agency relationship begins when the licensee performs brokerage services. The relationship continues until the licensee completes the services, the agreed upon period of service is ended, notice of termination by one party, or the parties agree to termination. Once the brokerage relationship is terminated, an agent must account for all monies and property received and keep appropriate information confidential.

Compensation. Payment of compensation is not a factor in determining the existence of an agency relationship. A broker may be paid by any party to the transaction and may be paid by more than one party if the parties agree. A buyer's agent may be paid based on the purchase price without breaching any duty owed to the buyer.

Vicarious Liability. A principal, buyer or seller, is liable for the actions of the agent only if the principal participated in or authorized the act, or the principal benefitted from the act and a court determines that no judgment could be enforced against the agent or a subagent. A licensee agent is not liable for the acts of a subagent unless the licensee participated in or authorized the act.

Imputed Knowledge. There is no presumption of knowledge on the part of the principal, buyer or seller, of facts known by the agent or subagent of the principal.

Sanctions. The Director of DOL may impose sanctions on a licensee for violation of the laws governing real estate brokerage relationships.