agency
Disclosure of Brokerage Relationships (DC)
Under D.C. Code §47-2853.196, when a licensee has a substantive discussion about a specific property with a buyer or seller who is not the licensee's client, the licensee must disclose in writing any brokerage relationship with another party, at the earliest practical time and no later than when specific real estate assistance is first provided. For leases, the disclosure goes in the application or lease, whichever comes first; residential leases under two months are exempt. Copies are kept three years.
- Exam tip
- The trigger is a substantive discussion about a specific property; general market chat or a first phone call does not trigger it.
- Example
- A listing agent walks an unrepresented buyer through comps and the seller's flexibility on 123 Elm St. He must give written disclosure that he represents the seller before starting that assistance.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23