Restrictions On Broker Engagement Contracts

The bill states that, with certain exceptions, a broker engagement contract for the sale of a residential premises must not:

• Purport to be a covenant running with the land or to be binding on future owners of interests in the real property;
• Allow for assignment of the right to provide service without notice and agreement of the owner of the residential premises; or
• Purport to create a recordable lien, encumbrance, or other real property security interest. Any such lien, encumbrance, or other real property security interest is void and unenforceable.

The bill defines a "broker engagement contract" as a written contract in which a seller, buyer, landlord, or tenant of a residential premises becomes the client of a broker or agrees to retain the services of a broker in the future and promises to pay the broker a valuable consideration or agrees that the broker may receive a valuable consideration from another person in exchange for the broker producing a seller, buyer, tenant, or landlord ready, able, and willing to sell, buy, or rent the residential premises or for performing other services.A person that offers to a consumer a broker engagement contract that includes a prohibited provision commits an unfair or deceptive trade practice.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)