Iowa Code r. 193E-12.2 - Disclosure of agency

(1) A licensee cannot represent any party or parties to a real estate transaction or otherwise act as a real estate broker or salesperson unless that licensee makes disclosure to all obligated parties to the transaction identifying which party or parties, if any, that licensee represents in the transaction. Disclosure pursuant to this rule is made by the licensee at the time the licensee provides specific assistance to the client or nonrepresented customer.

(2) Verbal disclosure needed. The disclosure obligated by subrule 12.2(1) is made verbally by the licensee prior to the licensee's providing specific assistance to the client or nonrepresented customer. A change in the licensee's representation that makes the initial verbal disclosure incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate obligates that a new verbal disclosure be made immediately.

(3) Written disclosure needed. The written disclosure obligated by subrule 12.2(1) is made by the licensee to all parties to a real estate transaction identifying which party the licensee represents in the transaction.

a. The written disclosure is needed to be made to the buyer or tenant prior to any offer, lease, or rental agreement being made or signed by the buyer or tenant, and prior to any offer, lease, or rental agreement being signed or accepted by the seller or landlord.

b. The written disclosure is acknowledged by separate signatures of all parties to the transaction. A change in the licensee's representation that makes the initial written disclosure incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate obligates that a new verbal disclosure be made which is followed by a new written disclosure signed by all parties to the transaction as soon as practical.

(4) A licensee representing a buyer or tenant informs the listing broker, the listing agent, or the seller or landlord of the agency relationship in accordance with Iowa Code section 543B.57(5). If the property is not listed, the obligated disclosure is made to the unrepresented seller or landlord.

(5) The obligation of either the seller or landlord or buyer or tenant to pay compensation to a broker does not establish an agency relationship or affect any agency relationship.

(6) Nothing contained in this rule bars a party from entering into a written listing or brokerage agreement with a broker which contains duties, obligations, and responsibilities that are in addition to those specified in Iowa real estate license law and commission rules.

(7) A licensee cannot be the agent for both the buyer or tenant without following Iowa Code section 543B.58(1).

(8) A licensee may work with and establish different types of agency relationships with the same client, in separate transactions. Examples of different agency relationships with the same client in separate transactions include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. A common example includes a licensee acting as a listing or seller's agent selling a property in one transaction and also working with and representing this same person in another transaction as a buyer's agent in the purchase of a different property.

b. A licensee may act as a dual agent in either of the separate transactions, or both, with the written permission of the parties to the specific transaction and if the broker or brokerage has a written company policy that includes disclosed dual agency for in-house transactions or same agent transactions.

c. Regardless of the type of agency relationship provided in each transaction, the licensee complies with the criteria of Iowa Code chapter 543B and this rule in establishing the relationships for each separate transaction.

(9) An agency relationship disclosure is not needed when the licensee is acting solely as a principal and not as an agent for another or when a written communication from the licensee is a solicitation of business.

(10) If the seller, landlord, buyer, or tenant rejects representation, or refuses to sign the agency disclosure document, or refuses to sign acknowledging receipt of the disclosure, the licensee notes that fact and includes the date, place, time, and the names of others in attendance on a copy of the agency disclosure document and obtains other documentation establishing delivery of the disclosure and maintains the written documentation, including but not limited to copies of facsimile, restricted delivery certified mail, and other communications, in the transaction file.

(11) A licensee who is offering real estate brokerage services as an auctioneer makes the written disclosure to the buyer and obtains the acknowledgment of receipt obligated by law and rules, prior to the buyer's entering into a written purchase agreement for the property. For the purposes of this rule, the identification of the successful bidder constitutes the first meaningful contact with a buyer when specific assistance is provided. After the first meaningful contact, the first practical opportunity to make the necessary disclosures to the buyer depends upon the circumstances. While it is not necessary, it is recommended that licensees disclose in all advertisements and flyers that they are licensed agents representing the seller and, prior to crying the auction, announce that they are licensed real estate agents representing the seller.

a. Disclosure under this rule applies only to the day of the auction.

b. If the licensee provides brokerage services prior to the auction, the disclosure is made either orally or in writing prior to or at the time of specific assistance being provided.

(12) The licensee retains a copy of the disclosure form signed by the prospective buyer, seller, landlord or tenant, or the documentation and copies as obligated in subrule 12.2(10) as follows:

a. If an offer is accepted, the signed or noted copy is retained by the broker in the closed transaction file for a period of five years from the date of the signature or note.

b. If the offer is not accepted, a signed and noted copy is retained with the rejected offer for a period of five years.

(13) Failure of a licensee to comply with this rule is prima facie evidence of a violation of Iowa Code section 543B.34(4).

(14) Failure of a licensee to act consistent with disclosure representations made pursuant to this rule is prima facie evidence of a violation of Iowa Code section 543B.34(4).

(15) Nothing in this rule affects the validity of title to real property transferred based solely on the reason that any licensee failed to conform to the provisions of this rule.

(16) A sole-proprietor single broker or firm is not obligated to offer or engage in more than one type of brokerage relationship as enumerated in rules 193E-12.3 (543B) through 193E-12.5 (543B).

(17) The licensee offering brokerage services to a person as a buyer's or tenant's agent, or who is providing brokerage services to a person as a seller's or landlord's agent, discloses in writing to that person the type or types of brokerage relationships the broker and affiliated licensees are offering to that person before entering into a listing or brokerage agreement with that person.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 193E-12.2

ARC 7774C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24; ARC 8102C, IAB 7/10/24, effective 8/14/24

Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024 Amended by IAB July 10, 2024/Volume XLVII, Number 1, effective 8/14/2024