<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71178</law_id><section_number>54.1-2137</section_number><catch_line>Commencement and termination of brokerage relationships; brokerage agreements required</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-2139</reference><reference>54.1-2139.01</reference><reference>54.1-2139.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="21">Real Estate Brokers, Sales Persons and Rental Location Agents</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Duties of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">brokerage relationships</span> set forth in this article shall commence at the time that a <span class="dictionary">client</span> engages a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> to provide <span class="dictionary">brokerage services</span> and shall continue until (i) completion of performance in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span> or (ii) the earlier of (a) any date of expiration agreed upon by the parties as part of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span> or in any amendments thereto, (b) any mutually agreed upon termination of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span>, (c) a <span class="dictionary">default</span> by any <span class="dictionary">party</span> under the terms of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span>, or (d) a termination as set forth in subsection G of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclosed dual agency and dual representation authorized in a residential real estate transaction" href="/54.1-2139/">54.1-2139</a>. <a id="paragraph-256570" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as otherwise provided in this article, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall enter into a <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span> with a prospective <span class="dictionary">client</span> prior to providing <span class="dictionary">brokerage services</span>. A <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> shall not be required to enter into a <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span> prior to preparing property-specific <span class="dictionary">materials</span> with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to obtain a <span class="dictionary">brokerage relationship</span> with a prospective <span class="dictionary">client</span>. <a id="paragraph-256571" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> <span class="dictionary">Brokerage agreements</span> shall be in writing and shall: <a id="paragraph-256572" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Have a definite termination date; however, if a <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span> does not specify a definite termination date, the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span> shall terminate 90 days after the date of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span>; <a id="paragraph-256573" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> State the amount of the brokerage fees and how and when such fees are to be paid; <a id="paragraph-256574" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> State the services to be rendered by the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>; <a id="paragraph-256575" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Include such other terms of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage relationship</span> as have been agreed to by the <span class="dictionary">client</span> and the <span class="dictionary">licensee</span>; and <a id="paragraph-256576" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> In the case of <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreements</span> entered into in conjunction with the <span class="dictionary">client</span>&#x2019;s consent to a dual representation, the disclosures set out in subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclosed dual agency and dual representation authorized in a residential real estate transaction" href="/54.1-2139/">54.1-2139</a>. <a id="paragraph-256577" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except as otherwise agreed to in writing, a <span class="dictionary">licensee</span> owes no further duties to a <span class="dictionary">client</span> after termination, expiration, or completion of performance of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage agreement</span>, except to (i) account for all moneys and property relating to the <span class="dictionary">brokerage relationship</span> and (ii) keep confidential all personal and financial information received from the <span class="dictionary">client</span> during the course of the <span class="dictionary">brokerage relationship</span> and any other information that the <span class="dictionary">client</span> requests during the <span class="dictionary">brokerage relationship</span> be maintained confidential, unless otherwise provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span> or the <span class="dictionary">client</span> consents in writing to the release of such information. <a id="paragraph-256578" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2137/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1995, cc. 741, 813; 2011, c. 461; 2012, c. 750; 2018, cc. 60, 86; 2025, cc. 479, 495.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
