CODE OF VIRGINIA

LICENSEES ENGAGED TO MANAGE REAL ESTATE (§ 54.1-2135)

A. A licensee engaged to manage real estate shall:

   1.  Perform in accordance with the terms of the property management agreement;

   2.  Exercise ordinary care;

   3.  Disclose in a timely manner to the owner material facts of which the
   licensee has actual knowledge concerning the property;

   4.  Maintain confidentiality of all personal and financial information
   received from the client during the brokerage relationship and any other
   information that the client requests during the brokerage relationship be
   maintained confidential unless otherwise provided by law or the owner consents
   in writing to the release of such information;

   5.  Account for, in a timely manner, all money and property received in which
   the owner has or may have an interest; and

   6.  Comply with all requirements of this article, fair housing statutes and
   regulations for residential real estate transactions as applicable, and all
   other applicable statutes and regulations which are not in conflict with this
   article.

B. Except as provided in the property management agreement, a licensee engaged
to manage real estate does not breach any duty or obligation to the owner by
representing other owners in the management of other properties.

C. A licensee may also represent the owner as seller or landlord if they enter
into a brokerage relationship that so provides; in which case, the licensee
shall disclose such brokerage relationships pursuant to the provisions of this
article.

D. If a licensee has actual knowledge of the existence of defective drywall in a
residential property, the licensee shall disclose the same to the owner. For
purposes of this section, “defective drywall” means all defective
drywall as defined in § 36-156.1.

E. Property management agreements in residential real estate transactions shall
be in writing and shall:

   1.  Have a definite termination date or duration; however, if a property
   management agreement does not specify a definite termination date or duration,
   the agreement shall terminate 90 days after the date of the agreement;

   2.  State the amount of the management fees and how and when such fees are to
   be paid;

   3.  State the services to be rendered by the licensee; and

   4.  Include such other terms as have been agreed to by the owner and the
   property manager.

F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to licensees engaged in
commercial real estate transactions.

HISTORY: 1995, cc. 741, 813; 2011, cc. 34, 46, 461; 2016, c. 334.