Section 40-57-135 - Duties of broker-in-charge and property manager-in-charge; associated licensees; office locations; policies and recordkeeping; management agreements; unlicensed employees(A) A broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge shall: (1) adequately supervise employees or supervised licensees to ensure their compliance with this chapter;(2) review and approve all forms of listing agreements, agency agreements, offers, sale contracts, purchase contracts, leases, options, contract addenda, or other contractual or disclosure documents routinely used by the real estate brokerage firm;(3) maintain adequate, reasonable, and regular contact with supervised licensees engaged in real estate transactions so as to prevent or curtail practices by a licensee which would violate any provision of this chapter, Chapter 1, Title 40, the Interstate Land Sales Practices Act, or the Vacation Time Sharing Plans Act;(4) be available to the public during business hours in order to discuss or resolve complaints and disputes that arise during the course of real estate transactions in which the broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge or a supervised licensee is involved;(5) establish and maintain a written office policy in accordance with Sections 40-57-135(I)(2)(a) and 40-57-360 and any requirements promulgated in regulations and make that policy readily accessible to supervised licensees;(6) ensure that all supervised licensees have an active real estate license;(7) establish and maintain control of and responsibility for an active trust account when in possession of trust funds belonging to others resulting from a real estate transaction; and(8) notify the commission by mail within ten days of any change of office name, address, email address, or telephone number.(B) A supervised licensee may not receive compensation from an activity requiring a real estate license from an entity or person other than the one for which the license is issued. A supervised licensee may form a business entity allowing the licensee's broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge to pay fees or commissions to that entity if the principals in that entity hold an active real estate license.(C)(1) A licensed broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge shall establish and maintain a specific office location which must be accessible by the public, investigators, and inspectors during reasonable business hours.(2) A broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge may maintain one or more offices at different locations. Each office must be managed by a broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge who is licensed for that real estate brokerage firm's location. The same person may request to be licensed as broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge of more than one office if the broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge making the request acknowledges in writing that the applicant understands the duties and can fully assume the responsibility to ensure compliance with this chapter.(3) A licensee may not conduct real estate business under another name or at an address other than the one for which his license is issued. Alternative names may be utilized following confirmation of registration of the name with the commission.(4) In the event of the medical incapacitation of a broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge which precludes him from carrying out the duties of a broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge as required in this chapter, or in the event of the death of a broker-in-charge or a property manager-in-charge, the department may permit a supervised licensee to act as broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge for up to six months.(D)(1) A broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge shall for a minimum of five years maintain and furnish to the commission upon request a written copy, when applicable, of a:(b) contract of sale and any addenda;(c) listing contract or buyer agency agreement;(d) transaction broker agreement;(f) property management agreement; and(g) residential property disclosure form.(2) These records may be maintained electronically as long as a backup copy is stored in a separate, off-site location including, but not limited to, electronic and Internet, cloud-based storage systems.(E)(1) A licensee may not advertise, market, or offer to conduct a real estate transaction involving real estate owned, in whole or in part, by another person without first obtaining a written listing agreement between the property owner and the real estate brokerage firm with whom the licensee is associated. However, the signature of the owner of real estate is not required for a sublease agreement involving real estate if the lease allows for subletting. Licensees not associated with the listing brokerage firm may advertise real estate owned, in whole or in part, by another person only if they have written authorization from the listing brokerage firm and acknowledge the listing brokerage firm in the advertisement in a clear and conspicuous way. Authorization may be contained and obtained from the owner through the listing agreement.The advertising and marketing of real property is to be distinguished from the advertising and marketing of a contractual position in a sales agreement to purchase real estate. An advertisement that markets a contractual position to acquire real property from a person with either equitable or legal title and does not imply, suggest, or purport to sell, advertise, or market the underlying real property is permissible under this section.
(2) When advertising his real estate services or marketing real estate owned, in whole or in part, by another person in any medium, a licensee clearly must: (a) Identify the full name of the real estate brokerage firm with which the licensee is employed and supervised in accordance with regulations.(b) If advertising on the Internet or in another electronic media, the above requirements may be met by including a link from the advertisement to the homepage of the brokerage firm or property management company.(3) If a real estate brokerage firm operates under a trade or franchise name, the identity of the franchisee or holder of the trade name clearly must be revealed.(F)(1) A licensee clearly shall reveal his license status in a personal transaction involving the purchase, sale, exchange, rental, lease, or auction of real estate:(a) at first substantive contact with a consumer;(b) in advertising or marketing in any media; and(c) in bold, underlined, capital letters on the first page of a contract for the purchase, sale, exchange, rental, or lease of real property.(2) Trust funds received in a licensee's personal rental or transaction must be deposited in the licensee's personal trust account and may not be deposited in the real estate brokerage firm's trust account unless the real property is managed, listed, or owned by the real estate brokerage firm.(G) No licensee, either directly or indirectly, may buy for his own account or for a corporation or another business in which he holds an interest or for a close relative, real estate listed with him or real estate for which he has been approached by the seller or prospective buyer to act as agent, without first making his true position clearly known in writing to all parties involved. Upon request of the department, the licensee shall provide evidence of having made this disclosure.(H) With regard to offers to purchase real estate, a licensee shall: (1) upon receipt, prepare all offers in writing and promptly present them to the seller;(2) upon obtaining a written acceptance of an offer, promptly deliver true, executed copies to all parties;(3) ensure that all of the terms and conditions of the transaction are included in the offer to purchase; and(4) ensure that changes or modifications made during negotiations are in writing and initialed and dated by both parties before proceeding with the transaction.(I)(1) A licensee shall properly complete an agency agreement, transaction broker agreement, offer, and counteroffer.(2) A listing or buyer's representation agreement must be in writing and must set forth all material terms of the parties' agency relationship including, but not limited to:(a) a description of the agent's duties or services to be performed for the client including, but not limited to, an explanation of the office policy regarding dual agency, designated agency, and transaction brokerage if offered by the real estate brokerage firm;(b) the amount of compensation to be paid if a flat fee or the method to be used in calculating the amount of compensation to be paid;(c) an explanation of how and when compensation is earned;(d) an explanation of how compensation will be divided among participating or cooperating brokers, if applicable;(e) the amount of retainer fees, deposits, or any other money collected before the agent's performance of a service on behalf of the client and an explanation of conditions, if any, in which such monies are refundable or payable to or on behalf of the client;(f) the duration of the agency relationship, setting forth specific dates for the beginning and ending of the relationship;(g) the signatures of all parties;(h) a listing agreement or buyer's representation agreement clearly must state that it terminates on the definite expiration date unless a written extension is signed;(i) a listing agreement or buyer's representation agreement clearly must state, if applicable, that it is either an "exclusive agency" listing or buyer's representation agreement or "exclusive right to represent" listing contract or "exclusive right to represent" buyer's representation contract;(j) a listing agreement or buyer's representation agreement must clearly specify an exception or variation in an amount of commission to be paid and circumstances that would apply;(k) a copy of the listing or buyer's representation agreement must be given to the seller or buyer at the time of, or directly following, signing; and(l) a buyer's representation agreement must provide an adequate property description of the type of property of interest to the buyer and a price or price range for property of interest to the buyer. A listing agreement must have a legal description of the listed property or a description sufficient to identify the listed property and state the price of the listed property.(3) If there are no clients involved in the transaction, a real estate brokerage firm acting as a transaction broker shall complete a compensation agreement to be signed by the agent and the compensating party. This agreement must contain the amount of the compensation and identify the party responsible for payment.(4) The broker-in-charge shall ensure that supervised licensees prepare all offers and counteroffers in writing, have them dated and signed by the offerors, and promptly present them to the offerees or the offerees' representative and ensure that:(a) changes or modifications made during negotiations are in writing and initialed and dated by both parties before proceeding with the transaction;(b) all of the terms and conditions of the transaction are included in the offer to purchase; and(c) if supervised licensees obtain a written acceptance of an offer or counteroffer, true, executed copies will be promptly delivered to all parties.(5) If an offer is rejected without counter, an offer rejection form, promulgated by the commission, signed by the licensee affirming presentation of the offer must be provided to the offeror by the licensee within forty-eight hours of rejection, whether the agent of the buyer, the seller, or if acting as a transaction broker.(6) An offer and counteroffer may be communicated by use of a fax or other secure electronic means including, but not limited to, the Internet, and the signatures, initials, and handwritten or typewritten modifications to the foregoing documents are considered valid and binding upon the parties as if the original signatures, initials, and handwritten, or typewritten modifications were present on the documents in the handwriting of each party.(7) If a licensee wishes to purchase real estate listed with his brokerage firm, the broker-in-charge shall ensure that the licensee shall first make his true position clearly known in writing to all parties involved. Upon request of the commission, the broker-in-charge shall provide evidence of the licensee having made this disclosure, including:(a) purchases made directly or indirectly by the licensee;(b) purchases made for the licensee's own account or for a corporation or another business in which the licensee holds an interest or purchases made for a close relative; and(c) real estate for which the licensee has been approached by the seller or prospective buyer to act as agent.(8) In order for a real estate brokerage firm to claim a fee for the sale of a listed property to a supervised licensee, a separate written agreement signed by the seller client must acknowledge the purchaser as a licensee affiliated with the real estate brokerage firm and recognize the right of the seller to not pay the brokerage fee.(9) An agreement regarding residential real estate that is to be in effect for greater than one year and either expressly or impliedly purports to do any of the following is unenforceable and is considered to be done in bad faith, and a licensee involved in such an agreement is subject to disciplinary action by the commission:(a) the agreement runs with the land or binds future owners or heirs of the residential real estate;(b) the agreement allows for assignment of the right to provide service without notice to and consent of the owner of residential real estate; or(c) the agreement creates a lien, encumbrance, or other real property security interest, or is otherwise recorded.(10) The following are not prohibited by subsection (9) and remain enforceable: (a) a home warranty or other type of similar product that covers the cost of maintenance of a major housing system, such as plumbing or electrical wiring, for a fixed period;(b) an insurance contract;(c) an option or right of refusal to purchase the residential real estate;(d) a declaration created in the formation of a homeowners association or similar organization;(e) a maintenance or repair agreement entered by a homeowners association or similar organization;(f) a mortgage loan or a commitment to make or receive a mortgage loan;(g) a security agreement under the Uniform Commercial Code relating to the sale or rental of personal property or fixtures; or(h) water, sewer, electrical, telephone, cable, or other regulated utility service providers.(J) A real estate brokerage firm shall manage residential and commercial real estate under a written management agreement that shall set forth, at a minimum: (1) the names and signatures of authorized parties to the agreement;(2) the property identification;(3) the method of compensation to the licensee;(4) that a management agreement may not contain an automatic renewal clause or provision unless the management agreement also contains a clause or provision that allows either party to cancel the management agreement for any cause or no cause with thirty days' notice after the original definite expiration date;(5) compensation for a future lease renewal by tenants, and if included, the contract must contain a clause in underlined capital letters on the first page providing for such future compensation; and(6) terms and conditions of tenant rental or lease arrangements. However, a management agreement may not contain a provision binding the property under a future listing agreement if the property is to be sold in the future, in which case a separate listing agreement is required.(K) For all types of real estate transactions, including leases and sales, an unlicensed employee of the owner or an unlicensed individual working under the supervision of a broker-in-charge or a property manager-in-charge may not: (1) discuss, negotiate, or explain a contract, listing agreement, buyer agency agreement, lease, agreement, property management agreement, or other real estate document;(2) vary or deviate from the rental price or other terms and conditions previously established by the owner or licensee when supplying relevant information concerning the rental of property;(3) approve applications or leases or settle or arrange the terms and conditions of a lease;(4) indicate to the public that the unlicensed individual is in a position of authority which has the managerial responsibility of the rental property;(5) conduct or host an open house or manage an on-site sales or leasing office;(6) show real property for sale other than vacant units in a multifamily building;(7) answer questions regarding company listings, title, financing, and closing issues, except for information that is otherwise publicly available;(8) be paid solely on the basis of real estate activity including, but not limited to, a percentage of commission or an amount based on the listing or sales compensation or commission;(9) negotiate or agree to compensation or commission including, but not limited to, commission splits, management fees, or referral fees on behalf of a licensee; or(10) engage in an activity requiring a real estate license as required and defined by this chapter.(L) A licensee is not required to maintain records of communications that are not designated to be retained or to create a permanent record such as text messages, instant messaging system-formatted messages, voicemail, voice recordings, or social media posts.Amended by 2024 S.C. Acts, Act No. 204 (HB 4754),s 3, eff. 5/21/2024.Amended by 2016 S.C. Acts, Act No. 170 (SB 1013), s 1, eff. 1/1/2017.2004 Act No. 218, Sections 1 to 12; 2000 Act No. 285, Sections 1 to 3; 1997 Act No. 24, Section 1.