February 6, 1996

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 96-8

Jean Duncan
Executive Director
Kansas Real Estate Commission
Three Townsite Plaza, Suite 200
Topeka, Kansas 66603-3511

Re:

Personal and Real Property--Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons; Brokerage Relationships--Disclosure of Agency Relationship

Synopsis:

K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110(a) pertains to a licensee's use of the "disclosure of alternative agency relationships" form with a prospective buyer or seller client in a real estate transaction. It does not require a licensee to furnish such disclosure form to a prospective landlord or tenant client. Cited herein: K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,101; 58-30,103; 58-30,110.

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Dear Ms. Duncan:

As executive director of the Kansas real estate commission, you request our opinion concerning whether K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110(a) requires a licensee to furnish a "disclosure of alternative agency relationships" form to a prospective landlord or tenant client.

The 1995 legislature enacted the brokerage relationships in real estate transactions act, K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,101 et seq. which became effective January 1, 1996. Within that act K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,103(c) provides:

"Before an agency agreement is signed, the broker or affiliated licensee shall advise the prospective buyer or seller of alternative agency relationships pursuant to K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110."

K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110(a)(1) requires the commission to adopt a rule and regulation prescribing the language for a "disclosure of alternative agency relationships" form to advise a prospective buyer or seller of any alternative agency relationships. Section (a)(2) of K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110 permits the disclosure form to be either a separate document or contained within the agency agreement. With some specified exceptions, section (a)(3) of K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110 requires a licensee to furnish a prospective buyer or seller with a copy of the disclosure form at the first occurrence of either a face-to-face meeting with a prospective buyer or seller, or a written communication from the licensee.

You ask whether a licensee is also required to furnish this disclosure form to a prospective landlord or tenant client. While some provisions of the brokerage relationships in real estate transactions act are applicable to a licensee who represents a landlord or a tenant, in our opinion section (a) of K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110 is not one of those provisions. By clear and unambiguous language, K.S.A. 1995 Supp. 58-30,110(a) pertains to a licensee's use of the "disclosure of alternative agency relationships" form with a prospective buyer or seller client in a real estate transaction. It does not require a licensee to furnish such disclosure form to a prospective landlord or tenant client.

Very truly yours,

CARLA J. STOVALL
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS

Camille Nohe
Assistant Attorney General

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