§ 10-6A-8 - Duties of broker engaged by tenant
O.C.G.A. 10-6A-8 (2010)
10-6A-8. Duties of broker engaged by tenant
(a) A broker engaged by a tenant shall:
(1) Perform the terms of the brokerage engagement made with the tenant;
(2) Promote the interests of the tenant by:
(A) Seeking a property to lease at a price and terms acceptable to the tenant; provided, however, the broker shall not be obligated to seek other properties for the tenant while the tenant is a party to a lease or a letter of intent to lease unless the brokerage engagement so provides;
(B) Timely presenting all offers to and from the tenant, even when the tenant is a party to a lease or a letter of intent to lease;
(C) Disclosing to the tenant adverse material facts of which the broker has actual knowledge concerning the transaction;
(D) Advising the tenant to obtain expert advice as to material matters which are beyond the expertise of the broker; and
(E) Timely accounting for all money and property received in which the tenant has or may have an interest;
(3) Exercise ordinary skill and care in performing the duties set forth in this subsection and such other duties as may be agreed to by the parties;
(4) Comply with all requirements of this chapter and all applicable statutes and regulations, including but not limited to fair housing and civil rights statutes; and
(5) Keep confidential all information received by the broker during the course of the engagement which is made confidential by an express request or instruction from the tenant unless the tenant permits such disclosure by subsequent word or conduct, or such disclosure is required by law; provided, however, that disclosures between a broker and any of the broker's affiliated licensees assisting the broker in representing the seller shall not be deemed to breach the duty of confidentiality described above.
(b) A broker engaged by a tenant shall timely disclose to a prospective landlord with whom the broker is working all adverse material facts actually known by the broker concerning the tenant's financial ability to perform the terms of the lease or letter of intent to lease or intent to occupy the property. Brokers shall not knowingly give prospective landlords false information; provided, however, that a broker shall not be liable to a landlord for providing false information to the landlord if the broker did not have actual knowledge that the information was false and the broker discloses to the landlord the source of the information. Nothing in this subsection shall limit any obligation of the prospective tenant under any applicable law to disclose to a prospective landlord all adverse material facts actually known by the tenant concerning the tenant's financial ability to perform the terms of the lease or letter of intent to lease or intent to occupy the property. No cause of action shall arise on behalf of any person against a broker for revealing information in compliance with this subsection. No broker shall be liable for failure to disclose any matter other than those matters enumerated in this subsection. Violations of this subsection shall not create liability on the part of the broker absent a finding of fraud on the part of the broker.
(c) A broker engaged by a tenant in a real estate transaction may provide assistance to the landlord by performing such ministerial acts of the type described in Code Section 10-6A-14; and performing such ministerial acts shall not be construed to violate the broker's brokerage engagement with the tenant nor shall performing such ministerial acts for the landlord be construed to form a brokerage engagement with the landlord.
(d) A broker engaged by a tenant does not breach any duty or obligation by showing properties in which the tenant is interested to other prospective tenants.