When Does a Purchaser pay the Agent’s Commission?

Peter Mericka B.A., LL.BOPINION
by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B
Real Estate Consumer Advocate
Real Estate Lawyer
Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria
Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd
View Peter Mericka's profile on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter

Purchasers don’t expect to have to pay an estate agent’s commission, but what if the contract is booby-trapped with a special condition that requires the purchaser to indemnify the vendor?

We were asked to advise on a contract prepared by Davis Lawyers of Melbourne, for a property being sold through Edward Letico Real Estate. It would appear that the vendor was concerned about the possible involvement of another estate agent, and feared having to pay two commissions. Here is the special condition that Davis Lawyers added to the contract:

“INDEMNITY RE ESTATE AGENT

The purchaser warrants that he has not been introduced to the vendor or to the property directly or indirectly by any Real Estate Agent other than the Agent herein described or other person who might be entitled to claim commission from the vendor in respect of this sale and the purchaser shall indemnify, and keep indemnified the vendor, at all times, notwithstanding settlement hereof from and against any claim or liability for commission or loss or damages resulting from a breach of this warranty.”

Our advice to the purchaser was that this special condition would have to be struck out in its entirety. Alternatively, the purchaser would have to remember exactly how he came to be aware that the property was for sale, and to be in a position to prove that this was how he was “introduced” to the property, because if he had read an advertisement, sign or Internet listing prepared by an estate agent other than the estate agent named in the contract, then he could end up paying many thousands of dollars in estate agent’s commission.

We have asked Davies Lawyers how they would advise a purchaser in such circumstances. We will post their response in due course.

To post your comment on this item, please return to

/2007/06/28/when-does-a-purchaser-pay-the-agent-s-commission/[/AREB Comments]

Categorised in: