Designated Agency

Designated Agency is the standard agency model in BC under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA), SBC 2004, c. 42, and the RESA Rules administered by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). In this model, a specific licensee within a brokerage is designated to represent a client, rather than the entire brokerage acting as the agent. This structure helps manage conflicts of interest when multiple clients within the same brokerage have competing interests in a transaction. Verify current BCFSA Rules and your brokerage's policies with a BC lawyer, notary, or your managing broker before acting.

Under RESA and the RESA Rules, the brokerage's managing broker or another authorized person within the brokerage designates the specific licensee to represent the client. The designation is documented in the Client Service Agreement or Representation Agreement required under BCFSA Rules. The designated agent owes fiduciary duties to that specific client, not to other clients represented by colleagues in the same brokerage. Verify your brokerage's internal designation process and documentation requirements with your managing broker or a BC lawyer.

No. Under BC's Designated Agency model (RESA and RESA Rules), only your designated agent owes you full fiduciary duties including loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure, obedience, and reasonable care. Other licensees in the same brokerage do not owe you those duties and may represent other clients with competing interests, such as the seller if you are the buyer. The brokerage itself must maintain policies to protect confidential client information between designated agents. Verify the scope of your agent's duties and the brokerage's confidentiality policies with a BC lawyer or notary before acting.

Yes, this is permitted under BC's Designated Agency model governed by RESA and the RESA Rules. One licensee is designated to represent the buyer and a different licensee in the same brokerage is designated to represent the seller. Each designated agent owes fiduciary duties only to their own client, and the brokerage must have policies to prevent confidential information from being shared between the two agents. This arrangement must be disclosed to both clients in writing. Verify disclosure requirements and conflict-management procedures with your managing broker or a BC lawyer before proceeding.

Under RESA and RESA Rules, Dual Agency occurs when the same licensee attempts to represent both buyer and seller in the same transaction, which significantly limits the agent's ability to advocate for either party and requires informed written consent. Designated Agency, by contrast, assigns separate licensees within the brokerage to each client, preserving each agent's ability to advocate fully for their respective client and maintaining fiduciary duties. Designated Agency is the standard residential model in BC; Dual Agency is rare and heavily regulated. Verify the distinctions and consent requirements with a BC lawyer or notary before entering any agency relationship.

Under RESA, the RESA Rules, and BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), SBC 2003, c. 63, your designated agent must keep your confidential information (such as your maximum price, motivation, or financial details) private and not disclose it to other licensees in the brokerage or to other parties without your consent. The brokerage is required to maintain policies and procedures, often called "ethical walls" or information barriers, to prevent confidential information from being shared between designated agents representing different clients. Verify your brokerage's specific confidentiality policies and information-barrier practices with your managing broker or a BC lawyer before disclosing sensitive information.

The Designated Agency relationship is established through a written Client Service Agreement (also called a Representation Agreement or Buyer/Seller Representation Agreement) as required by the RESA Rules administered by the BCFSA. This agreement must identify the designated agent, describe the services to be provided, specify the remuneration, and disclose any conflicts of interest or limits on the agent's duties. The agreement must be signed before the licensee provides trading services. Verify the contents of your specific agreement and any brokerage-specific terms with a BC lawyer or notary before signing.

Yes. Under BC's Designated Agency model (RESA and RESA Rules), your designated buyer's agent can show you properties listed by other licensees within the same brokerage. Each agent continues to owe fiduciary duties to their own client (you as buyer, or the seller in the listing), and the brokerage's information-barrier policies are designed to protect each party's confidential information. The situation must be disclosed to you in writing, and you should understand that the brokerage receives remuneration from both sides. Verify disclosure requirements and potential conflicts with your designated agent or a BC lawyer before viewing such properties.

Designated Agency practices are regulated by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA), which assumed regulatory oversight of real estate licensees on August 1, 2021 (as of 2026-07-27 — verify current), replacing the former Real Estate Council of BC. The BCFSA enforces the Real Estate Services Act (RESA), SBC 2004, c. 42, and the RESA Rules, which set out licensee conduct standards, disclosure obligations, and agency relationship requirements. Licensees who breach these rules may face discipline, including fines, suspension, or licence cancellation. Verify current BCFSA Rules, enforcement policies, and complaint procedures at www.bcfsa.ca or with a BC lawyer or notary.

If your designated agent leaves the brokerage during a transaction, the brokerage's managing broker must assign a new designated agent to represent you, or you may choose to terminate the representation agreement and retain a different brokerage, subject to the terms of your Client Service Agreement under RESA and the RESA Rules. The outgoing agent cannot take your file or confidential information to a new brokerage without your informed written consent, and all client records remain the property of the brokerage. Verify your rights, the assignment process, and any notice or termination provisions in your agreement with the managing broker or a BC lawyer before making a decision.