When neighbors noticed unusual activity at a recently-sold home, officers were called. They found two people engaged in sexual activity. The woman claimed to be the new owner of the house and said the man was her husband. When asked for identification, police were led by the couple to their car, which smelled of marijuana. A subsequent search turned up a glass pipe and drugs. However, the investigation then took a surprising turn.
The woman was, in fact, the real estate agent who had, the day before, sold the house to new owners. She had met the unidentified man at the home for an evening rendezvous. The new homeowners, not impressed with the realtor’s late-night showing, are pressing charges for criminal trespass. Jonathan Martinez “Real estate agent accused of hooking up with a man inside home she sold” www.click2houston.com. (Aug. 22, 2016).
Commentary
The real estate agent in the above matter faces criminal trespassing, as well as breaking and entering charges. Having access to a house for professional reasons does not mean you have the right to be in the house for personal reasons. Whether this agent faces jail time will depend on whether the district attorney wants to press charges, but there is definitely a reason to do so, especially in light of the possible drug possession charges.
Even if the home was not sold, her being in the home for personal reasons; bringing a third-party to the home of a seller; or other activities beyond the scope of performing a home sale/purchase transaction can lead to liability, especially if the home is devalued because of the agent’s acts. Agents should never show or be in a home unless the purpose is to facilitate the sale/purchase of the home. Agents representing sellers must make sure they are aware of any showing, not only to keep their clients in the loop, but also to protect themselves against any claims that they did not meet their fiduciary obligations to show the home or that the showings were for some purpose other than selling the home.
*Hanover Insurance Group, February 2017.
