A realtor brought a client and the deal went through without him. Can a court force me to pay the commission?

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for reaching out with your inquiry.

In response to your question, under UAE law, the obligation to pay a realtor’s commission typically arises from an agreement between the parties, whether formal or informal.

While a written agreement is ideal, a court may still recognize an indirect confirmation (such as an email) as evidence of an agreement to pay the commission, particularly if it can be shown that the realtor played a role in facilitating the transaction.

In your case, even though there was no formal signed commission agreement, the email exchange confirming your intention to pay the commission may be deemed sufficient evidence of an agreement by the court.

If the realtor successfully introduced the client and the deal was completed, the court could likely rule that you are obligated to pay the commission.

However, regarding your dissatisfaction with the realtor’s conduct (i.e., trying to persuade you to sell at a lower price), it’s important to note that, unless there was a clear breach of duty or bad faith on the part of the realtor, it might not be enough to void the commission.

The court generally focuses on whether the realtor facilitated the transaction, rather than the quality of their service.

That said, if you believe the realtor’s actions were inappropriate or violated their duties, you may have grounds to dispute the amount of the commission or even the obligation to pay it.

I recommend reviewing any communications, including the email exchanges, to assess the strength of the case.

Please feel free to reach out should you have any further questions or need assistance with any next steps.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Greetings,

The obligation to pay the realtor’s commission depends on several legal factors, including whether a valid agreement—written or implied—exists.

While the lack of a signed commission form strengthens your position, indirect email confirmation could be considered evidence of an agreement.

Additionally, UAE courts assess whether the realtor fulfilled their role in securing the deal.

To evaluate your specific case and minimize legal risks, we recommend consulting a legal expert. Book a consultation with Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy today!

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If there is no signed contract and only indirect confirmation exists without clear terms, you might have grounds to contest the payment.

However, if evidence suggests that both parties acted under an assumption of an agreement (even informally), it could lead to a ruling in favor of the realtor.

Even without a formal, signed commission agreement, a court may recognize a verbal or implied contract.

Your email correspondence, even if indirect, can be considered as evidence of an agreement to pay a commission.

If you can prove that the realtor breached their duty of care by acting in the buyer's interest instead of yours, you may have grounds to reduce or avoid paying the commission.

The court's decision will depend heavily on the evidence presented by both parties. If you successfully prove the realtor's breach of duty, the court may reduce or deny the commission.

If you need further clarification, we will discuss more. Kindly share your WhatsApp number to proceed.