Brokerage Contract Expired in Quebec: What to Do
Your brokerage contract has ended and your home hasn't sold: the checks to make (end date, 180-day protection) and the options open to you.
Your brokerage contract has reached its end and your home hasn't sold. You are no longer bound in the same way, but some things may still apply. Before deciding what comes next, a few checks are in order. This guide walks through them using the OACIQ's public pages.
In brief
- First check the end date written in the contract: if no date is given, an exclusive contract expires 30 days after it was made, according to the OACIQ.
- After an exclusive contract ends, the broker or agency may be entitled to a commission if the property is sold within 180 days to a person who was interested during the contract.
- A contract can be extended or amended with the Modifications form: duration, selling price, and so on.
- You have several options: renew, change strategy, change broker or pause the sale.
- Ask your broker to explain in writing what applies to your situation.
1. Confirm your contract's end date
The contract's term is set with your broker and written in the "Purpose and term of the contract" section. According to the OACIQ, if no date or time is given for the term, the contract expires 30 days after it was made. Find your signed copy, as well as any Modifications forms: an extension may have been agreed along the way.
2. Understand what may still apply
According to the OACIQ, the broker or agency may be entitled to a commission if the residential property is sold, exchanged or leased, as the case may be, within 180 days of the end of the brokerage contract to a person who was interested during the term of the contract stated to be exclusive.
In practice, this means a sale concluded after the contract ends can still have consequences if the buyer showed interest during the contract. The precise terms depend on your contract: ask your broker to explain them in writing, and feel free to contact Info OACIQ, the organization's information centre, if needed.
3. Review how the property was marketed
- How long was the property on the market?
- Was the price adjusted, and when?
- How many showings took place, and what feedback was received?
- Where was the listing published?
- Which comparable properties sold in the meantime, and at what price?
This review is useful whatever comes next: it avoids repeating the same strategy, and it helps a possible new broker start from the right information.
4. Choose what comes next
Renew with the same broker
This is an option if the working relationship went well and the strategy truly changes: price, presentation, exposure. The OACIQ notes that a broker may amend the contract over time, for example to extend its term or change the selling price, using the Modifications form.
Switch broker
You are free to choose another broker once your contract has ended. Keep in mind the 180-day protection described above, and read our guide on switching broker for cases where the contract is still running.
Pause the sale
Taking the property off the market while you prepare a new listing is also a legitimate decision, especially if improvements are needed. There is no universal waiting period before relaunching.
Sell it yourself
According to the OACIQ, selling it yourself while an exclusive contract is in force is only possible if the contract was amended to allow it, at the broker's discretion. Once the contract has ended, the situation depends on what the protection clause provides: check it before acting.
Frequently asked questions
My contract has expired: can I sign with another broker right away?
Once the contract has ended, you can in principle sign with another broker. Before doing so, check the 180-day protection and ask your former broker to explain in writing what applies.
What happens if I sell during the protection period?
The broker or agency may be entitled to a commission if the property is sold within 180 days to a person who was interested during the term of the exclusive contract. The details depend on your contract: ask for them in writing and, if needed, consult the OACIQ.
My contract ended without my noticing. What should I do?
Reread the section on the term, check the Modifications forms and confirm the end date with your broker or the agency. It is better to do this before signing anything new.
Read next
Sources, method and limits
This guide is for information only. It is not legal advice and does not replace your broker's guidance, and it promises no sale, price or timeline. Points of law come from public pages of the OACIQ (Quebec's real estate brokerage self-regulatory organization), consulted on October 21, 2026, and may change: always check the current version and the wording of your own contract.
Sources: OACIQ, "Termination of a brokerage contract" (updated June 16, 2025) and Seller's Guide, "Your Brokerage Contract – Sale" (contract term, Modifications form, selling it yourself), pages consulted on October 21, 2026 (in French).
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