Switching Real Estate Broker in Quebec: What You Need to Know

Your home isn't selling and you wonder whether another broker would do better? The question is fair, and it is more regulated than people think. The answer depends on your brokerage contract, what it says and where you are in it. Here is what the OACIQ's public pages say, without interpretation on our part.

In brief

• Within three days of receiving your copy of the contract, you have a right of withdrawal: the contract cannot set it aside.
• After that, a residential brokerage contract can in principle be terminated by the client, but you may have to pay costs and expenses, or compensate the broker.
• A contract may state that it is "non-terminable": it then ends only by mutual agreement.
• When an exclusive contract ends, the broker may be entitled to a commission for a sale concluded within 180 days of its end to a person who was interested during its term.
• Above all, reread your contract and talk to your broker or the agency's executive officer.

Case 1: within three days of signing

For residential transactions, the Real Estate Brokerage Act gives the seller, despite any stipulation to the contrary, three days after receiving a copy of the contract to terminate it at their discretion by sending written notice to the broker or agency. This is the right of withdrawal. The OACIQ specifies that it is your right and that you cannot waive it.

Case 2: during the contract

Beyond those three days, a contract is in principle not meant to end before its set date. However, article 2125 of the Civil Code of Quebec provides that, for a service contract, the client may unilaterally terminate it at any time. The OACIQ's mandatory brokerage contract form reflects this in clause 2.1: the contract may be terminated at any time without reason by the seller, unless clause 11.1 provides otherwise.

That right may come at a price. According to the OACIQ, the seller may then have to pay the costs and expenses incurred by the agency or broker, or compensate them for any harm suffered. Article 2129 of the Civil Code of Quebec provides that the client must pay, in proportion to the agreed price, the actual costs and expenses and the value of the services rendered before the end of the contract, and may also be liable for any other harm. The OACIQ recommends agreeing in advance with the broker or agency on costs, expenses and any compensation paid.

The "non-terminable" contract

With the client's agreement, the agency or broker may make the contract non-terminable by adding, before signing, the statement "This contract is non-terminable" to clause 11.1. In that case, according to the OACIQ, the contract can only end by mutual agreement. Before signing, the broker must clearly inform the client of their legal right to terminate at any time and make sure they understand the consequences of giving up that right. So reread clause 11.1 of your contract.

When the broker changes agency

If, during your contract, your broker goes to work for another agency, the contract provides options: follow them to their new agency, stay with the same agency and change broker, or terminate the contract. The agency must notify you without delay and in writing.

Case 3: the contract reaches its end date

If your contract ends on its normal date, you are free to choose another broker for what comes next. Keep in mind the protection that applies after an exclusive contract ends: according to the OACIQ, the broker or agency may be entitled to a commission if the property is sold, exchanged or leased within 180 days of the end of the contract to a person who was interested during its term. Our guide on expired contracts details the checks to make.

Steps to follow to switch broker

1. Reread your contract: end date, clause 2.1, clause 11.1 (non-terminable?) and commission clauses.
2. Talk first to your broker, or to the agency's executive officer, who can be a good source of advice according to the OACIQ.
3. If you agree on ending the contract, have it set out in writing: date, any costs, what applies after the end.
4. If in doubt, contact Info OACIQ, the organization's information centre.
5. Before signing with a new broker, make sure the declaration in the contract is true: the property must not be subject to a contract with another broker.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I switch broker if I'm not satisfied?

In some cases, yes, but how you do it and what it implies depend on your contract. According to the OACIQ, the contract can in principle be terminated by the client unless it is stated to be non-terminable, and costs may apply.

Can the broker end the contract on their side?

According to the OACIQ, the broker cannot end their agreement with you before the end unless there are serious grounds, for example non-cooperation or obstruction that prevents them from meeting their obligations.

Can a new broker suggest that I break my contract?

Our diagnostic is not an invitation to end a contract in force. If your property is still covered by an exclusive brokerage contract, that contract remains in force until it ends or is terminated.

Read next

Why isn't my house selling?

Brokerage contract expired: what to do

Relaunching the sale of an unsold home

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", pages consulted on October 21, 2026 (in French). The Civil Code of Quebec is cited as reproduced by the OACIQ.