Jennifer, a real estate associate in St. Albert, enters into a written Designated Agency Residential Seller Brokerage Agreement with her client, Robert. The agreement specifies that Jennifer is the sole designated agent for Robert for a period of six months. Robert later attempts to list his property with another brokerage's associate without terminating his agreement with Jennifer's brokerage. What principle is Robert violating?

Question: Jennifer, a real estate associate in St. Albert, enters into a written Designated Agency Residential Seller Brokerage Agreement with her client, Robert. The agreement specifies that Jennifer is the sole designated agent for Robert for a period of six months. Robert later attempts to list his property with another brokerage's associate without terminating his agreement with Jennifer's brokerage. What principle is Robert violating?

Answer options:

• The Dower Act.
• The federal mortgage stress test.
• The common law duty of loyalty owing to Jennifer's brokerage. ✅ The exclusive nature of his sole agency agreement with Jennifer's brokerage.

Correct answer: The exclusive nature of his sole agency agreement with Jennifer's brokerage.

Explanation: Robert is violating the exclusive nature of his sole agency agreement. A sole agency agreement grants the designated agent and their brokerage the exclusive right to represent the client for a specified period, and the client agrees not to engage another agent during that term. This is a fundamental aspect of 'sole agency' as defined in brokerage agreements under RECA Rules.