DRE Compliance Checklist for Property Managers
A practical checklist for California property management companies using BOR services.
Short Answer
California property managers should maintain broker supervision, complete files, trust fund records, advertising review, license rosters, complaint records, and written compliance procedures. The checklist below is a practical starting point, not legal advice.
Checklist
- Verify the supervising broker license through the California DRE public license lookup.
- Maintain written policies for file review, advertising review, trust fund handling, and escalation procedures.
- Keep complete property management agreements, leases, notices, disclosures, and owner communications.
- Document trust fund handling for rents, security deposits, owner disbursements, and reimbursements.
- Reconcile trust accounts and maintain records that support deposits, withdrawals, and balances.
- Review advertising for broker identity, license information, accuracy, and required disclosures.
- Maintain an agent or licensee roster with current DRE license numbers.
- Track complaints, disputes, litigation, and DRE correspondence in a central compliance file.
- Use current forms and retain signed documentation in a consistent file system.
- Schedule periodic internal file reviews before a complaint, audit, or regulator request occurs.
Priority Areas
Trust Funds
Client funds require careful accounting, broker control, and records that support every movement of money.
Files
Management, leasing, and transaction documents should be complete, signed, retained, and easy to produce.
Advertising
Marketing should be accurate and should identify the licensed broker relationship where required.
Complaints
Keep a documented process for responding to consumer, owner, tenant, and DRE inquiries.
Official References
Need Compliance Oversight?
Loom Realty includes DRE compliance oversight in its Broker of Record service tiers.