OPLC announces new policy
on transfer of brokerages
Over the past several months, applications to transfer a salesperson’s affiliation to a new brokerage have experienced significant delays — often taking four to six weeks to process. During this period, it was unclear whether a licensed salesperson could continue to practice, creating unnecessary uncertainty and potential financial hardship.
The New Hampshire Association of Realtors raised these concerns with both the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) and the Real Estate Commission. NHAR argued that a licensed professional’s ability to earn a living should not be curtailed due to administrative delays and immediate action was required.
On April 6, NHAR formally requested that OPLC revise its processing procedures for affiliation transfers. You can read the full letter here.
On April 14, OPLC issued guidance clarifying that, in compliance with Rea 404.02, a license transfer is effective upon notification to OPLC — provided the Real Estate Commission Transfer/Activation Form is submitted within five days of the change in Principal Broker and the applicable fee is paid.
Importantly, this clarification applies only to transfers of affiliation and does not extend to initial licensing. You can watch a synopsis of the change from NHAR Legal Counsel Matt Johnson by clicking here.
NHAR continues to engage with OPLC and the Real Estate Commission to address ongoing delays in processing initial license applications. Our additional concerns include the lack of readily accessible public information regarding a salesperson’s brokerage affiliation and ensuring that licensees are not penalized for renewal delays caused by the implementation of OPLC’s new licensing portal. READ MORE
