Q: May two real estate brokerages share office space?
A: Yes. Although there is no specific provision in the real estate license law which would prohibit two brokerage firm’s from sharing office space the company’s should make all efforts to keep their businesses completely separate from each other in order to avoid creating an ostensible partnership.
If the public perceives that the brokers or the brokerages are working together as one entity, an ostensible partnership (an agency relationship that arises by the actions of the parties rather than by an agreement) may be created. If an ostensible partnership is created, each broker or brokerage may be exposed to the other’s liability.
Additionally, each real estate brokerage must comply with the office requirements of Section 475.22 Florida Statutes, including maintaining an office entrance sign on or about the office entrance that is easily observed and read by any person about to enter the office.