Following a thorough inspection of a seller's property, the seller tells a licensee that the roof had leaked periodically, but everything has been repainted and there have not been any leaks since. The seller also mentions that a roofing company recommended specific repairs to maintain a safe roof. The seller states she has no intention of disclosing this information, and will not allow the licensee to do so either. The licensee must

While it is true that the licensee has an obligation to disclose known defects, simply advising the seller without taking action does not resolve the ethical dilemma. The seller's refusal to disclose this information means that the licensee would still be faced with a conflict in fulfilling her duties to the buyer.

This choice would be unethical and potentially illegal. Following the seller's directions to withhold critical information about the roof's past leaks would compromise the licensee's professional responsibilities and could lead to liability for any resulting issues after the sale.

Although this option seems proactive, it undermines the seller's confidentiality and could breach the terms of the listing agreement. Disclosing the information without the seller's consent would not only be unethical but could also result in legal repercussions for the licensee.