In most Ontario listing agreements the holdover period runs somewhere between 60 and 90 days after the listing ends, though shorter and longer terms exist. There is no legal maximum set in stone, which is exactly why you need to check your own contract rather than assume a standard number. The holdover period is often the same length as, or tied to, the original listing term. A 90-day listing may carry a 90-day holdover. Always confirm the actual figure written on your agreement.

The holdover period is a term you can discuss before you sign the listing agreement, not a fixed rule handed down from above. If a proposed holdover feels long, you can ask for a shorter one. A reasonable agent will explain why the number is what it is and will not treat the question as a problem. If an agent refuses to discuss it at all, that tells you something about how the relationship will go.

The holdover window begins on the day your listing expires or is terminated, and runs forward for the number of days in your agreement. If your listing expired on the first of the month with a 60-day holdover, the window closes around the first of the month two months later. Mark that date. A sale that closes with a protected buyer inside that window can trigger the commission. A brand-new buyer with no connection to the listing, or the same protected buyer after the window has fully closed, generally does not.

The core trigger is a buyer who was shown the property or introduced to it during the listing term. That includes someone who attended an open house, booked a private showing, received the listing from their agent or otherwise came into contact with the home because it was on the market. If that person buys within the holdover window, the commission is generally owed. This is the situation to watch most carefully, because it is easy to think a returning buyer is a fresh private deal when the clause sees them as a protected buyer.

If, after your listing ends, you sell to a buyer who had no contact with the property during the listing, a neighbour who only decided to buy later, a relocating family who found the home through your new agent, the holdover clause generally has nothing to attach to. The clause protects the brokerage that introduced a buyer, not every future sale of the home. The wording of your specific agreement controls the details, so confirm rather than assume.

Many Ontario listing agreements include wording that protects you from paying two commissions. In broad terms, if you list the property with a new registered brokerage during the holdover period and sell through that new listing, the older brokerage's holdover claim is typically limited or waived so you are not billed twice for the same sale. This protection depends entirely on how your original agreement is worded, so do not rely on it blindly. Have your new agent review the old holdover language, and if there is any doubt, get a real estate lawyer to read it before you firm up a deal.

Before you sign any listing agreement, find the holdover period and read the number. Ask your agent to explain what it means in plain language and how it would apply if the listing did not sell. A good agent will walk you through it without hesitation. If the holdover feels too long for your comfort, ask to shorten it. Getting clarity at this stage costs nothing and prevents almost every unpleasant surprise later.

If your listing does not sell, your brokerage can usually provide a list of the buyers who were shown the property during the term. That list is exactly who the holdover protects. Knowing the names lets you make informed decisions afterward. If a private buyer approaches you after the listing ends, you can check whether they were among those introduced during the listing and factor the possible commission into any deal rather than being blindsided by an invoice.

If you and your brokerage agree to part ways cleanly, or the brokerage confirms it will not pursue a holdover claim, get that in writing before you move on. A verbal assurance is hard to rely on if a dispute arises later. A short written release confirming the listing is ended and no holdover claim will be made removes the ambiguity entirely. Reputable brokerages provide this without a fight when the situation calls for it.