Landlord here, my tenant's broker claims her last 1/2 of commission is owed based on a verbal agreement between me and my tenant.
Broker thinks she's owed the last commission payment 2 weeks earlier than our lease agreement states. The 1st of 2 payments was paid upon signing the lease and 2nd payment is due upon rent commencing on January 1st, 2020. 

Backstory -

The tenant was originally provided 3 abated months in exchange for improvements he's paid for. The two of us made an agreement to abate another month based on an equipment/rent trade - without informing our brokers. This was strictly a verbal agreement and my guess is she was told about it, however my tenant says he knows nothing about her claims.

For whatever reason, his broker swears that rent commenced upon this agreement and is demanding the last commission. She considers our arrangement as a pre-payment, but I think she has no basis for her claim.

She demanded payment immediately, which I don't have because the due date is still 2 weeks away. She's threatening to file a broker's lien, even though the lease agreement says payment isn't due.

This is strictly her interpretation and my broker is telling me to ignore her and pay on the due date.

Can she demand her commission now or is this just an idle threat?

UPDATE: Yesterday she threatened to file the lien if she didn't receive my wire transfer by 3pm. I never replied, so this morning she asked for my attorney's info, didn't respond.

And she just sent a new generic email with wire instructions, bypassing our previous email altogether.

😂
[{"id": "fb5dr8u", "text": "Also, if this was case, my brokers would expect their commission and they don't interpret it as a pre-payment.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb5e058", "text": "She\u2019s trying to get her $$$ at a higher in house split", "replies": [{"id": "fb5fftc", "text": "We're in Texas and her lien filing has to be rock solid, meeting nearly 10 distinct things, so even messing up the smallest of details voids her claim. Also, the fact there is no document signed by any party supporting her claim would suffice in my view.\n\nShe's also bordering on harrassing me by email and phone with her demands.", "replies": [{"id": "fb5fpb4", "text": "She will get paid in 2 weeks, ignore her.", "replies": [{"id": "fb5nuxm", "text": "That's the plan, she can waste her time and legal expenses, but she's getting paid and will have to release any lien that may go into effect.", "replies": [{"id": "fb5qu90", "text": "Let her know that's the case, people are getting bad advice sometimes.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "fb6gmb7", "text": "Talk to your listing agent and have them tell her to back off also. Your agent might also have direct access to her managing broker.", "replies": [{"id": "fb8atng", "text": "I spoke to my broker, she's been a pain in the ass with them and he doesn't want to waste the time.", "replies": [{"id": "fb8ckz8", "text": "I\u2019m sorry. As a broker myself that is just wrong.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "fb5h06y", "text": "That's exactly the case, but if she is consistent year to year it shouldn't matter.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb5fwwi", "text": "Probably wants her $$ before the holidays.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb5j7el", "text": "She can threaten what she wants, tell her she will be paid in two weeks once you get rent from her client. Then pay them in 2 weeks. \n\nVery normal and common to wait for commissions to be paid until rent commences. \n\nFiling a lien isnt going to get her the money any faster and just be a hassle.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb5mprb", "text": "So wait... The lease provided abatement for October, November, and December, and now you are providing abatement for January as well? How are you going to have the 2nd half of the commission to give her in 2 weeks if they still aren't going to pay you in 2 weeks?", "replies": [{"id": "fb5npmy", "text": "I have a loan scheduled to be closing this week.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb5shw4", "text": "I've never heard that before.  tell broker go fuck himself", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb5umsq", "text": "If it works out in your benefit, offer to pay her early but discount it by a certain amount (20%).", "replies": [{"id": "fb5woys", "text": "This is the only necessary response in the thread.  Well put.", "replies": [{"id": "fb6h85b", "text": "I\u2019m a broker.  I know the ropes.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "fb8bdkl", "text": "Good idea, but not feasible at the moment.", "replies": [{"id": "fb8bgpe", "text": "I\u2019m happy to discuss the situation on the phone for a few if you think that could be helpful.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb6m4fb", "text": "They probably want it now so they can have the commissions hit this year thus helping them qualify for something like a loan....", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fb7hidq", "text": "If its a verbal agreement it depends since you have a written contract. Whats called the \"parol evidencr rule\" in contract law is that parties wouldnt be able to use evidence outside the written contract (ie. Verbal agreement) to contradict the written contract especially if its the final writing. Id still suggest speaking with an attorney if the commission they want is rather large because an attorney would get a better look at your situation.", "replies": [{"id": "fb8bnou", "text": "She wasn't a party to the discussion and it was settled with a handshake.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fbbucsg", "text": "Let me guess, she started out in Residential and is now 'also doing commercial deals'. Let her bitch and moan, try not to work with her again.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]