Transferring Information About an Apartment Provided by a Broker
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Question
A friend received an offer from a broker for an apartment, but in the end, he doesn't want it. Is it permissible for him to tell me details about the apartment and who the seller is, so I can reach the apartment owner without the broker and save on brokerage fees? (And is there a difference if he only hints to me and gives me partial details, and I find out through that?)
Answer
Shalom Rav
Any information that a person gives to his friend should not be passed on without permission, especially information that brokers are very particular about. Therefore, the friend should not pass on the information to you even as a hint. However, if you actually received the information, the payment is to the friend who gave you the information and not to the broker who gave the information to the friend, since he did no work for you.
Source
Yoma (4:), Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat, Siman 185, Se'if 10; Siman 264, Se'if 7).