It depends on what services your friend is providing in his property management. Under the Real Estate License Act, a license is required when a person handles the leasing of someone else’s property. Additionally, someone who controls the acceptance or deposit of rent for a single-family residential property on behalf of another person must be licensed.
A person controls the acceptance or deposit of rent if:
(1) The person has the authority to use the rent to pay for services related to management of the property; or
(2) The person has the authority to deposit the rent into a trust or bank account and sign checks or withdraw money from the account.
Source: TAR