We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Estate Agent not passed offer on

maizie_moo
Posts: 56 Forumite
We have just found out from a prospective purchaser that they put an offer forward for our house about 2/3 weeks (an offer which would have been acceptable to us) but we have never been advised by the EA! They called round to our house to find out why we haven't responded, but obviously this is the first we have heard of it.
As it happens, because we have not been happy with the feedback generally from the EA, we cancelled our contract and it expired yesterday. We are scheduled to start a new contract tomorrow with another EA. Needless to say the prospective purchaser has been somewhat p*ssed off and won't now commit.
What re-dress we do now have with the EA who failed to forward our offer?
Any advice please?
As it happens, because we have not been happy with the feedback generally from the EA, we cancelled our contract and it expired yesterday. We are scheduled to start a new contract tomorrow with another EA. Needless to say the prospective purchaser has been somewhat p*ssed off and won't now commit.
What re-dress we do now have with the EA who failed to forward our offer?
Any advice please?
0
Comments
-
maizie_moo wrote:We have just found out from a prospective purchaser that they put an offer forward for our house about 2/3 weeks (an offer which would have been acceptable to us) but we have never been advised by the EA! They called round to our house to find out why we haven't responded, but obviously this is the first we have heard of it.
As it happens, because we have not been happy with the feedback generally from the EA, we cancelled our contract and it expired yesterday. We are scheduled to start a new contract tomorrow with another EA. Needless to say the prospective purchaser has been somewhat p*ssed off and won't now commit.
What re-dress we do now have with the EA who failed to forward our offer?
Any advice please?
Do they belong to the NAEA? If so you could complain to them. It would be very interesting to see if anything happens about it. Though I would predict that nothing would happen.0 -
We didn't think to check this when we went with them, but having checked the N.A.E.A. website, their name is not logged. So I assume they are not members.0
-
maizie_moo wrote:We didn't think to check this when we went with them, but having checked the N.A.E.A. website, their name is not logged. So I assume they are not members.
Might be worth talking to Trading Standards in your area. Even if they are not the right people to talk to, they can probably advise you who to talk to.
I heard that Trading Standards in my area did prosecute local EAs for bait and switch tactics.0 -
Without wishing to jump to the aid of an estate agent (as in general I'm not a massive fan!), could it be that the EA hadn't put the offer forward as the buyers don't have the funds in place? I gather that agents do vet potential buyers to ensure they can actually afford a property. Maybe try getting your EA's side of the story - although I'd have expected them to at least let you know an offer had been put forward, but what the reason is they think they are unsuitable if this is the case.0
-
garbadine wrote:Without wishing to jump to the aid of an estate agent (as in general I'm not a massive fan!), could it be that the EA hadn't put the offer forward as the buyers don't have the funds in place? I gather that agents do vet potential buyers to ensure they can actually afford a property. Maybe try getting your EA's side of the story - although I'd have expected them to at least let you know an offer had been put forward, but what the reason is they think they are unsuitable if this is the case.
I've never seen it said that there are circumstances where an offer should not be passed on. Only that all offers should be passed on.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2946170.stm
Can you produce documentation showing that it is acceptable for an EA to not pass on an offer?0 -
As a bit of background, we have only had one viewing, this couple. They telephoned us with an offer, far too low so we rejected it. They then formally put an offer in via the EA, which again was way too low, so again we rejected it. The EA sent us a letter confirming our rejection. We have had limited contact with the EA since, except on the day we handed our cancellation notice in, that same day they rang up, not as we expected to enquire why we were cancelling, but to say "well you've had a few viewing but maybe the house is overpriced and to think about reducing it"!
The interested couple claim they lost our contact detail and that is why they kept contacting the EA and not us direct.
It has been suggested by the couple that perhaps as the agency is commission based, then an agent may have been hoping for a higher sale to enhance their commission element. I'm not sure about this, as the rate is 1.25% which wouldn't realise such a great sum, commission wise. The difference between the asking price and the offer price was 5k0 -
I'm not saying that I think it's right that the EA didn't pass on the offer, because I don't - I'm just trying to offer a reasonable explanation. I hadn't realised that the EA had a legal obligation to pass on any offers - clearly if this is the case, the EA in question is in the wrong.0
-
contact citizens advice or trading standard for some advice. but i would arrange a meeting with your estate agent to find out exactly why they did not inform you of the offer.0
-
To be honest, your buyers should have been more understanding especially since you told them that you hadn't been informed. You don't want to sell to people that are not committed, they'd be wasting your time.
But I agree that the EA broke the law by not telling you, I would speak to the Manager.0 -
its normally a case of the EA will put the offer to the sellers straight away but the property is not taken off the market until they have seen evidence of an agreement in principle or the survey has been doneI am a Mortgage Adviser
You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.1K Life & Family
- 257.7K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards