Tenant buys house - can the estate (lettings) agent ask for commission?

Humphrey10

If a tenant (renting through an estate agent) buys the house they are renting (private sale) does the original estate agent have to be paid commission? I was just wondering, because they would have introduced the tenant/buyer and the landlord/vendor.

G_M

Depends on the terms of the contract the landlord/vendor signed with the agent! Best get it out and read it.

moneybunny123

Yes, it's 99.99% likely. As said above, check your tenancy agreement but it's likely that the EA will want commission if a tenant buys the property.

Humphrey10

There's nothing in the tenancy agreement, but I assume the landlord has a separate contract with the estate agent, and sale/commission might be mentioned in there?

moneybunny123

Ah yes, sorry, I'd assumed you WERE the landlord. As a landlord myself, I know it's in my contract with the EA that if my tenant wishes to purchase my home, I'm to pay them a fee.

Humphrey10

Oh that's a shame - the estate agents are incompetent, I don't want them to get any more money from me!
I am renting house A, and am in the process of buying house B (had offer accepted, conveyancing is happening), both with the same estate agent.
I suddenly thought, why don't I see if the landlord wants to sell house A, and I buy that instead of house B. Both are similar, but the neighbours of house A are owner occupiers, whereas the neighbours of house B are tenants, I'd rather live next to owner occupiers. I doubt he will want to sell though, I assume he bought the house as an investment (he's never lived in it), but I thought I'd ask just in case.