Estate Agent - Woes

LaurenDeM

I have a dispute with the other owner about a jointly owned property which I´d like resolved before selling it (otherwise I have no chance of resolution).

The other owner lives in the property and has signed a contract with a local estate agent to market it , which they´ve done. Can they legally do this ?

The estate agent is saying they only need one signature as they act on behalf of the seller, which doesn´t seem right given I´m also the seller.

googler

The EA may only ask for one sig to MARKET it, but I would hope that any EA or solicitor worth their salt would ensure they were acting on behalf of all parties, rather than walking into a minefield of dispute.

I would also hope that any solicitor acting for the sale wouldn't complete on the instructions of only one party.

G_M

It can be marketed, but not sold without either

* your consent or
* a court order

You can also place a Restriction on the Title held at the Land Registry - this will alert any buyer, or their solicitor, as well as any solicitor acting for your joint owner, that your consent/signature is needed forany sale.

It will also ensure you are told by the LR before any such sale went ahead.

You also, of course, need to keep your current address up to date at the LR so they can contact you!

See also:

http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/public/property-fraud#m3