Surveyor visit without agent

CuriousI

We are selling our flat. The buyers surveyor entered our property today whilst my wife and sister in law were home using keys given to him by the agent. He let himself in, did not greet my wife just said "Do they know you are here?" My wife stunned answered "Probably, I'm a school teacher and am on holiday. They should expect me to be here!" He then walked past to carry on surveying the property before just leaving. Oh and he forgot to see the garden, separate from the flat.

Firstly what are my rights with the agent given that they "gave" our keys to someone to attend our property unattended. We knew the survey was happening at some point during the day but did not know the person would not be accompanied and were not asked to be home.

Secondly should I write to the surveyors company. He was borderline intruding and just a joke the way he treated my wife. I'm very surprised she didn't throw him out considering the sum of his words are included in this post.

kingstreet

The agent should have notified you of the surveyor's visit, but it's normal for the surveyor to attend alone.

They normally want to get on with it. The lender or purchaser is paying them, not you and the niceties tend to be lacking.

bylromarha

OH used to visit properties for sale with agents keys...only if the property was unoccupied or the vendors worked full time. Agents knew him so he'd go alone. However, he always gave the vendor a call saying when he'd be roundin order for them to not feel intruded upon. He always rang the bell before using the key just in case someone was in he wasn't expecting. All common courtesy.

Give the agent a call and ask that anyone else who needs to come to the property can reach you on.... to make an appointment. Explain your concerns about today.

Sounds like the agent and surveyor took advantage of having a key.

Guest101

However the agent works for you and should not release your keys without your perission (aside from its own employees obviously).

The Surveyor could've been nicer, but hes not paid to be. Would say you hvae nothing gainst them, and your wife should've asked him to leave if she wasnt comfortable.

curedham

From my experience, surveyor just go alone and not accompanied by the agents.

CuriousI

I guess whats normal or not is a little irrelevant (I'm a first time seller). At the end of the day someone who had been given permission to enter my property let someone else enter my property without being present without my permission. I guess that's whats got me annoyed but I'm sure its also not really best practice or possibly even legal.

Perhaps its just manners but where I'm originally from you wouldn't dream of doing that! I'm from a warmer place currently providing players to the english cricket team...

SG27

I expect they should have knocked first!

Guest101

No it's not normal to just give the surveyor the keys, but your omplaint should be with your agent, not the surveyor.

curedham

I guess the question is whether your agent told you that the surveyor is coming?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Guest101 wrote: »

The Surveyor could've been nicer, but hes not paid to be. Would say you hvae nothing gainst them, and your wife should've asked him to leave if she wasnt comfortable.

He came in without knocking, and was rude...when you say he isn't paid to be nice, the OP and his wife are their clients!

OP of course you need to complain.

moromir

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

He came in without knocking, and was rude...when you say he isn't paid to be nice, the OP and his wife are their clients!

OP of course you need to complain.

No, they arn't. The surveyor is instructed by the BUYER.