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Estate agent requesting a bribe

Rg239
Rg239 Posts: 2 Newbie
in House buying, renting & selling
Hello
I've been trying to buy a property for a while now.
Seen a good one. I put in an offer . The estate agent manager contacted me today and he said that I could get the place for £30000 under my offer if I gave him a commission of £10000.
Is this the norm in property buying.
I know in london it's a competitive market with investment buys but is £10k a joke?
Don't know what to do.
«1

Comments

  • Dave_the_Ginger_Cat
    Dave_the_Ginger_Cat Posts: 1,025 Forumite
    As agents for the seller, I do not believe they can act for both of you. He is not acting in the seller's best interests

    I would walk away. Quickly


    And report him to this lot: www.naea.co.uk/
    So many glitches, so little time...
  • Rg239
    Rg239 Posts: 2 Newbie
    I live in west london and I have lost a few houses through bizzare estate agent behaviour.
    One estate agent from haart even told me that you have to cut the agent in to be able to buy something at a competitive price these days.
  • principlecounts
    principlecounts Posts: 312 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Dodgy. Stay Clear.
    Student loan: Cleared.
  • ultrafox
    ultrafox Posts: 29 Forumite
    I would offer 30000 below if that's what the seller is willing to accept.

    Then report the pond scum.
  • pyueck
    pyueck Posts: 426 Forumite
    Don't go near, this is not a fee structure in the sellers interest and IMHO good chance you will pay £10k and not get the property again. Do not pay or agree to this.
  • princeofpounds
    princeofpounds Posts: 10,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forget the small reasons; this is a crime (see the Bribery Act)
  • Herbalus
    Herbalus Posts: 2,634 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's so bizarre I don't even believe the story....
  • bouicca21
    bouicca21 Posts: 6,775 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Well a friend of a friend certainly claims that he got his house (after failing to get offers accepted on others) by offering a substantial backhander to the EA, so bizarre as it sounds it might be true.
  • pyueck
    pyueck Posts: 426 Forumite
    princeofpounds wrote: »
    Forget the small reasons; this is a crime (see the Bribery Act)

    Yes and if the OP goes along with it I understand they have also committed an offence as they have benefitted from paying money knowing that they will gain an advantage by paying the agent to ignore their fiduciary duty to the seller.

    Surely this scheme relies on a pretty naive seller to accept an offer below market price?
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    On top of all the other excellent advice, I'd be making sure I told the vendor.
This discussion has been closed.
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