Shady agents...

LeeBalders

Just over a month ago, a house came on the market in our neighbourhood. It's on a council estate that isn't as desirable as some of the other parts of the village due to its past reputation, but after driving by several times at different times of day and night, we were satisfied that the area seemed nice, and that we'd arrange a viewing.


That's where it started to go a bit strange. I called once and asked to arrange a viewing, and was told that the agent dealing with the case would contact the viewer and get back to me. Then... tumbleweed. Cutting it short, I called about three or four times before my husband suggested just going over and knocking on the door, which resulted in getting a viewing the day after. The vendor said that he hadn't been contacted by the agent at all.


Odd... it may have been explained by the fact that his phone was being replaced, but his ex had not passed on any information about being contacted by the agent either. We had our viewing and I decided to be a bit cheeky and go in with an offer below the "offers in excess of" price, so I asked the vendor if he would be accept that, but he said I'd have to ask the boss - his ex - and gave me her number.


Fair enough. I thought I'd do it properly, and called the agent up the next day to put in an offer. This time, it was even more painful than before, with the person on the line seemingly unable to even find the house on their list, or even to remember what I said I had called for. The final time she asked me to hold, I lost it and said they'd have to call me back, which they actually did, on the same day! This was the first call back I'd had after about four promises to do so. I put in my offer and sat back to bite my nails and pull my hair out in suspense.


After two days of silence, I was starting to worry; our previous viewings with different agents had always been followed up by calls to see if we were interested in that house, or any other house they were keen to shift. Finally, my husband called "the boss" and apologised for appearing pushy, but explained that we weren't having any success in going through the agent and just wanted to check that they had received our offer.


Nope. They hadn't received any offers in a month - nothing apart from the ridiculously low offer from their estate agent, which they hadn't felt desperate enough to accept.


Their agent? Springbok Properties.


As it turned out, "the boss" was quite happy with my husband's offer, which was well over mine! They're happy, and we're happy (I'd have been happier with my price, but Lord Balders was getting worried that we'd lose it for the sake of just a bit more, which we can afford), but I'm still bewildered by the fishy smell of an estate agent who doesn't seem to want to sell me a house.


I thought this experience might help as an update to several other posts about them I've read on this forum - I believe I'm not the first this kind of thing has happened to.

G_M

Just make sure the vendors know exactly what happened - I'd put it in writing to them with dates/times of all your calls.

They may wish to contest the invoice if they receive one from the agent......

blackshirtuk

just had something similar happen to me without the happy conclusion ....yet!!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5236269

eddddy

By failing to pass on your offer the EA has almost certainly committed an offence under the Estate Agents Act 1979.

Here's a quote from "The Propety Ombudsman Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agents":

Offers
9a By law, you must tell sellers as soon as is reasonably possible about all offers that you receive at any time until contracts have been exchanged (in Scotland, missives have been concluded) unless the offer is an amount or type which the seller has specifically instructed you, in writing, not to pass on. You must confirm each offer in writing to the seller, and to the buyer who made it, within 2 working days.

Link: http://www.tpos.co.uk/downloads/TPOE27-3%20Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Residential%20Estate%20Agents.pdf

If you are sure of the facts you mention, I would urge you to report the EA.

The Estate Agents Act is policed by The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (bizarrely it is run by Powys County Council, but it is the UK national regulator).

Their homepage has an email address for reporting a business: http://www.powys.gov.uk/en/licensing-trading-standards/national-estate-agency-standards/

Powys also confirm the legal requirement in their Advice for estate agents:

Informing clients about offers

You must give your clients written details of all offers received from potential buyers. This information must be passed on promptly. It can be sent by hand, email, post or fax.

Link http://www.powys.gov.uk/en/licensing-trading-standards/national-estate-agency-standards/advice-for-estate-agents/

LeeBalders

I definitely agree about reporting the EA, but I do feel that we're in a slightly vulnerable position, wondering if they might throw a spanner in the works with this sale somehow. I've had the buyer's acceptance via text message and gave her all of our contact details, as well as a bit of a nudge about her agents' duty to pass on all offers. Maybe she'll have a go at them if she can ever get hold of them - still trying after 24 hours, apparently. Hopefully they'll keep out of the way until the house is ours!