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Why the long written notice period to cancel estate agent contract?
I've noticed that many estate agency contracts require a very long written notice period - often 28 days - to be able to cancel their sole agency contract. So it may be an 8 week contract but if you decide after 8 weeks you want to go to another agency they're effectively making it into a 12 week contract with a whole month of written notice. What's the deal with this? Does it take them 28 days to remove your listing from the web, or to take down their sign? It seems like they shouldn't need longer than a week at most.
Comments
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Because that's what they offer and punters sign up to. Punters don't have to, indeed (punter) offering the agent a different contract is entirely legal.
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I was just wondering whether there was any attempt at justifying it. Like "we need this time to X". Otherwise it's just ridiculous - "an 8 week contract with an extra 4 weeks". Why not call it a 12 week contract then?
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I suppose it gives them time to try to remedy the situation by pulling their finger out and finding a buyer.
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lol, that's what their exclusive 8 weeks is for. Supposedly.
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So, after 4 weeks you give notice that you want to terminate at the end of the 8 week contract period. Hopefully this will spark action to find you a buyer during the remaining 4 weeks.
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Not ideal though, I was thinking I would probably want to make a decision after 8 weeks. Notice after 4 weeks locks you into cancelling after 8 weeks when you might actually want to continue with them. I've emailed them ask for 7 days notice instead. Worth a try.
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Notice after 4 weeks locks you into cancelling after 8 weeks when you might actually want to continue with them.
Why would they object to you withdrawing your notice and continuing the contract?
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You could cross out the 28 days part and replace it with something more to your liking before signing, and see if it is acceptable to them. You should be in control.
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If they wouldn't, why would they require 28 days of notice in the first place?
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