Estate agents aren’t allowed to discriminate against you for a number of reasons. For example, they can’t refuse to show you a certain property because the owner doesn’t want to sell to people of a certain religion or belief. If an estate agent discriminates against you, you can complain to the estate agent’s company.
Do estate agents buy property?
Estate agents market and sell property, but they also: deal with paperwork. monitor the chain (of buyers selling their old home and sellers buying their new home) liaise with your solicitor.
Can an estate agent act for buyer and seller?
Whatever the law, while estate agents have this conflict of interest – making money from both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction – the only ones to benefit are the estate agents themselves. Just as lawyers cannot act for both sides in a transaction, nor should estate agents be allowed to.
Do estate agents have to put offer forward?
Estate agents must also treat buyers fairly. They must show any offers promptly and in writing to the person selling the house. Estate agents are also legally obliged to pass on any other offers for the property right up to when contracts are exchanged.
Estate agents market and sell property, but they also: deal with paperwork. monitor the chain (of buyers selling their old home and sellers buying their new home)
Can a person buy a property if they are not an estate agent?
You may have found your own buyer for the property who has not come through the estate agent, for example, a friend may want to buy the property. You are entitled to sell to a buyer who has not been found by the estate agent but you may find that you will still have to pay the estate agent.
What to do if you have a problem with an estate agent?
If you are not satisfied with the estate agent’s response to your complaint, you can complain to their independent complaints body. All estate agents dealing with residential property must belong to a government approved complaints redress scheme. The approved schemes are: The Property Redress Scheme.
Is the estate agent acting on behalf of the buyer?
As the seller, you pay the estate agent for their services and the estate agent is therefore acting on your behalf. It is your interest they will represent and the buyer should bear this in mind if they are interested in a house being sold through an estate agent.
Is it illegal for estate agent to give financial advice?
It is illegal for estate agents to give financial advice. For budget tools and information about home loans and mortgages, visit Buying a home – MoneySmart. A cooling-off period of three business days applies to private sales of residential and small rural property sales.
