In bits - over reaction?

[LaCiccolina]

I'm due next week. Please take into consideration although maybe it doesn't account for all.....!

At Xmas we made an appointment at our local estate agent. We rent, nothing to do with this agent though. It's been several years since we looked at mortgages do we thought we would test the market. This EA has an independant advisor. We were clear we were not looking at houses, just mortgages.

Said EA this weekend contacted our landlord. Turns out in 2012 they wondered if to sell and had house valued with this EA. The EA actually put in the email that as we were actively house hunting they wanted to help us and then them with any buying/selling/renting assistance!

We found out because landlord, justifiably a bit surprised/hurt by email off EA sent us an email.

I'm distraught. I'm terrified landlord is cross and we could be evicted. I'm astounded at the confidentiality issue as well. The EA had no business mentioning anything to do with usin their email. We have emailed landlord and are yet to hear back. We have complained to EA who just said " it was just a chatty HNY email?!?" I feel they effectively gave notice on our house without our consent.

Wtf? Aibu? Am i Over thinking this or has the EA genuinely acted inappropriately? I think so and dh is furious. I want to follow it up but it's not like I bought a jumper, how do we get this sorted?

[firawla]

Yes they have acted inappropriately! and you can not be evicted for that, but yanbu to be annoyed bu this - especially as you are due in a week it is just what you dont need at the minute!
Hope you manage to get things clarified with LL. He should not really be offended or anything you haven't signed a life long commitment to rent from him, but would have been more ideal if you were able to discuss with him at your own time. You should complain to the EA, and to their headoffice if it is a branch of any known firms.

[JammySplodger]

I would also be furious. That's wholly unproffesional and probably against some code of conduct or rules somewhere.

I would call your landlord and let him know the score, i.e. you're just testing the water and you may well be renting for some time yet.

I would also complain in writing to whichever professional body governs estate agents.

And then have nothing to do with them ever again.

[Cosmosim]

Wankers probably wanted something in writing in case you were interested in approaching your LL directly so that they could claim they "introduced" you as potential buyer and LL had to pay them commission. If your lease is up soon, just reiterate to your LL you want to renew for another year bcs you're still saving for a deposit.

[LaCiccolina]

Cos, hmmm hadn't even thought of that. Interesting. Love to buy probs not in our range. Ill let dh know.

Glad I'm not going bats, it really upset me! Am investigating conduct codes etc. if anyone knows anything to help please post.

[lalalonglegs]

Clause 1g of the Ombudsman's Code of Conduct.

[marquesas]

I'd be furious, is there anyway you could get a copy of the email to the LL just to be sure of what was actually said then report to EA's professional body?

[isitreallysostrange]

I think they've breached the Data Protection Act - your details shouldn't be shared with anybody without your permission - a financial advisor should be especially aware of this. They have broken the law and can't cover this up as 'chatty HNY email' - complain.
I wouldn't worry the landlord would take the EA email as 'notice on your house' as your contact with landlord should clear that up and only you as tenants can give notice.

[CheeseandPickledOnion]

Absoutely not on at all. I'd be complaining in writing to the Manager and the professional body.

[specialsubject]

EA did something silly but it doesn't seem worth all this drama.

No-one has given notice for you, only you can do that.
The landlord cannot evict you for house hunting, even if you were. If you are good tenants, he won't evict you unless he wants the house back for some reason.

may this be the worst thing that ever happens to you.

[PaperFlowers]

Twats. Like Cos said, it'll just be so thay can say they introduced you if you try to buy the place you're renting at some point in the future.

Try not to worry too much - I doubt your LL is going to be spurred into some kind of house selling action because of this if he hasn't bothered so far and why the heck would he evict you because you are thinking of leaving? He knows you have to give him notice if you do want to leave and that's the time he gets to find someone new.

Just be clear that you don't want to leave (especially if it is actually getting near then end of a fixed term tennancy) and it will all be fine I'm sure.

[narmada]

Cosmosim has it in one. Crude, unthinking self-protectionism on the part of the EA. What a bunch of ba***s. I hope they get what for from pregnant, hormonal you and your DH. Seriously, I would write them a very very very cross letter.

I don't think you're being silly or over-dramatic. Last thing you want at this stage of pregnancy is housing uncertainty. I can't imagine that your LLs would want you out even if they DID think you were looking to move soon. They wouldn't want to risk void periods and so will want to keep you (you would hope!) but it might affect things when you come to tenancy renewal time and if you are in an area of high rental demand.

Whatever code there is, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be voluntary. Private lettings is one of the most under-regulated areas ever.