Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Viewer stole from my house?

607 replies

Calcaata · 18/10/2025 20:29

I have a Diptique candle, 3 wick and cost £180. I’ve had two house viewings today, not done by myself but by the estate agent. I’ve come home and it’s missing.

Aibu to expect the estate agent to reimburse me?? I won’t be able to contact them now until Monday.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
SheSaidHummingbird · 18/10/2025 22:10

Ugh, just read that back. I'm really not suggesting that the agent stole anything!!

I'm very tired.

GentleJadeOP · 18/10/2025 22:10

GingerBeverage · 18/10/2025 22:08

for perspective: 60g candle
£7850

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/marchanta-mini-larimar-candle-60g-000000000007847908

Wow!

SheSaidHummingbird · 18/10/2025 22:08

@Calcaata More likely the agent - they have a key and therefore able to enter the house and remove something not in the presence of others. I'm not at all suggesting that it was the agent - but it's unlikely that a viewer could shove a candle up their jumper whilst accompanied by an agent and it go unnoticed.

ThatGlimmeringSea · 18/10/2025 22:08

carmak · 18/10/2025 21:46

Was that the candle that went missing from the downstairs toilet windowsill?

Show quote history

Yes!

bumbaloo · 18/10/2025 22:06

GentleJadeOP · 18/10/2025 21:55

That’s really bad but for me the most shocking part is a candle cost £180? Is that a typo or real?

They are bigger. They last a while.

bumbaloo · 18/10/2025 22:05

Spookyspaghetti · 18/10/2025 21:31

Is it in photos from the listing?

Show quote history

But that doesn’t prove it was there during the viewings. Especially as candles are consumed. They don’t last forever so it’s not proof of anything other than once upon a time there was a candle there

Jochef · 18/10/2025 22:04

Calcaata · 18/10/2025 20:29

I have a Diptique candle, 3 wick and cost £180. I’ve had two house viewings today, not done by myself but by the estate agent. I’ve come home and it’s missing.

Aibu to expect the estate agent to reimburse me?? I won’t be able to contact them now until Monday.

£180 for a candle ? No wonder they pinched it. Have you checked - bet they’ve had other stuff away

Endofyear · 18/10/2025 22:02

I'm horrified that someone came into your home and stole from you! But 180 quid for a candle? You were already robbed! I hope the Estate Agents will replace it as they should.

LillyPJ · 18/10/2025 22:01

SeaAndStars · 18/10/2025 21:24

I bet this would be the first insurance claim for theft of a candle.

Normally candles are damaged in a series of small fires.

😂😆

Footloosefiona · 18/10/2025 21:58

GentleJadeOP · 18/10/2025 21:55

That’s really bad but for me the most shocking part is a candle cost £180? Is that a typo or real?

This is the one I found

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/ambre-three-wick-candle-600g-R566247006.html?msclkid=1f424c18d4961a9cbc7f24eb2bb031ec&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Profit%20-%20UK%20-%20Standard%20Shopping%20-%20Generic&utm_term=4574655592809338&utm_content=Standard%20Shopping%20-%20BAU

GentleJadeOP · 18/10/2025 21:55

That’s really bad but for me the most shocking part is a candle cost £180? Is that a typo or real?

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 18/10/2025 21:55

Before you do take action OP, do check it wasn't put out of view by the EA.

ItWasTheBabycham · 18/10/2025 21:53

ugh, sounds awful. OP, always instruct the EA to follow them from room to room. We had a similar incident selling our first house.

godmum56 · 18/10/2025 21:52

Albemarle10 · 18/10/2025 20:35

Proof the OP had the candle could be that it appears in the estate agent’s photos.

that would only prove that the OP had the candle when the photos were taken....no proof that it was there when the viewings happened.

carmak · 18/10/2025 21:46

ThatGlimmeringSea · 18/10/2025 21:39

I don’t know, I can remember a thread from years back about a stolen candle so maybe this would be the second insurance claim. In that thread I think it was a Jo Malone limited edition and the theft blamed on a plumber or plasterer.

Show quote history

Was that the candle that went missing from the downstairs toilet windowsill?

Footloosefiona · 18/10/2025 21:45

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 18/10/2025 21:22

Fuck me, people are paying £180 for candles? How the other half live...

The one I saw was priced at £169 but still expensive for something you're just going to set fire to !.

They are also 4.7" x 4.3" so reasonably big and heavy (in a pottery holder).

Who ever took it would have a bit of a problem getting it out of the property. It's not as if someone could just 'trouser' it

ThatGlimmeringSea · 18/10/2025 21:39

SeaAndStars · 18/10/2025 21:24

I bet this would be the first insurance claim for theft of a candle.

Normally candles are damaged in a series of small fires.

I don’t know, I can remember a thread from years back about a stolen candle so maybe this would be the second insurance claim. In that thread I think it was a Jo Malone limited edition and the theft blamed on a plumber or plasterer.

hmnj · 18/10/2025 21:39

If you've only had 2 viewings, you could report it to police - they've only go two people to go and visit - might be pretty easy to see if they have your candle. I just googled diptique candles and it seems they are quite noticeable with the lettering style.

I feel a bit sorry for the EA. I don't have any love for EAs and many are slimy liars, but it's very unlikely they personally did the theft and also they can't be expected to watch grown adults like hawks. The person who nicked the candle is clearly a habitual thief, so could easily have done it whilst EA in same room - just slip into a shoulder bag.

LivingTheDreamish · 18/10/2025 21:37

SarahJane03 · 18/10/2025 21:22

Step 1. Report to estate agent as a complaint. Say if the item is not returned or cash to the value of £180 step 2. Report to police as theft. Step 3. Get all keys back from estate agent, cancel any agreement and find another...

Yes I think I would do exactly this. Estate agents carry a lot of trust (our house keys!) and they owe their clients a duty of care.

Idontpostmuch · 18/10/2025 21:36

Unfortunate, but don't bother trying. You can never prove it.

ItsNotYou852 · 18/10/2025 21:35

Well, you would only have burnt it anyway I guess... I'd shrug off theft of a candle, but then mine are more like £1.80!

FindingNeverland28 · 18/10/2025 21:33

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 18/10/2025 20:45

I dont ageee with the above...

I'd report to the police and get a crime number, I'd concurrently phone or go into branch and advise the EA that one of the 2 viewers has stolen from you and that the police have been contacted (crime number pending).
They should make all EAs aware so other sellers aren't also victims of theft.
Separately id say something like
"I am angry and disappointed. I entrusted my property to X Estate Agents and expected the EAs to do their job and supervise viewers.
In my view you are clearly in breech so there's two choices;either agree to release us from the contract so we can sell with your competitor or you can assure me this wont happen again and agree to deduct the equivalent £180 value from final selling fee.
How would you like to proceed?"

Then be very silent.

This

GingerBeverage · 18/10/2025 21:32

The reputational damage you could do to the agency would far outweigh them replacing the candle.

AutumnCosy2025 · 18/10/2025 21:32

Simonjt · 18/10/2025 20:38

We had this as well, but it was a vase, luckily it was a flat we were selling so we could see the estate agent on cctv leaving with a fully intact vase, so they couldn’t pretend they had broken it.

Bloody hell, what a muppet.

was it something the EA would have been able to sell for ££!£££

@Calcaata I hope you get reimbursed for it. Father-in-law.Thankfully (hopefully) it wasn't something sentimental & irreplaceable.

by-the-by I just cold not bring myself to spend that on a candle to burn 🙇🏻‍♀️

Swipe left for the next trending thread