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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
Hatty65 · 18/10/2025 20:31

Good luck with that one! I'm not sure how you could possibly prove that a) you had the candle and b) they owe you that much for it.

Claim on your house insurance if it's that important.

HardyWeinbergEquation · 18/10/2025 20:32

I expect they would refuse without proof unfortunately.

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 18/10/2025 20:33

That's pretty hefty to steal! Doubt house insurance would be paying out if someone has been let in. Raise it with estate agent. Even if you don't get money back you can stop it happening to someone else.

KittytheHare · 18/10/2025 20:33

Gosh that’s terrible. I’ve honestly never heard of this happening. I suppose you have put your trust in the estate agent to vet and supervise the viewings, so that would imply that the onus should be on them to ensure your house and belongings are safe during viewings. Obviously you’ll have to contact them on Monday to see what the procedure is.

shampop · 18/10/2025 20:35

Not sure if they would but 100% make sure you raise it with them

Albemarle10 · 18/10/2025 20:35

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

HardyWeinbergEquation · 18/10/2025 20:36

Albemarle10 · 18/10/2025 20:35

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

But not proof of who took it.

Pikachu150 · 18/10/2025 20:38

It happened to a relative of mine. He did get the estate agents to pay but he was a barrister so they perhaps didn't want to argue.

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.

Upstartled · 18/10/2025 20:39

Do you have a ring doorbell or something that might clock who took it?

stichguru · 18/10/2025 20:39

Raise it with them, but I would expect them to ask for proof and ignore the situation if you couldn't provide it.

Kuretake · 18/10/2025 20:40

It may well have been through estate agent that took it.

Adooree · 18/10/2025 20:42

Wow some shocking stories here . People coming into your house ( especially those you've basically employed to sell it ) stealing your belongings is despicable .

ClassicBBQ · 18/10/2025 20:45

Definitely raise it with the agents, although I'm not sure they'll be able to reimburse you for it.

In 2020, my DSIS was selling her house and a viewer stole her toilet rolls!

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.

GAJLY · 18/10/2025 20:58

Upstartled · 18/10/2025 20:39

Do you have a ring doorbell or something that might clock who took it?

Good thinking!

suburburban · 18/10/2025 21:00

I must admit I have put everything away in my house of any value as we are having viewings

what an awful thing to happen. People are so dishonest

Fishplates · 18/10/2025 21:04

I viewed too many houses before I bought! I remember how lax the estate agents were in supervising! They’d always follow me around for a look at all the rooms and chat/sell, however if I wanted a second look at things they were always happy to let me explore the house on my own!

I’d never dream of taking anything - however can easily see how it happens.

Witsendneedhelp · 18/10/2025 21:04

This happened to me when I was living in a rented house share when I was younger. Landlord was selling the property and was having group viewings. I had a brand new bottle of Chanel perfume in its box in my room and one of the people viewing took it. My landlord kindly replaced it and requested that the estate agent not let people walk around the house unsupervised when all our stuff was there. I would definitely report the theft to your estate agent, even if they don’t reimburse you they can make sure it doesn’t happen again.

OnlyOnAFriday · 18/10/2025 21:10

Kuretake · 18/10/2025 20:40

It may well have been through estate agent that took it.

My thoughts exactly. A lot of estate agents have quite a high turnover of weekend escorting staff with little checks. A friend of mine did it for a while and wasn’t what I’d call a proper estate agent. She was employed on an ad hoc zero hours contract just to do viewings.

LunaDeBallona · 18/10/2025 21:12

And this is exactly why I never ever let an estate agent show people round my house when I’m selling.
Too many times I’ve been told when on viewings “Go and have a second look at kitchen/bedroom/study” etc and leaves me to do it alone.
No way do I want anybody poking round my home unsupervised!
OP - you’ve had some great advice , I would do (word for word) what @SalmonOnFinnCrisp says.

38thparallel · 18/10/2025 21:14

Simonjt · Today 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

That’s shocking. What happened when you complained to the estate agency? Did you get the vase back?

Pessismistic · 18/10/2025 21:16

OnlyOnAFriday · 18/10/2025 21:10

My thoughts exactly. A lot of estate agents have quite a high turnover of weekend escorting staff with little checks. A friend of mine did it for a while and wasn’t what I’d call a proper estate agent. She was employed on an ad hoc zero hours contract just to do viewings.

Show quote history

I wouldn’t ask them I would just ring them tell them item has been stolen and the police will be in touch with them and people who viewed the house. Don’t let them fob you off. Some low level scum around.

Bobiverse · 18/10/2025 21:18

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.

The estate agent nicked it? What happened?

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 18/10/2025 21:22

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