Viewer stole from my house?

[Calcaata]

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.

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

They are bigger. They last a while.

for perspective: 60g candle
£7850

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

Yes!

@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.

Wow!

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

I'm very tired.

I think this is quite common unfortunately.

Brain slightly stuck on a candle being that expensive.

But absolutely go after the estate agent. Some people are scum.

They think it will make people pay £50k more for the house and, to be fair, some people do!

I would email them now and phone first thing Monday morning. It was either the EA who nicked it (lots have part-time, casual workers do viewings on Saturdays) or one of the two people who viewed it.

I would tell them how expensive the candle was and tell them you have logged it with the local police. They will have the contact details (assuming they’re real) of those who did the viewings and just won’t want the drama. I’d kick up a stink.

I used to work for Redrow Homes in the early noughties and Glade Plug-ins were really popular. People viewing the show homes used to nick them all the time. All the time. In the end, we didn’t use them as so many went walk about.

I remember viewing a house that had a very nice office set up - on the desk was a wad of notes. Maybe 300-400 quid. I was amazed it had been left out so blatantly.

https://www.spacenk.com/uk/fragrance/home-fragrance/candle/34-blvd-st.-germain-scented-porcelain-candle-MUK200035683.html

Where's the line though? A 200 quid candle? A £1000 painting? A three grand TV? Sentimental jewelry? Your kid's favorite toy? Their pet hamster?

It's the principal for me. I'd probably just laugh if someone took my teabags or a loo roll, because it's odd and would make for a funny story to tell...but when it comes to something of value (financial or sentimental), or something I'd need to replace, there's no way I'd be letting it slide.

Ultimately, this is theft (not burglary - as they had lawful permission to enter the premises, but not to remove the items) and should be reported to the police. Unless there's video evidence or witnesses though, it's unlikely that a prosecution would move forward.

Unless the estate agent showing the house agreed to make you whole, I suspect the only remedy would be a civil claim against them for either negligence or breach of contract - given they do have a legal duty to look after the property.

When we were selling our first house many years ago, someone stole a leg of lamb from our freezer! The house was on the books of several agents, all of which had conducted viewings in our absence, so it was impossible to pin down which of them was responsible.😠

That thought crossed my mind as well.

Also, say you won't allow further viewings without being present yourself.

This happened to me too. In my case I was moving out from rented at the end of my master's. I'd allowed a viewing, and when I got home the contents of a small box was scattered around the spare room. They'd taken some Carribbean dollers I had kept as a keepsake - thankfully worth about 80p. I was really upset though and did let the estate agents know. Being quite young they were quite patronising and dismissive, especially as it wasn't worth much. I didn't let them do any more showings whilst I was still in the house.

You paid 180 quid for a candle?

I’m amazed it doesn’t happen all the time. People let randoms in to look all around the property with some EA who doesn’t give a shit what people are poking in to. I’ve always thought it was a weird industry practice. I just couldn’t do that unless the house was an empty shell. If we ever sell, it’ll be me showing them around!

Buy a £3.99 candle from TKMAXX and then you won't have to worry about anyone stealing it.

Maybe don’t waste so much money on a candle

In a criminal case, it would need to be proven 'beyond reasonable doubt' that a specific person took it. As you say, without video evidence, or witnesses, or CCTV of the letting agent's office with a nice new candle later that day, there no real proof here.

With a civil case though, there's a much lower burden of proof: On the balance of probabilities, ie, it's more likely to be true than not.

So if the item appears in recent pictures, pictures from ages ago to show that it's never moved, if there are strong witnesses who will testify it was there very recently, if the agent admits that they left the viewers unsupervised...a court may well be convinced.

Happened to us during viewings, but turned out to be the guy from the estate agents.

Maybe everyone could stop being so rude about the OP’s candle?

They’ve had something stolen from their home, it’s invasive and unsettling whether you agree with the item or not. You mocking them isn’t helpful.

I’m not surprised at all - a friend of mine had her engagement and wedding rings stolen from the dish by her bed 😔

It's not a waste if you can afford it and you enjoy it. People are allowed to have expensive things, and entitled to feel just as bad as anybody else when some little scruff steals them.