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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Estate agents - Thinking of handing in my notice

40 replies

Sp3849 · 20/03/2026 07:01

I am am estate agent in rural Wales. I work for a small firm and I have always loved working there. However the past year has been difficult. They had a member of staff who was truly terrible at her job. Long story short she was dismissed at the beginning of the year.

Since then I have single handedly run my branch. She was awful but at least she answered the phone. The manager manages a few branches and is so busy he is never around. I do absolutely everything all viewings, negotiation, progressions, down to invoicing chasing invoices, typing details taking photos putting up for sale signs. You name it I do it. I even clean because they didn't replace the office cleaner.

The issue is I am not well. Which they know. I have lupus and they are literally killing me. I don't have any sick days I am always there. I am literally dying on my feet right now. I have asked and asked for help. I have asked for another member of staff. They have now started interviewing and asked me to sit in on them. I was so deflated yesterday when I realised they are hiring a member of staff to cover two offices and I will have them two days a week. This is nowhere near enough. The other office already has two members of staff in situ and doesn't have half the stock or sales mine does!

I also asked the other day if I could have an old car or something at the office just for access to do viewings...Because 45p a mile isn't enough anymore. I am only on minimum wage plus commissions which are set amount per property and only Equate to around an extra £200 per month with mileage back I take home £1800 per month. I am putting £400 + per month iny car easily. Never mind the tyres, brake pads, servicing twice a year due to amount of mileage additional insurance and fuel is getting higher by the day. It was a no. I have never asked them for anything In the years I have been there. I go to work and go home. So I felt like it was a bit of a kick in the teeth.

I am at loss. I can't work harder and sell more to earn more which is there moto. I am stretched to my limits as it is. I don't physically have any more time. I start early work through lunch because there is nobody to cover a lunch break. I work late. I don't get paid for those hours. I never complain, but the car thing was the final straw.

Aibu to hand in my notice? There are other agencies taking on. The money will be the same but I won't be doing everything alone!

I have hung on and hung on thinking it will get better when they employ someone else. But now it's clear that's not even full time. The costs of using my car are rising and I am basically not even on minimum wage when you take that out!

OP posts:
Whyherewego · 20/03/2026 07:03

This sounds rubbish. If the job isn't working for you, and it clearly isn't, and you can afford to quit. Then do! They may be shocked and offer to do something but they may not. But I agree they are being unreasonable

Wellshellsbells · 20/03/2026 07:06

Hand in your notice and I’d say things will change when they realise they are going to lose you.

Nocalmwaters · 20/03/2026 07:06

You need to leave, if possible for you. If other agencies are hiring I would take a job there. Having lupus is no joke, you need to look after yourself.

BlueMum16 · 20/03/2026 07:07

Sounds awful. If you can afford to quit then do.

If you need a job first secure that and then leave

In the meantime stop doing it all. Work your contracted hours and your contracted role - no cleaning.

If you keep doing it they will let you.

Put a sign up and close for lunch.

pouletvous · 20/03/2026 07:12

Find a job at a bigger agency

Moen · 20/03/2026 07:14

Absolutely hand in your notice, in fact do it today.

I have a feeling things will soon change when they realise they’re going to lose you, but I’d leave and go to another agency anyway.

Captainbird · 20/03/2026 07:20

Go before you lose your health completely. I worked out that this week I’ve been earning £4.10 an hour so need to have a similar conversation with my boss.

hididdlyho · 20/03/2026 07:21

Life's too short to stay in a job where the employer is treating you so poorly. When you factor in your health issues, it seems even more sensible to leave asap. Polish off your CV and get in applications with the other agents, it sounds like with your experience you won't struggle to find another job.

LifeBeginsToday · 20/03/2026 07:23

I'd do more than hand in my notice - I'd get the ball rolling for a constructive dismissal claim. They must have known the outcome is you'd hand in your notice.

DierdreDaphne · 20/03/2026 07:24

I'd move without hesitation. What's in it for you to stay, they are clearly a shit firm. And with your experience and responsibility to date, you might even be able to earn more too.

Phlerp · 20/03/2026 07:24

Do you get paid sick leave? If so, go off sick for a couple of weeks. Hopefully it will sharp their minds to the need for more staff!

Otherwise definitely leave!

BlackSheepThisYear · 20/03/2026 07:26

Please hand your notice in and make sure you actually leave, even though they will attempt to claw you back in with promises of change and more staff. This will not happen.
You are highly experienced and skilled and will easily get another job in another estate agents.
And please never let yourself be walked over and disrespected to this degree again - you deserve better x

SoSoLong · 20/03/2026 07:29

Is there anything keeping you in that job that you wouldn't get elsewhere?

Deerinflashlights · 20/03/2026 07:31

Could you set up on your own? Then you could take whomever on you liked. You have run this business alone anyway so you have all of the skills and you can set your workload to a manageable level. DH did this for years to help support family life and it was incredible for our family.

Anewerforest · 20/03/2026 07:35

Of course you should leave, perhaps writing it alll down has clarified that for you.

Londonrach1 · 20/03/2026 07:37

Life is too short. Hand in your notice, see your gp and get signed off. You need to look after yourself and your health x

Lovesplasticstraws · 20/03/2026 07:39

Leave and shop them to HMRC. They have whole departments that go after breaches of minimum wage regulations.

pilates · 20/03/2026 07:42

I would secure a replacement job before handing your notice in.

ChannelingmyinnerMsRachel · 20/03/2026 07:44

Definitely hand in your notice as soon as possible and start looking for a much better job, no job is worth making your self more ill for especially not one that doesn't appreciate the work you do.

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 20/03/2026 07:44

Call in sick today. ✅️
Start job hunting. ✅️
Good luck!
You're not responsible for running it all at the expense of your health, you're just not.

Fast800goingforit · 20/03/2026 07:47

LifeBeginsToday · 20/03/2026 07:23

I'd do more than hand in my notice - I'd get the ball rolling for a constructive dismissal claim. They must have known the outcome is you'd hand in your notice.

She'll need to leave first. I would set out why you are leaving verbally, professionally.

canisquaeso · 20/03/2026 07:55

If you can afford to, definitely leave. They know you can do it so they’ll just keep pushing.

I’m in a similar situation and I’m counting down the days until I can afford to leave. I’m actually quite sad about it, but I’ve addressed it multiple times and nothing has changed, so… I’ve also requested a raise to make up for the additional tasks and been told no.

Can’t be running myself to the ground to make someone else rich.

IsawwhatIsaw · 20/03/2026 08:02

Please put yourself first. You have a health issue ,tiring yourself could make it worse.
Basically they are exploiting you. You sound very employable. Get out asap

HoskinsChoice · 20/03/2026 08:32

I don't understand.

You have a job.
You dont like it.
You apply for other jobs.
You get a job offer
You resign.
You start new job.

That's the process. Most people do that about 10 times over their working career. Why don't you just do that like everyone else?

Catcatcatcatcat · 20/03/2026 08:48

Whilst I agree that you should seek a new job and then resign, you do sound like a dreadful martyr!

Why are you doing all this additional work? Of course they aren’t employing someone else to do it, they don’t have to because you are doing it.

Whilst you are job hunting step back and just do your original role, no cleaning or extra hours.

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