To be surprised this estate agent wasn’t sacked?

[Easack]

We listed our house with the biggest estate agent in our area (also with the best reviews/reputation).

We approved the photos to be used and description to be added to the usual portals such as RightMove.

Shortly after it went live, a friend told me it had been posted on our town’s community Facebook page. On one of the living room photos, the TV on the wall had been edited to include a couple having sex.

I immediately called the estate agent who got back to me shortly after, apologised and said they’d remove the photo and instigated a full investigation.

They contacted me today and said they had identified it was a junior colleague who did this ‘as a joke’ and that they’d been reprimanded. They confirmed they’ve kept their job.

I am perplexed by this. Surely that is a sackable offence?

Tbh I would say that their company had committed gross misconduct and publicly embarrassed you - I’d terminate my contract immediately and report them to:
a) their head office/CEO
b) and any property/professional organisations that they are a member of.

Charming response. The comment is correct, whether you feel it’s right or not. They will have (or should have) processes to follow in relation to inappropriate behaviour of staff. These matters are confidential and you are not entitled to know the outcome. I would have thought it is a disciplinary offence but may not be a dismissal, depending on their policies.

I'd terminate the contract immediately and tell them if they want to enforce a notice period they whistle for it.

I'd also report them to Propertymark (if they're registered) and, for good measure, the Information Commissioner's Office for manipulating your data (the images) without your consent.

You remind me of the way the DM used to report with horror at despised lower-class people who had flat-screen TVs!!

It seems a bit bonkers to dismiss somebody's choice of TV support as undesirable. Meanwhile, there are people who would denounce anybody as a ghastly chav for actually having a TV in the first place, because they play board games and charades and sing around the piano for entertainment in their household!

I’d rather see that than the creepy family portraits most people have displayed in their homes when estate agents take pictures.

Hit them in the wallet and take it off sale with them

Some of the solicitors in Nottingham offer a free hour for advice - have a Google

The police won’t be interested, and there wouldn’t be grounds for any Compo.

Or allow you out of your contract with no costs so you can go with another, professional outlet.

You can probably end the agreement and list with someone else under breach of contract. I doubt that imagery portrayed your property in a positive light, or worked to maximise the sales price. You probably have clauses in your agreement to that effect.

I agree. Apparently EAs still operate in the 1980s. This type of behaviour is zero tolerance in most companies these days.

I would change agent, I see no reason why the OP shouldn’t leave a simple, strictly fact based review for them as its has caused her inconvenience and embarrassment.

Pull the listing and instruct elsewhere.

You might be able to get out of your contract as it’s a breach if they put up photos not approved by you. I’d also remove listing with them. If they’re a big brand, check if there’s an escalation route. If not, check if they’ve opted in some voluntary qualification as if that’s the case, there would be someone you can appeal to. Reputable estate agents rely on those schemes given they’re largely unregulated. It’s your home and reputation at the end of the day so I wouldn’t let it go.

I agree that you don't get a say in their internal disciplinary proceedings. I would, however be expected to be released from my contract with them and be putting the house on the market with another agent. No way would they be profitting from sale of my house when it had become the subject of ridicule through the actions of their staff member.

I would leave them a review on google describing what happened and the outcome. Warn others that they do it. They dont deserve such a high regard.

What’s happened as a result, have you told them you aren’t going with them any more, are they offering you discount of services as an apology etc?

I would withdraw your property from them, then it has cost them your fee. And leave a bad review explaining what has happened. Might take it more seriously then.

Sorry OP but I laughed out loud at this. The naughty office junior has always made me giggle. So long as it wasn't your own faces transposed onto the screen, it makes a great story for future parties and I'd use the whole scenario to get a huge discount. Wouldn't care less whether the culprit was sacked.

Yes, it’s incredibly unprofessional, and they should lose their job over it.

I also think you should stay out of it. Hoping someone gets fired when the outcome doesn’t actually affect you feels quite grudging, and it’s probably not great for your own mental wellbeing.

The thing is, what happened wasn’t just unprofessional, it was grossly inappropriate. This isn’t a mechanic’s garage in the 1990s! It’s a professional workplace in 2026. Accessing or using sexual content like that at work is so far beyond acceptable in our current society that it’s astonishing, right?!

Personally, I’d walk away and find somewhere else, without paying any fees.

It's not the end of the world. If you aren't happy, go with someone else.

I’d terminate the contract immediately and go elsewhere. Also a google review stating what happened and advising people to beware of their unprofessionalism. If they’re not taking your house sale seriously and behaving like kids, you’re wasting your time. You need to have a good working relationship with your estate agent and they’ve already blown it just for a laugh. You’re going to pay a lot of money to these people, you’re the client. Maybe if its starts hitting their commissions & profits they might grow up.

You're on the aibu section, it is completely on topic and relevant to that.

...or report them? Surely there's an ombudsman you can complain to?

I would be looking for a new estate agent!

I'd be taking my house straight off the market with them and making it clear as to why.