Estate agent

[Jotribiani]

We had our house up with 2 estates agents. Estate agent 1 rang us and said someone wants to view but we had to do viewing which we done. When she arrived at our house it turns out we knew her! They offered but had to pull out due to their buyer . I have now removed estate agent 1 and gone solely with the other one. However I have since spoken to the woman we know who said she is now in a position to move forward. When we cancelled with first estate agent they sent a snotty letter stating they was commission if we sell to anyone they have introduced. Now technically they haven’t introduced her, she just didn’t know it was our house! Also they didn’t show her round, they just arranged a viewing through by calling us and saying you have to show X round this day. They were pretty crap tbh. It was the only viewing they ‘sorted’ for us. If we went ahead and done this sale privately how would the first estate agent ever know if we are no longer using them? They want over £3k for doing pretty much not an awful lot for an introduction fee

If the only reason she viewed your property was because it was advertised by that agent then you are due to pay them commission. Check the T&Cs. I'm sure they have covered their arse on this point.

Even though it feels unfair.
Lazy of them not to do the viewing though

I get what you mean but if me and her proceeded how would they know? They were useless I had to tell her I had accepted her offer and exchanged all details of the house. The estate agent didn’t even ring her to say I’d accepted. Pretty bloody useless! Is there anyway they would know as they’re not even involved now it’s literally me and her speaking direct

I presume they could find out once the sale goes through via land registry or something, then they could sue you. I guess it prevents all buyers and sellers from "doing a deal" behind the EA's back whether you know them personally or not.

Can't she just arrange another viewing with Estate agent number 2?

I would check their TC and your agreement if there is any. You say that they were crap so you might find something that already invalidated the agreement by their behaviour. btw I can't imagine that EAs have time to annually check the land registry if some of their ex-clients really sold the property to someone they introduced.

We signed agreement but the buyer pulled out 2 days after. The day they pulled out I rang estate agent 1 and told them longer wanted to use them. In the T&Cs is says we can cancel the contract within a 14 day period which we have technically done haven’t we?