Estate Agent didn't inform me of an offer on my property

[ComedyBoobs]

Not sure what to do, I'm a tad peeved to say the least.

I'm selling a property & considering changing agents. Today asked the estate agent for details on who has viewed & what offers have been made. There's one viewer on the list who made an offer a few weeks ago. I wasn't informed of this. It was a cash buyer, who has now found another property.

I'm tied into the contract for another month or so, but could this give me some sort of leverage to leave early? Where do I stand legally? I've tried googling, but it seems quite complicated.

The estate agent has been quite defensive about the whole thing when I asked for an explanation.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

They legally have to tell you of all offers.

Thanks, I thought that was the case.

I take it the estate agent has admitted they had an offer they failed to pass on? Do you have it in writing? Personally I'd seek legal advice (with the aim of getting compensation) as their breach of contract has cost you the sale of your house. At the very least they have terminated your contract by breaching it.

They aren't admitting that they failed to pass on the info - they've said it was due to a 'technical problem'

But if it was due to a technical problem then how did they know what your response was? Why did they not follow it up?

That’s really awful.
They are meant to inform you in writing within 24 hours, if there is a formal offer.
Complain to their head office in in writing and, if they are registered with them, complain to the NAEA or property ombudsman.

I wouldn't worry about terminating your contract with them now you've found that out.

I'd tell them they no longer represented me and I'd be taking the non passing on of the offer further

Sorry, I meant they claim they sent the info but it's due to a technical problem that I didn't receive it....
& now they think they've possibly got the names mixed up with regard to offers.

I've sent them screen shots of the offer letters I have received from them.
They have replied that they don't understand what I've sent.
It's a small local agent, so they don't have a head office.

I think estate agents don't inform you if you have conditions such as "don't even inform me if the offer is below X". Otherwise they need to inform you of all the offers received. But some of my friends told me estate agents are more interested in putting offers of buyers who use their mortgage advisor and leave out many others even though they have reasonable offers ( this is entirely based on hearsay though). Anyways, it's not wise to trust anyone completely

Whether it's illegal or not, I have heard definite cases of EAs not passing on offers because they have a mate or colleague wants to get the place cheaply.
Someone who used to buy, do up very cheaply and sell on, actually boasted to me about his 'arrangement' with his pet EAs, brown envelopes naturally involved.
I think it was largely, not I think entirely, in the case of repossessions, though.