Estate agents and legality?

[Elouera]

We have put in an offer to buy 3 different homes over the past 2 weeks, at 3 different agents. Each one, we haven't heard a thing, and when we've called a day or so later, been told the agent was off sick, and then the house has now been sold! Is the 'he was off sick' a common thing for estate agents or is there any requirement for them to offer us a counter offer? I read that agents legally need to inform the vendor of ALL offers, but is there anything in place for those of us trying to buy?

Anyone?

There is certainly not requirement for the vendors to counter offer.
Vendors can tell agents not to inform them of offers below or certain amount or if they have accepted another offer etc. Also I guess they plain just ignore it even if they are informed of one.

Seems unlikely that it’d be the case with all 3, but being a nasty cynic, and having personal knowledge and experience of it, I’d suspect the EA of having an ‘arrangement’ with another buyer.

If the vendors are resident, I think I’d slip a note through the door, stating your offer, and just saying that since the EA is sick, you just want to make sure they’re aware.