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Original poster

Estate Agent caught on camera

95 replies

Tickledyellowish · 18/01/2021 07:18

Our house has been on the market since early November and progress has been slow. I have to chase for any sort of information. It feels like they don't actually want to sell our house. We have only had 3 viewings in nearly 3 months so they are not doing much. We are open to advice, have dropped the price once and would take contrive feedback if we were lucky enough to get it.
We have a video doorbell at the front of the house and a kitchen camera which is set up for our puppy, and we have snuck a peek at these to get an insight into the viewings. Whilst I am confident that there is no legal issue here (it's our private property) it does feel a little imoral. However, it has meant that i have seen the estate agent turn up 10 mins late to viewings, park his car on the only driveway space so visitors can't park anywhere, introduce our lovely home by showing them the inside of our very cluttered garage. I have heard conversations about our house which fail to show it in it's best light and comparisons with cheaper properties that fail to show a proper understanding of what us on offer. I'm really annoyed about it and i feel let down. I honestly think and i could have done a better job myself.
The thing is, do I let on that I've seen and heard these things? I feel like making them squirm a bit, or should I just quit anyway and leave quietly?
I am going to end my contract with them either way.
Thanks for your thoughts.

OP posts:

Shedbuilder · 18/01/2021 11:06

@Tickledyellowish

Well, I just thought that it was a natural question to ask. Two houses the same design on their books, one was £25k cheaper! But that one was horrible.

But maybe someone would want to spend £25,000 doing that 'horrible' one up to suit their taste rather than spend more money on yours, which reflects your taste. That would be the clever thing to do: pay less, have a house that suits you and add value.

I have no idea what your taste is, but a quick glance at Rightmove reveals any number of 'beautifully decorated and refurbished' homes priced at a premium and struggling to find a buyer because of their feature wall wallpaper, brown bathrooms and shiny-floored kitchens. Not saying that your home is like that, of course, but one woman's meat is another woman's poison.

I'd be furious if I was filmed viewing a house without my knowledge and would regard it as a invasion of privacy. I wouldn't want to buy from someone who snooped. It would make me wonder what else they might be prepared to do.

LM20 · 18/01/2021 11:13

@Oreservoir as an agent I would have no problem, but clients that I show around would not be expecting to be filmed. There is discussions which should be private and confidential.

If a client has a camera I would expect it to be disclosed so I can let my client know before they viewed.

PropertyThreads · 18/01/2021 11:13

I think if you don't want to tell the EAs (and potentially their viewers) that you've recorded them without their knowledge...then surely you realise your actions are wrong, certainly morally if not legally.

user1497207191 · 18/01/2021 11:53

[quote LM20]@Oreservoir as an agent I would have no problem, but clients that I show around would not be expecting to be filmed. There is discussions which should be private and confidential.

If a client has a camera I would expect it to be disclosed so I can let my client know before they viewed.[/quote]
Doorbell cams are common and pretty obvious.

As for the other cameras and recording equipment, then what matters is the LAW, which can be viewed on the information commissioners website. It's pretty irrelevant what you think should happen. Your thoughts and expectations don't trump what the law says.

If you're that bothered, perhaps you should include a "no recording" clause in your terms and conditions??

kirinm · 18/01/2021 12:05

[quote LM20]@Oreservoir as an agent I would have no problem, but clients that I show around would not be expecting to be filmed. There is discussions which should be private and confidential.

If a client has a camera I would expect it to be disclosed so I can let my client know before they viewed.[/quote]
Aren't your clients the vendor?

Oreservoir · 18/01/2021 12:10

@kirinm well spotted. You’d think so wouldn’t you?

@PropertyThreads. Do tell.

MaliceOrgan · 18/01/2021 13:13

It's not just the Ring doorbell though is it (and they're not THAT obvious, especially if you are being shown through the door by the EA) but she's also recording people in the kitchen. It seems really invasive to me, regardless of the legalities.

The stuff about the parking is a non issue. And the messy garage is your responsibility so is another non issue.

OP seems to have strange expectations (hounding the EA about the fact that they're selling another house in the same street) so I assume the EA won't be sad to see her go

LM20 · 18/01/2021 13:30

@kirinm buyers and sellers are both my clients...

Marpan · 18/01/2021 13:39

If someone wanted to buy your house they would have already. It has nothing to do with an agent - if you were to view a property are you going to make an offer based on the person doing the viewing and what room they took you into?? Doubtful.

It’s not the agents fault people haven’t made you an offer, or that your garage is “cluttered” . All agents do the exact same, take photos and put them on Rightmove and wait for phonecalls to come in - maybe they send it to their mailing list too.

kirinm · 18/01/2021 13:42

[quote LM20]@kirinm buyers and sellers are both my clients...[/quote]
No they aren't. If you claim they are, you're looking at a serious conflict o interest. Which client pays you? It isn't the buyer, is it.

BigusBumus · 18/01/2021 14:56

We've got very visible cameras inside and outside our house, around 14 of them altogether that can be viewed on an app on my phone. No souncd on them though. Two neighbours houses are visable on the edges and i asked them if they wanted their houses blocked out (you can put a black rectangle over any bit like they do over the loo area in a police cell) and they both said no they were pleased their houses were on it. I wouldn't think of checking with anyone who came to my house if they minded. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Just litterally wouldn't ask.

If you're not getting many viewings, its the price or Rightmove presentation. Put up a link so we can critique it, then remove the post in a couple of days.

Do the viewings yourself. You get to point out the best bits of the house. DO NOT say you've run out of room, its too small or anything like that.

AcornAutumn · 18/01/2021 19:42

Bigus "I wouldn't think of checking with anyone who came to my house if they minded. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Just litterally wouldn't ask."

So do friends come over not knowing they are being filmed?

What would your defence be for me if I had a camera in my bedroom and filmed someone having sex without their knowledge and consent?

lljkk · 18/01/2021 19:49

Are you guys saying that if I use my phone to film a crowd at the beach then I'm breaking a law by not getting permission... I don't believe you.

OP: That's a lot of dissatisfaction from just 3 viewings!

Chicchicchicchiclana · 18/01/2021 19:52

If you're ending your contract with them why have you posted asking for thoughts/advice/opinions?

Surely a massive waste of your time and a waste of time for anyone who replies.

AcornAutumn · 18/01/2021 20:06

@lljkk

Are you guys saying that if I use my phone to film a crowd at the beach then I'm breaking a law by not getting permission... I don't believe you.

OP: That's a lot of dissatisfaction from just 3 viewings!

Aren't there different laws for this and for private homes?

bobbojobbo · 18/01/2021 20:33

Are you guys saying that if I use my phone to film a crowd at the beach then I'm breaking a law by not getting permission... I don't believe you

No, thats completely different than when you are doing your job in a private home. It's about expectation of privacy.

Cissyandflora · 18/01/2021 20:38

Your doorbell is there for all to see. Everyone knows how they work. I don’t think it’s immoral to say you reviewed the footage. And that you haven’t been happy with what you’ve seen from the agent. You don’t need to mention the kitchen camera really. They’ll get the message.

bobbojobbo · 18/01/2021 20:43

You do need to mention the kitchen camera. You can't film people at their work without a word. It's uber-dickish.

Bluntness100 · 19/01/2021 06:15

I don’t think what she’s done is illegal but it is a grey area. Morally recording someone and not telling them is of course wrong, but legally it’s about the right to privacy, and I don’t think visitors get that, but she’s on the grey line between surveillance and spying in how she’s handling this.

For the poster who asked, it’s very different to filming a beach scene. She’s inviting people into her home, secretly recording them, then viewing the footage later. Creepy. But likely not illegal.

peak2021 · 20/01/2021 07:08

If you knew that the estate agent turned up 10 minutes late, you would have known the appointment times, and could have looked at your doorbell then. Whilst I think an estate agent who did not know about these doorbells is rare, it does not suggest recording. You were curious who was going to be looking at your house, so you looked at the doorbell at the appointed time.

Though that is not the same as secret recording, which is a grey area at best.

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