Estate Agent Fees

[columbia64]

An estate agent hasn't sold my house in the agreed contracted 20 week period, and they carried out an EPC on the property. I now wish to change agents as the contract has expired but they now require me to pay the £93 for the EPC. Surely I shouldn't be expected to pay as they failed to complete their side of the bargain. Could anyone please advise?

[Canary42]

Tell them to get stuffed !

[Graham-W]

Who paid for the EPC. If the estate agency paid for it, it is theirs. If you want a copy of it, they will sell it to you for £93.

[Eve]

I take it they paid someone to do the EPC for you and I imagine you signed something to say you'd pay it (along with their fees if you sold the house through them). Did they have your consent to get it done as it was required for marketing for sale?

You would, I anticipate, be able to use the EPC on the sale still. If you have it and they paid for it then it's only fair they are reimbursed.

[TonyV]

You just need to look at agreement you signed with Estate Agent to see if you or they are liable for EPC fee.

[Eve]

Another thought, I would assume your contract was that only they market the property for the 20 week period after which you are free to go elsewhere to market it or similar. I doubt they have actually agreed that they will sell it within the 20 weeks - do correct me if I'm wrong though. If this is the case then the not holding up their side of the bargain argument might not get you very far.

[AlBags]

The moral of this tale is to know exactly what the Estate Agents are screwing you over for.
... and they do screw people over .. no doubt about that.

[CanisMajor]

Well assuming you are going to sell the house anyway, pay for the EPC then that's done. You'll have to pay anyway to whatever agent finally sells the house so you may as well keep this one.

[tamborine]

They didn't sell in given time so suffer their own costs.

DIY here:

http://www.energyperf...cecertificates.co.uk/

[nextqueen]

we got ours done by someone who does it privately, for 45pounds i think at the time. some charge cheaper i think. the man just came round, did his survey, went home and sent the certificate to us online and invoiced us for it by post. agents are rip offs when they do it. im guessing you will have to pay them for this then you can use it to pass it on to future agents or even if you sell it yourself.