The BBC Panorama investigation aired on 14th July 25, uncovered unsavoury dealings within multiple branches of estate agents in Britain. They concern the practice of obtaining fees or commission payments from different sources, often to the disadvantage of clients selling properties through their offices.
It is being claimed there is NO proper policing of this market going on. The code of practice which estate agents are required to sign up to may not fully cover such matters. Meanwhile estate agents are, once again, embroiled in a scandal after BBC Panorama has uncovered the Conditional Selling duopoly.
Also, it is claimed many estate agents over-value houses just in order to gain the instruction to sell them in the first place.
It seems to be the case that many practicing estate agents have never been formally qualified as property valuers, something which those employing them to sell their houses are frequently unaware of.
It would seem that this is by no means the first time such concerning allegations of this kind have been levelled at those working in the estate agency sector.
The Panorama programme explained there are two opposing sides in a property negotiation. The estate agent should work for the seller and the mortgage broker should work for the buyer. Whichever side you’re on in such transactions you would need to know that the person that is helping you, whether it’s an estate agent or a mortgage broker, is acting in yourinterest alone. Those not observing this in such business dealings would appear to be about as unprofessional as anyone could possibly be. Therefore Conditional Selling, a practice often used in estate agency, should clearly be outlawed under the government rules. Favouring those buyers who are arranging mortgages through the selling estate agent would be an example of breaking such a rule.
It would seem that the law needs to change in order to deal with what’s actually happening out in the real world, because this practice is potentially unfair both to buyers and to sellers.
Buying and selling a house is claimed to be one of the most stressful things you can do. People need to be able to trust the estate agent they appoint and be confident that they are acting in their best interests.
This is something that the property ombudsman should be looking at. Also the Financial Services Industry needs to take a look but ultimately, Trading Standards would need to police this to the full extent of the law.
See ‘Undercover Estate Agent’, BBC Panorama, Reporter Lucy Valance – Monday 14 July 2025.