Guides › Buying and Selling a Home › Estate Agent Fees and Contract Tie-Ins
Estate Agent Fees and Contract Tie-Ins
When you sell through an estate agent you sign a legally binding contract, so its fees and terms decide what you owe. Check what the fee covers and whether you could pay more than one agent (dual fees), which depends on sole selling rights. Agents must pass on all offers until exchange.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Agency Contract
Fees and Terms
If you use an estate agent you must sign a legally binding contract. Check the charges and what is included, and whether you may need to pay more than one agent (dual fees), which depends on whether an agent has sole selling rights. You must stick to the contract terms or could be taken to court. You must be told if the agent gets a payment from a company it recommends. source
Complaining
Complaining about an agent
Complain to the estate agent using its complaints procedure. If you are unhappy, complain to the redress scheme it belongs to: The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. They investigate for free. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Before signingRead the fees and tie-inAnd whether the agent has sole selling rights
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Find your agency contract and read the fee and notice terms.
Step 2 of 5
Check dates: when you signed, any tie-in, and any second agent.
Step 3 of 5
Ask the agent to explain the fee in writing.
Step 4 of 5
Complain through its complaints procedure.
Step 5 of 5
Then go to its redress scheme, free.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
The Estate Agent
Complaints procedure first.
The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme
Free, after the agent.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Get any change to the fee agreed in writing.
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Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/selling-a-home/estate-agents Checked 13 October 2026
- gov.uk/selling-a-home/making-a-complaint Checked 13 October 2026