Estate Agents Act 1979
This Act imposes certain duties on estate agents, including requiring the provision of information to their clients. When you first engage an estate agent you should receive written details about the agency's fees and terms of business. Any offers the Agent receives about your property should then be passed on to you promptly and in writing. You should also receive information about any services an estate agent may offer potential buyers of your property and any personal interests the agency may have in the transaction e.g. if he is related to the buyer.
The Act is policed by Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service and Office of Fair Trading (OFT). If an estate agent breaks the law the OFT can issue a warning order and in the most serious cases a prohibition order can be issued which can ban someone from estate agency work.
