Property Search Agency Terms and Conditions
The documents in this folder are for use by Property Search Agencies or “Property Finders” who charge a fee for helping Clients to find properties to buy or rent.
The templates below cater for both private clients (looking for a property to live in) and business clients (seeking a property for business use, development or investment). The templates are flexible and contain various optional clauses that can be used or omitted as necessary to reflect the service provided by your Agency.
All of the documents contain detailed provisions as to commission (with fixed fee and percentage-based commission arrangements offered as alternatives), timescale and the obligations of the Agency and the Client respectively.
Property Search Agency Terms and Conditions is part of Property. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Property for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
I help buyers find properties for a fee. What contract do I use? +
A property search agency agreement, also called a property finder agreement, setting out the search service, your commission and the obligations on both sides. The templates cater for private clients looking for a home and business clients seeking property for use, development or investment, with optional clauses you switch on or off. Commission can be a fixed fee or a percentage.
Does a property search agent count as an estate agent under the law? +
Often yes. Introducing people who want to buy or sell with a view to a transaction is estate agency work under the Estate Agents Act 1979, so a property finder acting for buyers is generally caught. That means you must belong to a redress scheme and deal fairly and transparently. Check your activities against the Act. The terms are drafted with these duties in mind.
How should I set my commission so I actually get paid? +
Define clearly what triggers the fee, whether it is finding a suitable property, an offer being accepted or completion, and whether a fixed fee or a percentage applies. Ambiguity is the main cause of fee disputes. The templates offer fixed fee and percentage alternatives with provisions on timescale and each side's obligations, so you can set the trigger that suits your service.
Must I be honest about a property's drawbacks even though I act for the buyer? +
Yes. Consumer protection law, now the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, prohibits misleading actions and omissions, so you cannot hide material problems to push a purchase. Acting for the buyer does not license spin. Straight dealing also protects your reputation and your fee. The terms reflect these fair dealing duties.
