Estate agents are being told not to block buyers who refuse an in-house broker for their mortgage.

Access Financial Services has started a campaign to remind agents that ‘conditional selling’ breaches the Code of Practice.

The London-based brokerage has issued a template letter that mortgage advisers can send to agents, which says it is illegal not to put all offers to a property seller.

Access says a minority of agents “intimidate” prospective buyers by warning them their offer will not be put to the seller unless they use the company mortgage adviser.

The broker can also provide the necessary financial qualification if required, including both a Decision in Principle certificate and proof of deposit funds to prove that their client can afford the house purchase.

If the estate agent either doesn’t respond or continues to pressurise the client, then Access FS advocates the broker then reports the estate agent to the Property Ombudsman.

Bad practice

Karl Wilkinson, CEO of Access Financial Services, (main picture) says: “Our own brokers have experienced the effects of this conditional selling by a minority of estate agents.

“It can cause clients distress and at times it prevents clients from being able to work with brokers they have a long-standing relationship with.

It is time we stamped out the bad practice of the few who damage things for the rest.”

“While the majority of estate agents operate within the Code and have a positive relationship with many mortgage brokers, it is time we stamped out the bad practice of the few who damage things for the rest.”

The template letter can be downloaded here