Estate agent fees explained: what you pay and why

Estate agent fees are usually charged as a percentage of the final selling price, but what you pay depends on the agreement you sign and any extra costs in the contract. The points below set out the main fee structures and complaint routes based only on the facts provided here.

How estate agent fees work

Most estate agents calculate their fee as a percentage of the final selling price, with commission said to range from less than 1% to 3.5%. The agent must confirm the charges and commission rate in writing when they agree to act for you. It is also worth checking whether advertising, property details, photographs, the for-sale board and VAT are included, because these can be extra. If you pull out of a sale or change agents, the contract may still require you to cover costs the agent has already incurred, such as advertising.

Sole agency vs sole selling rights

These terms matter because they affect when commission is due. With sole selling rights, the agent has the exclusive right to sell your home, so you still pay commission even if you find the buyer yourself. With a sole agency, you use one agent but do not pay commission if you find the buyer yourself, and the terms must be explained in writing. A sole agency lasts for the fixed period in the contract, and using another agent before that ends can break the contract and may mean paying commission to both agents.

Joint and multiple agency

With joint agency, the agents share the commission and the rate is usually higher. With multiple agency, only the agent who sells the property is entitled to commission, again at a rate that is usually higher. The key difference is whether the commission is shared or paid only to the successful agent.

Redress if things go wrong

All residential estate agents must belong to a government-approved redress scheme: The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. The supplied guidance says an agent can be fined up to £5,000 for not joining. If the agent cannot sort out a problem, you can complain to the scheme they belong to, but you should raise the complaint in writing with the agent first.

Tender-process sales

In a tender-process sale, the buyer pays the agent’s commission fee, while the seller pays only a small marketing fee or nothing at all. That makes it a different fee model from the more common commission charged to the seller.

Key facts

Source: Citizens Advice - Selling a home — Guidance checked August 2026

Source: Citizens Advice - Selling a home — Guidance checked August 2026

Source: Citizens Advice - Selling a home — Guidance checked August 2026

Source: Citizens Advice - Selling a home — Guidance checked August 2026