A prominent barrister has raised the possibility of legal action being taken against online estate agents for breach of fiduciary duty. Ian Rees Phillips of 6 Pump Court Chambers offered his opinion after examining the business model of hybrid agents. He said that there is a "mismatch in interests and incentives between principals [the home seller] and online agents". The lawyer also suggested that some firms were using "aggressive marketing tactics" to attract new clients. Vendors could then seek compensation. “With the hybrid model, the agent’s incentive is to list. Rees Phillips stated he saw "no immediate likelihood" of such a case.
A prominent barrister has raised the possibility of legal action being taken against online estate agents for breach of fiduciary duty. Ian Rees Phillips of 6 Pump Court Chambers offered his opinion after examining the business model of hybrid agents. He said that there is a "mismatch in interests and incentives between principals [the home seller] and online agents". The lawyer also suggested that some firms were using "aggressive marketing tactics" to attract new clients. Vendors could then seek compensation. Rees Phillips stated he saw "no immediate likelihood" of such a case.