selling
Estate agent contract types: sole agency, sole selling rights, joint agency and multi-agency compared
Estate agent contract types compared: sole agency, sole selling rights, joint and multi-agency, with tie-in periods, fees and what to check before you sign.
- 4 min read
- Last reviewed 4 November 2026
- By Your Property Check team
Key answer
Part 1 of 8
The four contract types
General information, not advice. Citizens Advice explains the main types, and a sole agency or sole selling rights contract must be explained to you in writing. GOV.UK says that if you use an agent you must sign a legally binding contract and follow its terms. Both pages were read on 4 November 2026.
| Contract | Fee level | Tie-in | Risk to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole agency | One agent's commission | A fixed period, then you can move on | Commission can still be due later on a buyer the agent introduced, if the contract says so |
| Sole selling rights | One agent's commission | A fixed period | You pay the agent even if you find the buyer yourself |
| Joint agency | Commission shared between two agents; usually more expensive, says Citizens Advice | Set in the contract | You must agree in advance how the commission is split |
| Multi-agency | Only the agent who sells earns commission; the rate is usually higher than sole agency, says Citizens Advice | Often none, check the contract | More agents may reach more buyers, but fees are higher |
Fee levels in pounds depend on the contract you are offered. Our estate agent fees guide shows how a percentage becomes a figure and what agents must tell you before you sign.
Part 2 of 8
Sole agency
You appoint one agent for a set period. The HomeOwners Alliance guide says that if contracts are exchanged with a buyer your agent introduced, the agent is entitled to the fee, and if you find the buyer yourself, no fee is due. Citizens Advice says the same: you pay no commission if you find a buyer yourself. The guide warns that open-ended contracts may still allow commission later.
Part 3 of 8
Sole selling rights
The agent is the only one allowed to sell your home during the stated period, and you pay them even if you find your own buyer. The HomeOwners Alliance guide advises thinking carefully before signing this type. It also notes that Property Ombudsman Code members must take particular care to distinguish sole agency from sole selling rights, so ask the agent to say in writing which one you are signing.
Part 4 of 8
Joint agency and multi-agency
With joint agency you appoint two agents who agree in advance how commission is split, and the HomeOwners Alliance guide says this usually only makes sense with a national specialist plus a local generalist. With multi-agency you instruct several agents and the one who introduces the buyer earns the fee. More agents can reach more buyers, but the fees are higher. GOV.UK warns that using more than one agent may mean paying dual fees when your home sells, depending on the contract type and on whether any agent has sole selling rights.
Part 5 of 8
What is a tie-in period?
A tie-in, or lock-in, period is the time you are committed to an agent before you can move to another. The HomeOwners Alliance guide says sole agency lock-in periods are commonly 4 or 12 weeks, and that anything longer is unnecessary, in its view. It adds that a notice period can apply on top of the minimum lock-in, citing an example of a 20-week tie-in with a 4-week notice period. These lengths are that guide's own description, not a legal limit. Ask for the exact dates of the tie-in and the notice period in writing.
Part 6 of 8
Can you use two agents, or cancel?
Whether you can use two agents depends on the contract you sign. GOV.UK says using more than one agent may mean paying dual fees, depending on the contract type and whether an agent has sole selling rights, so read the terms before a second agent shows the property.
On cancelling, the HomeOwners Alliance guide says the Code gives a 14-day cooling-off period if the contract was signed away from the agent's premises, usually at your home. It also says termination fees must reasonably reflect the activity undertaken and must not be a penalty charge. Check for a continuing liability clause: under the Code, the guide says, the agent must explain this in writing and list the parties they introduced.
Part 7 of 8
Terms to avoid or query
The guide names "ready, willing and able" wording, which makes you owe a fee if a buyer is ready, willing and able even if exchange does not happen, and says "Do not accept this". It also advises watching for handwritten changes such as a marketing incentive fee, and for in-house services added without your agreement.
Part 8 of 8
Before you sign
- Ask which contract type it is, in writing.
- Ask for the tie-in and notice period dates.
- Check commission is calculated on the final sale price and includes VAT.
- Ask what happens if you find a buyer yourself.
- Ask for the continuing liability terms.
- Ask which redress scheme the agent belongs to.
If an agent does not give you the required fee information before you sign, section 18 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 limits how they can enforce the contract, as set out in our fees guide. If you have a complaint, The Property Ombudsman is a redress scheme for property businesses. Our guides to selling without an estate agent and how to sell a house quickly cover other routes.
This page is general information, not advice. For a specific contract, ask a conveyancing solicitor to read it before you sign.
Our take
Ask which contract it is, in writing
Our view: the contract type matters more than the headline rate. Sole selling rights means you pay even if you find the buyer, and tie-in and notice periods can add commitment on top, so ask for the contract type and exact dates in writing. The common mistake is signing first and reading the continuing liability terms later.
What Your Property Check adds: our sale method comparison sets auction, estate agent and cash buyer side by side on net proceeds and timescale, and our free house valuation gives a sourced range from real Land Registry sold prices to check an agent's figure against.
Our opinion, drawn from the facts on this page: not advice and not a forecast. We earn from OfferCheck reports and from introducing sellers to cash buyers, so weigh it with that in mind (see our disclosure). We are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
What is a sole agency agreement?
What is a tie-in period?
Can you use two agents?
Can you cancel an estate agent contract?
What is the difference between joint agency and multi-agency?
Where this comes from
Sources
- Citizens Advice: Selling a home
- GOV.UK: Selling a home, estate agents
- HomeOwners Alliance: Estate agent contracts, what to watch for
- The Property Ombudsman
Last reviewed 4 November 2026 by the Your Property Check team. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, speak to a conveyancing solicitor or another qualified professional.