Is Gazumping Legal? Unfortunately, gazumping is legal in England and Wales. This is because an agreement to buy or sell a property is not legally binding until the contracts are written and exchanged. Until this exchange occurs, the 2 parties cannot be held to a previous verbal agreement.

Should I accept a gazumping offer?

Whether or not you believe in karma, you may feel that gazumping is simply not morally justifiable. ... A lock-out clause would mean that the homeowner would be prevented from accepting any higher offers after the agreement has been made, therefore, your gazumping will come to nothing.

Do estate agents allow gazumping?

There have been claims that estate agents – who earn a percentage of the sold price – have been known to encourage gazumping. But it's unlikely to be intentional. Even after the seller has accepted an offer from one buyer, the estate agent is legally obliged to pass on any offer they receive.