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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Key definition
Agency definition

What does Agency mean? Agency describes the legal relationship by which one person (the agent) is authorised to affect a principal’s legal relations with third parties, typically by entering contracts or performing other legal acts on the principal’s behalf. It is a common law concept developed mainly through case law across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, with sectoral statutes in specific contexts (for example the Commercial Agents Regulations, the Partnership Act 1890 and companies legislation). Key features include authority (actual—express or implied—and apparent/ostensible), the principal’s ability to be bound or acquire rights through the agent (including by ratification),...

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CMA Competition Act 1998 Chapter I decision: Berkshire estate agents’ minimum commission price-fixing cartel—fines, settlements and director disqualification undertakings (2019–2020)

Practice notes
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CASE HUB ARCHIVED –this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 17 December 2019; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline, commentary and related cases.

Case facts

Summary of a CMA Chapter I inquiry into suspected fixing of estate agents’ commission charges in Berkshire.

Latest development

On 15 June 2020, the CMA stated it had obtained legally binding director disqualification undertakings from: (i) Mr Stephen Jones, a director of Richard Worth Holdings Limited and Richard Worth Limited (in administration); and (ii) Mr Neal Mackenzie, a director of Michael Hardy & Company (Wokingham) Limited, Michael Hardy & Company (Lettings) Limited and Geocharbert UK Limited. Mr Jones agreed not to act as a director of any UK company for six and a half years, and Mr Mackenzie agreed to the same period.

Parties

  • Michael Hardy & Company (Wokingham) Limited and Geocharbert UK Ltd (together, Michael Hardy)
  • Prospect Estate Agency Limited and Prospect Holdings (Reading) Limited (together, Prospect)
  • Richard Worth Limited (in administration) and Richard Worth Holdings Limited (together, Richard Worth)
  • The Romans...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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