Buy A House at Auction
Please read our How-to guide below as we take you through the process.
When you buy a house at auction, in order to watch the auction, you do not need to
register. Simply click on the link on our homepage on the day of the auction.
Don’t forget the City & Rural team are always available to answer any questions you may have. Our auctions are currently being held as livestream auctions. Please return to the website to view the livestream auction.
If you would like to bid on a property, you must register to bid before the auction date. The approval process may take a few days, so please ensure you give yourself enough time to register if you are interested in bidding on a property. Registration typically opens five days before the auction date.
Part of registering to bid is to carry out AML checks (anti-money laundering) that are legally required before you are approved as a bidder. You may be required to complete a remote verification check. Click here to read our AML Requirements for bidders and buyers, or you can visit the Government Website at the link here.
Please join our mailing list, and we will notify you when it is time to register and send you relevant auction updates.
We use the EIG Auction Passport system for bidder registration. By clicking on any of the following links a new window will open allowing you complete the registration process.
How to buy a house at auction – important steps below:
Actions to take before the property auction
- Checkout the catalogue
- Attend a viewing on the lot that you are interested in if available
- Please register your interest with us by downloading a legal pack
- Review the legal pack and conduct due diligence
- Arrange the finance if required
- Register to bid by clicking here
- Check the Addendum if any
How do I bid once I am registered?
We offer three bidding services:
Telephone bidding – We only have a limited number of lines available so make sure you register early. A staff member will attempt to contact the bidder by telephone before the lot is offered for sale. If contact is made, then the bidder may compete in the bidding through the Auctioneer’s team. Suppose it is impossible to obtain telephone contact or the link breaks down. In that case, the Auctioneer is authorised to continue to bid on behalf of the telephone bidder up to the maximum bid if one is stated on the form.
Proxy Bidding – A City & Rural team member will bid in the room for you on auction day.
Internet bidding – Once the form is submitted and payment has been made, you will receive a unique PIN, and you will need to supply your email address to bid. If the internet connection is lost, the Auctioneer is authorised to continue to bid on behalf of the internet bidder up to the maximum bid stated on the form.
View our remote bidding terms and conditions here
As part of the registration process you will be required to securely register your debit card details with Opayo by Elavon, formerly SagePay. Opayo will authenticate and securely store your card details, but NO payment will be taken unless you are a successful purchaser. Remote bidders will be required to pre-authorise (on a credit or debit card) the amount of £6,500 prior to the auction comprising a £5,000 contribution towards the deposit plus the Auctioneers Buyer’s Administration Charge of £1,500. In the event that you make a purchase we will automatically take a payment from your registered card. You must therefore ensure you have sufficient funds in your bank account. There is a maximum amount we can automatically take from your card and you must be available by telephone on the auction day to make a top-up payment, to fulfil the 10% deposit, if required. If you do not register your card details with Opayo prior to the auction, you will not be able to bid.What happens on the day of the property auction?
- The Auctioneer will announce each lot and highlight any addendum applicable.
- The Auctioneer will orchestrate the bidding and invite bids from the various platforms.
- All the lots will have a reserve price and be offered for sale subject to the reserve.
- The ‘fall of the gavel’ is when the highest bid is achieved, and the reserve price has been met or exceeded.
- It is worth noting that properties are not sold subject to contract when you buy at auction. At the auction, properties are sold unconditionally. This means that you are legally obliged to honour the sale.
- If the property does not sell on auction day and you have registered the highest bid, you may be contacted after the auction.
Please note that City & Rural Property Auctions cannot be held responsible for internet / connection / communications problems which stop you from being able to bid for any of our auction properties.
What happens if I am the successful bidder?
- If you are the successful bidder, you will be contacted by a member of the City & Rural team to take the 10% deposit payment.
- When funds have been received, you will receive a Memorandum of Sale (signed as per the remote bidding terms & conditions) with the unique needs of sale (if any) attached.
- We will send your solicitor a copy of the legal pack if stated on the bidding form. Please forward your part of the contract to your solicitor
