I was in talks over the purchase of the property through the sale team, as part of the agreement I would initially rent the property with a clause to break the contract at any given time to purchase. The property was a new build where the owner was keen to sell rather than rent the property and so was happy with my agreement. Everything was in process and ready to go as far as I was aware, I was still dealing with the sales team. On the Monday I was told by the lettings team that they had sent me some paperwork through by email. When I checked my emails, there was just a message to contact them rather than paperwork. I rang the lettings team and spoke to Ross who was dealing with the situation and said that I would come in the next day during my lunch break at work to deal with everything. This was agreed and I was told what I would need to bring in to finalise everything. The next day at lunch I was not able to come in as work got busier, so instead I phoned Ross and told him that I would be not able to come in at lunch but instead I would come in after work at 6. I was told that they close at 6:30 so we wouldn't have much time to deal with all the paperwork. When I turned up at 5:30 (left work early to deal with everything before closing time) I was informed that all the paperwork was signed in the morning and the property was rented. I went back to speak to the sales team straight afterwards, and he had no idea about the whole situation with the lettings. As far as he was aware, I should have been given the paperwork on the Monday and everything was agreed with both the lettings team and the property owner. Fair enough, if another person got there first and put down a deposit and signed the paperwork before I did the same. Then it is their property. However, the under-hand way in which it was done is not how business is done. Not impressed and if I was not interested in purchasing the property I would not deal with them again. However, on a positive note. Andrew (my contact in the sale team) was very understanding and outraged himself at the way the lettings team dealt with the situation. Andrew has said he will speak to the lettings team on my behalf and have words with them about the way they carried out the letting, but I do see there being much left to do. If another has already paid a deposit and signed paperwork then it is their property. Big positive for Andrew at Gascoigne-Peas but not for Carson & Co.