When one's property is in the hands of an Estate Agent for letting/selling purposes and one finds a tenant/buyer independently, is one still legally liable to pay the Agent's commission?
Yes you are liable unless you give the names of possible interested parties when property was put on market. otherwsie there is no proof that the person interested didnt see the sale literiture / signs etc.
It would need to be in your contract that any person coming to you while the property is marketed would still result in the agent collecting the relevant fee. Unfortunately no Estate Agent is stupid enough not to put that clause in the contract.
If I was unhappy with one estate agent and cancelled any agreement with them wouldn't I then be able to find another buyer (independently or via another agent) without paying fees to the first?
Can't follycottage just cancel her agreement/contract?