Liability for agency fees

Our house was on sale, we were approached by an agency who brought a client, and represented his interests. He wishes to buy the house. Are we liable to pay the full agency fees of 1% even if they have not represented our interests? We do have another estate agent who has not made the sale.

You don't have to pay him anything since you were selling the house directly by yourself and he approached you on behalf of his client. You basically served as your own agent and negotiated this deal.

As a professional it was his responsibility to clear this with you on very first day which he didn't. So now you can stand firm and refuse as there is no legally binding verbal or written contract between you and this agent.