Yesterday, while I was at work, a stranger came to my door. My relatives were home and they initially ignored the knock, but the person went to a side door and peered through the windows, and then continued knocking, so eventually they opened the door. This stranger identified herself as someone who had viewed my property before my offer was accepted, asked questions about how we had renovated, asked what our cultural heritage is, tried to come inside, and said that she had heard that the owner of the house was a lawyer (I am a lawyer). My relatives were very uncomfortable but took her name and number and sent them to me.
I called immediately, and I asked her how she learned that the owner of the house is a lawyer. She was very reticent but I made it clear I wouldn’t be engaging with her until she told me, and eventually she said that one of the estate agents with the listing (not the one I worked with) told her that the buyer was a lawyer. She then proceeded to ask for legal advice, which I politely declined to give, and described in detail the layout of my home including entry points, which I did not engage with. She said she would pop around another time and I said that wouldn’t be necessary, and then she said she might see me out and about as she has now bought another place in the same neighbourhood and I said that my dog is very protective if strangers approach me (true). She then advised me to get a ring camera if I don’t want strangers at my home. The whole conversation was chilling to be honest.
I then called the estate agent, who pleaded ignorance. I’m not surprised they didn’t confess, given the implications, but I see no other avenue for this information leak. I suspect when my offer was accepted through a rival estate agent the seller would have told this estate agent that they had chosen me because I was a lawyer and they thought I would complete faster (true). They might have then casually mentioned this to others who were interested in the house. It tracks because this stranger at my door didn’t know the gender of the lawyer at the address, and I think any other person who might say that a lawyer lived at this address would use a pronoun.
I’m now considering my next steps. Is this a data protection issue? I am registered with that estate agent as I viewed other properties with them, but they say they weren’t aware it was me that purchased the house. If events transpired as I suspected, have they breached any data protection laws?