An estate agent let himself and two potential tenants in to view a house, just hours after a woman had given birth in the living room, according to the new parents.

The man is said to have entered the property in Charter Street, Chatham, without permission while the woman's husband was clearing up after the home birth, which the estate agent denies.

New mum Katherine Poynter and her husband James are furious nobody from the Linda Matthews estate agency has apologised for the unannounced appointment.

The firm has said the visit was a genuine mistake.

Katherine, 33, a quality management co-ordinator, gave birth to her first baby, daughter Autumn, on June 15.

But she said: “The whole event tarnished what was supposed to be the most amazing day in our lives and continued to concern us that it would happen again.”

After the normal, healthy delivery Katherine had to go to Medway Maritime Hospital for stitches and her daughter needed check-ups.

James, 30, a retail line manager, and her sister-in-law were making the three-bedroom mid-terrace comfortable to welcome their return.

The couple had made the agents aware of Katherine’s pregnancy and her due date and asked to be given ample notice of a visit., giving both their mobile numbers along with emails and a landline number, but said no attempt was made to give them prior notice.

They had been tenants at the property for four years and told them of plans to move to Whitstable, where they now live, once the baby arrived.

The agent had got as far as the front room when James confronted him and the party left.

Katherine said: “Many emails and phone calls have been made and sent and we are still awaiting for an apology and explanation.”

Maria Garlick, manager of the Linda Matthews branch in Luton Road, Chatham, said it was “a genuine mistake” and “human error”.

She said: “The estate agent should have read his notes and he didn’t. He did not realise the property was occupied.”

Mrs Garlick strongly disputed the employee let himself in.

She said: “Somebody came to the door and when he was told it was inconvenient, he apologised and left immediately.”

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