it can happen when ur offer price is much more lower than the seller's asking price.

owner/ agents try to avoid those incidents when buyer just shuong shuong checking the lowest price.

but if u are not comfortable with the agent or the seller, then move on to another unit or via another agent.

plenty properties out there now

it within the law
because if you read carefully in the offer letter, the enclosed consideration 'cheque of xx amount' is subject to owner's acceptable.

so dont think its breach of agency duty.

of course, once offer rejected, the agent need to return the chq to u in due course.