Rightmove faces £1bn authorized declare over ‘extreme’ charges for property brokers

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Property portal Rightmove is going through a considerable authorized problem amid accusations it expenses hundreds of UK property brokers "unfair and extreme" charges.

A gaggle bringing the declare estimates potential damages may complete round £1 billion.

The case, led by Jeremy Newman, a former panel member for the UK’s competitors watchdog, is about to be heard by the Competitors Enchantment Tribunal.

Mr Newman affirmed the motion will "search to return the overpaid charges to property brokers throughout the nation".

He accused the agency of actions that “exploits its dominance of the web property portal market within the UK to cost excessively and unfairly excessive subscription charges, each at face worth and when put next with its opponents”.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/12/8/54/GettyImages-2164119750.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/12/8/54/GettyImages-2164119750.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/12/8/54/GettyImages-2164119750.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Estate agents have complained the property portal charge excessive fees" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Property brokers have complained the property portal cost extreme charges (AFP/Getty) “Property brokers have needed to take in constant, extreme value will increase frequently,” he added.

Hundreds of property brokers might be represented within the authorized motion except they select to choose out.

In a press release to traders, Rightmove stated it had “acquired discover of a possible declare”, including: “We’re assured within the worth we offer to our companions.”

Primarily based on the estimated complete damages and measurement of the category motion, it's understood that the declare assumes brokers will be charged hundreds of kilos in charges to make use of Rightmove.

Rightmove has beforehand come beneath scrutiny with a petition gaining greater than 2,000 signatures earlier this yr calling for an investigation into its pricing mannequin.

The agency has been accused of compacting small companies and impartial businesses with charges which are greater than what company chains pay.

Mr Newman was previously a panel member on the Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA), which investigates markets, firms, and enterprise offers if there are issues that their is likely to be unfair or anti-competitive behaviour.

The case is being funded by specialist litigation funder Innsworth Capital Restricted.

Rightmove says it has the UK’s largest collection of properties on the market and to lease, with round 80 per cent of all time spent on property portals being on its website.