COMMENT: Is Rightmove, the wrong move?
Summary
This opinion piece argues that Rightmove’s fee increases are disproportionate to the lead generation value some estate agencies receive, particularly in London where alternative marketing channels are more significant. It also highlights the ongoing Competition Appeal Tribunal class action and suggests that AI could eventually reduce the importance of property portals altogether.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors should note the potential knock-on effects of portal pricing, market concentration and changing lead-generation models on agency operations and transaction pipelines. The article also points to possible legal and competitive pressures that could reshape how properties are marketed and discovered.
Key points
- Rightmove is criticised for annual fee increases that outpace inflation.
- The article compares lead volumes and cost per enquiry between Rightmove and Zoopla.
- A class action in the Competition Appeal Tribunal is referenced, seeking damages on behalf of estate agents and new home developers.
- The piece argues that AI-based search tools could reduce reliance on property portals.
- OnTheMarket.com is cited as an earlier attempt to create an agent-controlled alternative.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
