Estate agents threaten property portal boycott over fees

A row has broken out between estate agents and a property portal in Northern Ireland, it has been reported.

PropertyPal, which lists some 60,000 properties for sale and to rent in the country making it the largest, recently increased its fees charged to member agents, moving from a set fee per listing to a membership-type scheme with different tiers.

But in moves that will be familiar to agents who remember the Covid-era ‘Say No to Rightmove’ campaign over its fees, a group of agents have threatened to leave the portal.

The company behind PropertyPal has said that the increase is “aimed at delivering enhanced value and services”.

In a statement to the BBC Errol Maxwell, its CEO, said he “takes pride in offering the most competitive pricing of any property portal in the UK and Ireland”.

The ‘rebel agents’ involved, who have formed a steering group, have written to Maxwell saying they feel ‘coerced and bullied’, says a representative of the group.

He says that under the new system estate agents could expect to pay 25-45% more per listing on PropertyPal and that due to this, they “have no alternative but to take drastic action” the letter says.

Deadline

“As such we need to inform you of our collective intention to cease placing any new listings on the PropertyPal platform from midnight on Thursday 29th

Maxwell says: “PropertyPal’s new membership plan allows estate agents to advertise all their properties for an average of £20 per listing and provides them with a powerful suite of new tools to support their business”.

“We’re delighted that the majority of estate agents have embraced the change and recognise the significant value it brings to their partnership with us.”

Derry estate Agent Stephen McCarron said any price increase from PropertyPal would be ‘passed on to clients’, something Maxwell has said would be ‘unfair’.

The Neg has contacted PropertyPal for further comment.

Picture credits: PropertyPal/Donnybrook Estate Agents.