Estate agents fear retaliation from Rightmove if they give evidence in a £1.5billion lawsuit case against the portal.

Lawyers acting for the claimants told a tribunal hearing a “significant number” of agents were worried about “adverse commercial consequences”.

First hearing

The claim was made in the first hearing of the Competition Appeal Tribunal class action against Rightmove brought by Jeremy Newman (pictured), a former panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority and a director of the Clarion Housing Group.

More than 250 estate agencies from across Britain are understood to have expressed support for the claim since it was first announced in November last year.

Dominant portal

The action is being taken on behalf of thousands of agents who were allegedly overcharged by the property portal.

The legal claim alleges that Rightmove abused is position as the dominant property portal, charging estate agents “excessive” and “unfair subscription fees”.

Jeopardised

Newman said in a witness statement, the Financial Times reports, that estate agents had “expressed a concern that they might face retaliatory conduct from Rightmove or that their commercial relationship with Rightmove would be jeopardised should their name be made public or associated with the claim”.

A barrister acting for Rightmove told the tribunal the company “completely rejects the suggestion”.

He said Rightmove “sees them [agents] as partners”, and “it would be shooting itself in the foot” if it retaliated.

Rightmove comment

A Rightmove spokesperson told The Neg: “Rightmove is confident in the value we provide to our partners and consumers, who are at the core of our business solutions and digital platform.

“As one of the most efficient parts of the UK housing market, we help people across the UK to move home by bringing buyers, sellers, renters, landlords and agents together.

Rightmove completely rejects the idea that we would retaliate against any agents who engaged with Mr Newman’s proposed class action.”

“Our platform continues to provide a growing range of innovative products and features which facilitate market transparency, liquidity and confidence. This claim is without merit, and we will defend it vigorously.

“Rightmove completely rejects the idea that we would retaliate against any agents who engaged with Mr Newman’s proposed class action.

“Our business is built on long-term commercial partnerships with estate agents. Those relationships are based on direct engagement, transparency and a shared understanding of the services we provide.”

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