Agent-owned platform says many agents reassessed the value they get from Zoopla and Rightmove during the lockdown as it reports increased branch numbers.

Murray Lee and Paul Davies are leading by example and have recently signed up to use the challenger portal as they urge other agents to look at Rightmove alternatives.

Zoopla says its internal data shows that while sales leads recovered weeks ago, it has taken Rishi Sunak's intervention to stimulate vendor activity.

Acorn's CEO Rob Sargent says he believes the platform is more than just another place for agents to put their listings.

Deal launched in April gives joining agents who pay up to £2,500 of OTM shares per branch depending on how many other portals they list with.

Zeus Capital says the portal will have a difficult 2020 but it expects it will be profitable in 2021/2 as member agents move to paying full fees and revenues increase by £10m.v

Portal says agents who want to take up the deal now can still get the full nine-month free listings benefits.

Hargreaves Lansdown paints a gloomy picture for the portal in the short to medium term until the housing market and agent finances return to some kind of normality.