CLAIM: Rightmove fees to outpace agents’ earnings for third year running
Property DriveBuy app boss claims portal is to raise fees again this year and hikes will be more than agencies' fees rise.
Rightmove’s annual fee increases are ‘on course’ to outpace growth in agents’ earnings for the third year running, according to the latest analysis by Property DriveBuy.
The geo-location property app looked at the average increase in house prices over the last two years, the resulting growth in the average commission secured per property sale by the nation’s estate agents and how they compare to Rightmove’s fee hikes.
The research shows that in 2022, the average agent earned just £3,773 in commission per property sale but paid £1,314 per month to Rightmove.
Fees keep increasing
In 2023, with the average house price falling by 1.7%, agents saw typical commission fall by £63 per property sold, but, at the same time, the monthly cost of advertising on Rightmove rose by 8.9% to £117 per month.
And in 2024, house prices rose by 1.3% versus 2023, boosting the average commission per property by £49. However, Rightmove’s monthly fee was increased by £93 per month, up 6.5%.
So far in 2025, the housing market has recorded a modest 2.6% rise in the average house price to £271,531, with average commissions per sale of £3,856, or £97 up on last year.
Property DriveBuy says that although Rightmove’s fees have not yet been published, there are widespread reports that there has been yet another hike, with the gains made from a stabilising property market outpaced once again.
It is no surprise so many agents are questioning whether the current portal model is fit for purpose.”
Property DriveBuy boss Steve Foreman (pictured) says: “We are now seeing a clear pattern emerge. Even in years where the housing market stabilises, the uplift in commission is minimal while portal fees continue to climb at a far faster pace.
“The result is shrinking margins for the very professionals who drive the market forward.
“Agents are being asked to do more, deliver more, and absorb more cost while the value they retain from each sale barely moves. It is no surprise so many agents are questioning whether the current portal model is fit for purpose.”
