Rightmove is to review listings for a no-frills online letting agent.
On Rightmove, proptech firm OpenRent does not direct tenancy enquiries to the landlord.
However, the ‘download details’ button scrolled down to the bottom of the Rightmove listings was yesterday enabling and directing would-be tenants to get in contact with the landlord.
The high street agent who drew this to EYE’s attention, and supplied us with screengrabs, said: “It is as close to private listings that I have seen.”
Rightmove has previously said that its terms and conditions mean that it must be the agent listing the property who deals with all enquiries.
A spokesperson for OpenRent said last night: “I can’t see that our adverts on Rightmove resemble private listings.
“We are a letting agent fielding thousands of tenant enquiries on behalf of our landlords every day – and like with any other agent, Rightmove’s listings provide options for tenants to call us, send us an email message or click a link for further property details.
Separately, we queried an offering yesterday evening by online agent Upad for landlords to get 40% discounts when advertising on Rightmove.
The send-out by Upad, via the Residential Landlords Association, was headlined: “Exclusive – Portfolio landlords can save up to 40% on Rightmove advertising.”
The email told landlords they can purchase advertising credits in bulk at a discounted price – for example, a ‘buy three, get one free at £360’.
The Rightmove spokesperson said: “Upad look to be offering a discounted letting management package to recruit landlords which includes listing on Rightmove, and they handle all enquiries.”
We have contacted Upad for comment.
At last.
I have lost landlords to this lot.
They offer nothing but a route to RM for as little as £20
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And where have the RM reps been during all of this?
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Such a shame that RM appears to turn a blind eye for the benefit of short term profit.
Block these sites, and show that you believe it is in the public’s best interest not to privately let their property.
You only need to speak to a Landlord on with OpenRent or any of the other listing companies pretending to be a Letting or Estate Agents to see whats going on. They refer to letting privately and being told they can be on RM to find a tenant by using this platform, similar on the sales side with others.
Many Landlords will find a tenant privately like this but they won’t have the experience or knowledge to deal with it. When issues arise during the tenancy or at the end many will and have suffered financially, by then its to late.
RM is a huge financial investment for every company and listing on the portal should be a market advantage. But with what is occurring this is no longer the case. I believe RM and Zoopla have an amazing opportunity to support the companies that helped build them and still make huge profits. They can help educate the public with what the differences are between – Private Transactions – Online Listing Companies – Online Agents & Traditional Agents.
It’s not a bad thing that the public have a choice now, but they need to make an educated decision, we are seeing far to many buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords regretting their decisions. Many don’t see the value in Estate Agents at the outset and with the chance to list on the main portal sites for virtually nothing this accentuates this.
Rightmove if you believe in the service Estate Agents provide then stand up for what you say you believe in.
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Facebook, Gumtree + few more sites taking business away from Rightmove and Zoopla….Opps sorry…Not from Rightmove and Zoopla but from high street agents. Charging 8% ….10% 15% …Ahaa GOD….
Future is the online way which is more efficient than traditional high street way.
High street agents forcing services to the landlords (clients) while online agents giving them options.
Give a client what he/she wants without any force.
Here is the downfall start for high street agents just because of the way do business. Overcharge + less trustworthy 🙁
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Facebook, Gumtree + few more sites taking business away from Rightmove and Zoopla….Opps sorry…Not from Rightmove and Zoopla but from high street agents. Charging 8% ….10% 15% …Ahaa GOD….
Future is the online way which is more efficient than traditional high street way. High street agents forcing services to the landlords (clients) while online agents giving them options.
Give a client what he/she wants without any force. Here is the downfall start for high street agents just because of the way do business. Overcharge + less trustworthy 🙁
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