Are Rightmove fee increases set to outpace agent earnings
The latest research from Property DriveBuy suggests that the nation’s estate agents are on course to see the sums paid to Rightmove in fees outpace the growth in commission earned for a third consecutive year, having already seen significantly higher increases in Rightmove fees over the last two years versus the commission bagged per property sold.
Property DriveBuy 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 this compares to the fee hikes implemented by Rightmove.
Previous research from Property DriveBuy recently revealed that Rightmove fees now account for up to 13.5 percent of an agent’s commission income, and the latest figures don’t make for much better reading.
The research shows that in 2022, the average agent earned just £3,773 in commission per property sale, whilst paying out £1,314 per month to Rightmove for the pleasure of advertising on the property portal.
In 2023, with the average house price falling by -1.7%, the average agent also saw their commission fall by some £63 per property sold. Despite this, the monthly cost of advertising on Rightmove climbed by 8.9% or £117 per month.
In 2024, house prices stabilised, increasing by 1.3% versus 2023, boosting the average commission earned per property by £49. However, Rightmove’s monthly fee also increased by £93 per month, an increase of 6.5% that far outstripped the boost seen to earnings as a result of positive house price growth.
So far in 2025, the housing market has recorded a modest 2.6% rise in the average house price to £271,531.
This has increased the average commission per sale to £3,856, just £97 higher than last year.
Whilst Rightmove’s fee increase for the year is yet to be officially reported, there are widespread reports of yet another hike having been implemented, making it more than likely that the gains seen as a result of a stabilising property market will have once again been eclipsed by the greed of the property portal.
Steve Foreman, Founder and CEO of Property DriveBuy, commented:
“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.
Property DriveBuy is built on the opposite principle. We believe agents should keep more of what they earn, not hand over a growing share of it each year. That’s why our platform is completely free for agents to use until such time we can demonstrate the justification for introducing fees, allowing them to retain more of their income and reinvest in what truly matters: providing great service to clients and growing their businesses.”
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