Zoopla Property Group surprise purchase

April 30, 2015

Zoopla Property Group (ZPG), the digital media business which owns and operates some of the UK’s leading online property brands including Zoopla and PrimeLocation, has conditionally agreed to acquire Ulysses Enterprises Limited, owners of price comparison site uSwitch, in a £160m deal.

Founded in 2000, uSwitch is one of the most widely recognised and trusted brands in the price comparison space.

The acquisition of uSwitch is a significant step in ZPG’s mission to be the most useful resource for consumers and the most effective marketing partner for professionals across the property space. This deal  brings together two of the UK’s best-known digital consumer brands and fastest-growing technology businesses of the past few years.

This has really put the cat amongst the pigeons, I wonder how many agents may be regretting their move to onthemarket.com and dropping Zoopla in the course of doing so, this news will certainly cause some reflection on recent decisions.

Alex Chesterman, Founder & CEO of Zoopla Property Group Plc was reported as saying “This is a transformational acquisition and a meaningful step towards delivering our long-term strategy to be the market-leading resource for consumers and most effective lead generation engine for professionals in the property space”

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

The First-Time Buyer Reality Shock

The First-Time Buyer Confidence Gap: 90% Feel Prepared, 71% Get an Unpleasant Surprise The First-Time Buyer Anxiety Index unveils a major ‘confidence gap’ which leaves first-time buyers unprepared for the realities of getting on the property ladder. Nine in 10 first-time buyers believe they are prepared and understand the home buying process before they begin…
Read More →
Breaking News

£50k hit when climbing the property ladder

The average homeowner in England faces an estimated £15,513 in associated costs when upsizing their home, according to the latest research by Yopa. However, in London this figure climbs as high as £47,704. The full-service estate agency analysed the estimated cost of upsizing across England, based on selling an average flat or terraced home and…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Conveyancing causes more stress than property chains

The latest research by Lyons Bowe has found that 42% of recent homebuyers say conveyancing is the biggest barrier to a smooth property transaction, compared with just 19% who point to property chains. The survey of 1,000 recent homebuyers* examined which aspects of the transaction process had presented the biggest barriers to a smooth journey,…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Britain’s most competitive summer rental hotspots

New analysis from the UK’s largest property platform Rightmove has revealed the areas where renters faced the strongest competition this summer, with several North West towns emerging as the toughest places to secure a home Wallasey and Birkenhead in Merseyside were Britain’s joint most competitive rental market during July and August, with an average of…
Read More →
AI in estate agency letting agency property
Letting Agent Talk

The 5 tasks lettings agents won’t trust to AI

AI must make lettings more human, not less, and that requires real rental intelligence. The latest research from Propoly has found that letting industry professionals see a clear role for AI in property management, but are reluctant to let it operate without human oversight, particularly when decisions involve people, complex circumstances or potentially significant consequences. Propoly…
Read More →
Breaking News

Foxtons Lettings Market Index – August 2026

The busiest weeks arrived earlier than usual, with activity spread more evenly across the summer due to implementation of the RRA • Renter registrations eased 3.0% in August. Along with July, it was still the peak of 2026, finishing off the summer rush just below July’s levels. • Competition for available property rose 22.4% in…
Read More →