Rightmove has moved to defend its position after facing a £1.5bn lawsuit alleging it charged “unreasonable” fees to estate agents – claims that have already shaved almost £300m off the company’s market value.
The class action, led by accountant Jeremy Newman on behalf of potentially hundreds of estate agents, alleged that the property portal took advantage of its dominant position in the market. A formal letter of claim has been issued, seeking damages of around £1.5 billion.
The legal action, which focuses on Rightmove’s pricing model and its dominant position in the property portal market, has raised new questions about the cost of listing for agents and the level of competition in the sector.
The impact was immediately visible on the company’s valuation, with shares falling after news of the claim emerged, reducing the company’s market value by approximately £300m. Investors appear concerned about potential financial and reputational risks, as well as the wider implications for Rightmove’s long-established business model.
In response, Rightmove said it strongly rejects the allegations and intends to defend the case, while maintaining that it provides value to agents through its platform and reach.
Rightmove released the following statement: “Further to our announcement of 13 November 2025, Rightmove confirms that it is aware of reports that an application has been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal to commence collective proceedings against Rightmove.
“Rightmove is confident in the value we deliver to our partners and consumers, which is at the core of our business solutions and digital platforms.
“As one of the most efficient parts of the UK housing market, we help people get homes across the UK by bringing together buyers, sellers, tenants, landlords and agents. Our platform offers a growing range of constantly evolving products and features that facilitate transparency, liquidity and confidence in the market. This claim is baseless, and we will vigorously defend it.”
More than 250 estate agencies from across the UK have expressed interest and support in the claim against Rightmove since Rightmove was first announced in November 2025. Jeremy Newman, who is leading the case against Rightmove, said he is extremely encouraged by the response from agents.
He said: “The stories shared by businesses both small and large confirm long-standing concerns in the market about Rightmove’s conduct.
“The filing of this claim paves the way for meaningful compensation for businesses that have had little choice but to endure excessive fee increases for many years.”
The claim is fully funded by Innsworth Capital, with legal support from Scott+Scott UK LLP and independent economic analysis from Kairos Economics.
James Hain-Cole, partner at Scott+Scott, commented: “For years, thousands of businesses have been captive customers of Rightmove, facing no effective competition. It has therefore been allowed to squeeze its customers financially by persistently and materially raising prices without proper justification or explanation. We are pleased to now be supporting Jeremy in filing this important legal action and seeking redress for thousands of British businesses.”
iNewslash: Rightmove faces £1bn legal action over ‘excessive’ fees