Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by The Negotiator. Read the original article for full details.

Court Date Set for £1.5bn Rightmove Legal Action Over Agent Fees

A court hearing has been scheduled in the £1.5 billion legal action against Rightmove, following allegations that the property portal overcharged thousands of estate agents. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has ordered the hearing for 2nd and 3rd November this year.

The legal action is being led by Jeremy Newman, a former Competition and Markets Authority panel member. The claim alleges that Rightmove abused its dominant position in the online property portal market by charging excessive and unfair fees to estate agents listing properties on its platform.

The November hearing will determine whether the Tribunal grants a Collective Proceedings Order, which would certify the claim and allow it to proceed to a full trial. Rightmove has been ordered to file its response to the legal claim by 29th July 2026, with Mr Newman to reply by 25th September 2026.

Total damages claimed in the case are estimated at around £1.5 billion. According to Rightmove’s accounts, its profit margin is around 70%, making it one of the most profitable companies in the FTSE 100.

Estate agents and new home developers who paid subscription fees to Rightmove between 1st April 2020 and 1st April 2026 are encouraged to get in touch regarding the claim.

The class action is being funded by Innsworth Advisors, the UK-based litigation funding arm of Elliott Management. If the legal action is successful, Innsworth Advisors could receive a payout of around £100 million.

Rightmove was contacted for comment.