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

Rightmove Faces £1.5bn Legal Action Over Subscription Fees

Rightmove, the UK’s largest property portal, is facing a £1.5 billion collective legal action over claims of excessive subscription fees charged to estate agents and new home developers. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has scheduled a hearing for 2nd and 3rd November 2026 to determine whether the case can proceed to a full trial.

The collective proceedings claim alleges that Rightmove abused its dominant market position by charging high fees to those listing properties on its platform. The action is led by Jeremy Newman, a former panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority. The claim covers estate agents and new home developers who paid subscription fees to Rightmove between 1st April 2020 and 1st April 2026.

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

According to Rightmove’s accounts, the company operates with a profit margin of around 70%, which the claim argues reflects the allegedly excessive fees charged to agents. The legal action is being funded by Innsworth Advisors, the UK-based litigation funding arm of Elliott Management. If the claim is successful, Innsworth Advisors could receive approximately £100 million from the settlement.

This case is one of the largest collective actions in the UK property sector and could have significant implications for how property portals structure their pricing models. Thousands of estate agents could be eligible for compensation if the claim succeeds. The outcome may also influence broader industry dynamics affecting property professionals.

Rightmove was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication. The company has until late July 2026 to file its formal response to the allegations.