The Competition Appeal Tribunal has scheduled a hearing for 2nd and 3rd November 2026 in a £1.5 billion legal action against Rightmove, the UK’s largest property portal.
The collective proceedings claim alleges that Rightmove abused its dominant market position by charging excessive subscription fees to estate agents and new home developers who list properties on its platform. The action is being led by Jeremy Newman, a former panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority.
Procedural timeline
The November hearing will determine whether the Tribunal grants a Collective Proceedings Order, which would certify the claim and allow it to proceed to full trial. The Tribunal has ordered Rightmove to file its response to the legal claim by 29th July 2026, with Mr Newman’s reply due by 25th September 2026.
The claim covers estate agents and new home developers that paid subscription fees to Rightmove between 1st April 2020 and 1st April 2026. Total damages are estimated at approximately £1.5 billion.
Financial context
According to Rightmove’s accounts, the company operates with a profit margin of around 70%, positioning it among the most profitable companies in the FTSE 100. The claim argues these margins reflect the allegedly excessive fees charged to agents.
The legal action is being funded by Innsworth Advisors, the UK-based litigation funding arm of hedge fund manager Elliott Management. If successful, the funding company could receive approximately £100 million from the settlement. This arrangement mirrors other developments affecting estate agents across the sector.
Industry implications
The case represents one of the largest collective actions in the UK property sector, with potential implications for how property portals structure their pricing models. Thousands of estate agents could be eligible for compensation if the claim is successful. 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 to file its formal response to the allegations.
