Agents to Stop Listing on PropertyPal After Pricing Row

The Northern Irish real estate marketplace operator PropertyPal is facing a revolt from some agent customers who have announced their intention to stop posting their listings on the portal.

According to a BBC report, a group of agents from across Northern Ireland communicated their decision to stop listing on the portal from the 29th of February onwards citing what they claim are price rises of between 25-45%.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Stephen McCarron, an estate agent based in Londonderry, told the BBC that agents felt "coerced and bullied" with "no alternative" but to take action and withhold listings. In response, PropertyPal CEO Errol Maxwell told the broadcaster that the decision to increase prices was "aimed at delivering enhanced value and services."

The agent revolt has reportedly come as PropertyPal looked to change its business model from a simple pay-per-listing structure to one based on membership subscriptions more common among portals in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The agents claim that PropertyPal, which competes with CGD-owned Property News, is using its dominant position to impose its new structure on agents without any prior consultation and is refusing to meet with the group or acknowledge its concerns.

Neither the BBC's report nor any subsequent reporting has indicated how many agents are part of the listings revolt nor whether talks are ongoing to alleviate the situation.

Online Marketplaces has reached out to PropertyPal and this article will be updated if and when we receive a reply.