StreetEasy to Restrict Agents Who Don't Publish Listings to the MLS

Zillow-owned StreetEasy is introducing new listing standards in New York City that will penalise agents who publicly market properties without listing them on a multiple listings service (MLS) within 24 hours of publication.

The move, aligned with Zillow Group’s broader stance on listing transparency, is aimed at limiting the use of so-called “pocket listings” that are shared selectively before being listed publicly.

StreetEasy confirmed that the updated standards will take effect later this month and will apply to all NYC-based agents and teams. While non-compliant listings will still appear on StreetEasy itself, they will be blocked from publication on Zillow and Trulia for the life of the listing.

In a blog post, the company said agents who don’t comply will lose access to key services, including StreetEasy Experts, StreetEasy Concierge, and Zillow Premier Agent tools.

StreetEasy's blog post said:

NYC agents and teams who choose to publicly market listings to some buyers but not all buyers will lose access to programs including StreetEasy Experts, StreetEasy Concierge and Zillow Premier Agent in NYC and will not have access to new listing and agent marketing tools StreetEasy is rolling out soon. Additionally, NYC listings that do not comply with Zillow’s listing access standards will not be published on Zillow or Trulia when the Zillow standards go into effect later in May.

Zillow first signalled the change in April when it announced the Zillow Listing Access Standards (ZLAS). The policy prohibits publishing any listing on its platforms unless it is also shared with an MLS within 24 hours of public marketing.

The company said it will continue to support sellers who choose to keep listings off-market for reasons like privacy or safety, but those properties must remain truly private and not marketed publicly elsewhere.

“Listings shouldn’t be used as leverage to control who gets to participate in the home-buying process,” added StreetEasy. “It’s a bait-and-switch move… only to turn around and market it widely later.”