An advertiser on Rightmove has been told to change a listing after an EYE reader, George, who works in the industry said it was thoroughly misleading.
As a buyer, he said that he had set up a Rightmove alert for properties up to £230,000 – the maximum budget that he and his wife have.
He said he believed the couple do not qualify as first-time buyers because she has previously owned a flat, and he understood they are therefore not entitled to Help to Buy. In any case, not all buyers want Help to Buy with its deferred interest repayments.
But he said he is continually being sent email alerts for properties with the prices showing the discount.
In the latest he was sent, the property was advertised on the Rightmove alert as being £228,000 when in fact its true price is £285,000 – some £60,0000 beyond the couple’s budget.
He says had to read through the description before it became clear what the true price was.
George said that to receive such alerts was thoroughly demoralising to their hopes as buyers, but he also criticised it as fake advertising “at fake prices”, adding: “We can’t be the only people in this situation.”
A Rightmove spokesperson told EYE: “Primary Authority Advice states that where prospective buyers may be eligible for an approved loan scheme, for example a Help to Buy equity loan, the headline price should still be the full selling price.
“Our data quality team is going to speak with this agent to ask them to amend the listing.”
The listing was very quickly amended on Friday by Key Drummond estate agents in Poole, Dorset.
The listing now carries an asking price of £285,000 and looks like this:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68161177.html
You do not need to be a first time buyer to qualify for Help To Buy.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Gosh, imagine a Property Company advertising one price when in fact the deal is something completely different.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Zoopla, find a purple online agent, click on sales listings and filter by most reduced. There are a few showing 50% price reductions. Wonder why?
Ignore the ones with almost 50% price reductions that are not shared ownership. Ouch.
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Mmm… Wonder if this is George who used to work for Key Drummond
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I wonder….?
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
Reveal yourself George
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I am sure this isn’t the only agent to do this….
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register
I wonder if George in his quest for correctly advertised properties would like to see this:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67138831.html
You must be logged in to like or dislike this comments.
Click to login
Don't have an account? Click here to register