Connells squares up for second clash with OTM after acquiring agent

Yesterday, an agent was advertising on all three portals – Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket – in apparent breach of OTM’s one other portal rule and suggesting another legal round in the portals battle.

Paul Dubberley, which has five branches in the west midlands, was last week acquired by Connells. Yesterday Connells said that Paul Dubberley would be “immediately” re-listing on Zoopla.

It is not the first time that a Connells acquisition has caused waves and this looks to be the second challenge that Connells has thrown down to OTM.

In February Gascoigne Halman said it would be listing on Zoopla after its acquisition by Connells the previous autumn. It would not be listing on OTM, said the firm, which had been one of the original Gold members of OTM.

But in a rapid twist of events, Gascoigne Halman returned to OTM within days and was no longer listing with Zoopla after OTM said it had initiated “appropriate legal action”.

Yesterday, there was still no sign of Gascoigne Halman on Zoopla, but the agent was listing on OTM and the Gascoigne Halman website was showing both Rightmove and OTM logos.

All the corporates are currently on sustained buying campaigns of independent agents, highlighting the potential battleground – including the possible legal bill for corporate purchasers of independents that already belong to OTM and the possible costs for OTM as it fights to hold agents to their contracts.

It is not clear why Connells apparently believes it may have more success with Paul Dubberley than has apparently been the case with Gascoigne Halman, or whether there is a different strategy.

Notably, Connells has said nothing about Paul Dubberley no longer listing on OTM, only that its acquisition will be listing on Zoopla and Rightmove – suggesting a possible challenge to OTM on its “one other portal” rule.

Yesterday, a spokesperson for Connells told EYE: “Following the announcement of the acquisition of five-branch Paul Dubberley estate agents based in the West Midlands, Connells will immediately be re-listing Paul Dubberley’s property stock with Zoopla.

“This is in line with parent company Connells Group’s wider approach to list properties on the two major property search portals Zoopla and Rightmove.”

Connells declined to comment further.

A spokesperson for OTM said: “We are seeking clarification of the position from Paul Dubberley estate agents.”

Evidence of Paul Dubberley’s presence on all three portals yesterday is in the screengrabs below.