UK estate agents facing heightened competition, with the estimated number of estate agency businesses having risen by almost a quarter since 2017.
The latest research by eXp UK has revealed that the estimated number of estate agency businesses has increased by 24% since 2017, with this figure expected to keep climbing over the coming years.
eXp UK analysed ONS data on the number of real estate agencies registered across the UK and how this level of competition has changed since 2017.
The analysis shows that there were some 25,155 estate agency businesses registered in 2024. This marked a 24% jump versus 2017, with an estimated annual average of 691 new estate agencies registered each year between 2017 and 2024.
The North East has seen the largest increase in estate agency competition in this time, with the number of agencies registered up 34%, with the North West (+30%), Scotland (+28%), London (+28%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (+27%) also seeing some of the largest increases.
In fact, every area of the UK has seen an increase in estate agency numbers during this period and eXp UK forecasts that we’re only set to see more competition enter the market over the coming years.
eXp UK forecast that there will be a 4% increase in the number of estate agencies registered across the UK come the end of this year.
The firm also forecasts that 2026 will see this figure rise by a further 3% in 2026, pushing the number of UK estate agency businesses to almost 27,000.
Head of eXp UK & Europe, Adam Day, commented: “We’ve seen market conditions improve notably in the last year or so and this heightened activity, along with stable house price growth, improving mortgage affordability and greater demand for estate agency expertise are all helping to drive a continued increase in the number of agents operating within the market.
“Of course, a greater degree of competition can prove problematic when it comes to profit margins, retaining talent and maintaining market position and so whilst a buoyant market is great news for the nation’s agents, they can’t afford to rest on their laurels.”
I’m tracking over 28,800 active agents — and yes, I’m still getting moaned at when someone’s not on the list. But not all agents are agents.
Some firms using the label don’t fall under the Estate Agents Act. Others — especially letting agents brought into scope by the latest AML rules — do, even if they’ve never handled a sale. That’s where the confusion creeps in.
The ONS number that keeps being regurgitated by those who don’t know better was wrong from day one. It’s been passed around without challenge for so long, it’s now taken as gospel — but any serious commentary based on it is sitting on shaky foundations.
For clarity: I’ve mapped active agents across 3,000+ defined agency activity centres. I know who’s operating where, who their competition is, and which EXP agent is doing well/not so well on their patch. (Ask Katy; she was awesome before she left Thomas Morris and she is really flying now)
Adam — no criticism aimed your way. I know you’re one of the good ones. But the data’s here if you ever want to dig deeper.
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Robert, I’d be very interested to know how I might communicate a new marketing facility to the 28,000 ‘active’ agents to which you refer. With the potential for profit margins to reduce I think I’ve found a way to lower marketing costs substantially.
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Robert, I’d be very interested to know how I might communicate a new marketing facility to the 28,000 ‘active’ agents to which you refer. With the potential for profit margins to reduce I think I’ve found a way to lower marketing costs substantially.
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