Rightmove has said a lettings agent property listing that offered a discount on the first month of rent is not allowed.

Derby-based agency Professional Properties was listing a two-bedroom apartment on Rightmove in Mickleover, Derby, advertised at £750 per calendar month last week.

What was slightly more intriguing was that once you look at the property description, a bullet point and the first line says the actual rent is £825 a month, and the first month is just a discount.

Daren Cope, finance director for Professional Properties, told EYE: “It’s not that common in our area. It’s just something the landlord may wish to try to generate some early interest in the property – especially if there are a lot of properties of similar style that are available at the time.

“We always make it clear in one of the bullet points and at the start of the property description that the reduction is for the first month only and obviously explain again to any prospective tenant that calls in.”

He said he couldn’t remember the last time such an incentive was used in a listing.

Professional Properties managing director Susan Cope said on Friday that this has never been raised as an issue, but a Rightmove spokesman later told EYE that this was not allowed and its data quality team would look into it.