Andrews

Here's a practical breakdown of the UK property market, covering the platforms and companies that most people actually use when buying, selling, or renting.

🔎 Property Search Portals (used by almost everyone)

These are the sites where the vast majority of buyers and renters actually look for homes:

• Rightmove – Rightmove is still the largest property portal in the UK and carries the biggest volume of listings from agents across the country It's the default starting point for most house-hunters.
• Zoopla – The second major portal; together with Rightmove, platforms like Rightmove and Zoopla account for the majority of property enquiries in the UK market
• OnTheMarket – A smaller but respected third portal that many agents also list on alongside the big two.

Bottom line: whichever agent you choose, make sure your listing appears on Rightmove and Zoopla — every agent must list properties on both Rightmove and Zoopla, as these are the two largest property portals in the UK, and essential for generating buyer interest

💻 Online / Hybrid Estate Agents (fixed-fee, popular for savings)

If you're selling and want to cut costs vs. traditional commission:

• Purplebricks – one of the UK's largest online and hybrid estate agents and has historically been the market leader in the sector, claiming the biggest share of the online/hybrid agent sector according to 2024 Zoopla data It has a TrustPilot average score of 4.1/5 with over 144k reviews, and their score has improved in recent years
• Yopa and Strike – Frequently mentioned alongside Purplebricks as major players; the best online estate agents in the UK in 2026 are Purplebricks, Yopa, Strike, and Emoov, with Purplebricks the largest by market share

Good to know: the main benefit of online estate agents is that fees are generally much lower than high street estate agent fees, meaning you could save thousands of pounds However, you'll normally pay online estate agent fees up front, which means you'll have to pay whether or not you sell — so check the terms carefully.

🏠 Traditional High-Street Agent Chains (still dominant nationally)

For people who prefer a local, full-service agent with a shop presence:

• Connells – one of the UK's largest estate agency groups with impressive marketing networks, also offering home conveyancing, mortgage advice, and property finance
• Haart (Spicerhaart) – operates under the Spicerhaart group and offers modern marketing, virtual viewings, and a strong national network
• Winkworth – one of the oldest chains in the UK, with special strength in London and the South East, and a franchised model that keeps local expertise strong
• Hunters – Known for friendly service and strong regional presence, with a "No Sale, No Fee" model that appeals to sellers seeking a guaranteed structure
• Andrews – offers ethical estate agency services with a community-focused approach and a hybrid model blending modern digital tools with in-person support

🏙️ London & Premium Property Specialists

If you're in the capital or looking at higher-end property:

• Dexters – a major force in the London market

In the UK, the way people find, buy, sell, and rent homes is slightly different from other countries. Rather than contacting a single "realtor," the entire property market is digitized. Almost every property search starts online via massive aggregation sites, followed by dealings with local high street offices or modern hybrid brokers.

The top brands and companies that people actually use across the UK are broken down by how they are utilized.

1. The Digital Giants: Property Portals (Where the Search Starts)

If you are looking to buy or rent in the UK, you will inevitably use these three platforms. Individual estate agents list their properties here, making them the most heavily used real estate "products" in the country.

• Rightmove: The absolute king of UK property. If a home isn't listed on Rightmove, it practically doesn't exist. It has the largest market share and the most comprehensive list of properties for sale and rent nationwide.
• Zoopla: The chief rival to Rightmove. While it has slightly fewer listings, Zoopla is highly favored for its user experience, historic sold-price data, and its "estimate" tool, which tracks the fluctuating value of almost every home in the country.
• OnTheMarket: Owned by global real estate giant CoStar, OnTheMarket has grown aggressively. Many agents list their properties here 24 to 48 hours before they appear on Rightmove or Zoopla, making it highly popular for serious buyers looking for a "first look".

2. The Premium & Prestige Brands (For High-End & Country Homes)

For luxury flats in London, historic country estates, or premium commuter-belt homes, the UK relies on highly respected heritage brands.

• Savills: Synonymous with high-end UK property and historic estates. Savills has a massive high-street presence and is globally renowned for its industry-leading market research and data-led valuations.
• Knight Frank: The ultimate gold standard for premium real estate. Whether you are looking at a multi-million-pound townhouse in Belgravia or a sprawling estate in the Cotswolds, Knight Frank is the go-to agency for high-net-worth individuals.
• Fine & Country: This is a highly successful network of independent, boutique estate agents operating under a single premium brand license. They are consistently praised for high-quality property presentation, video tours, and targeted marketing.

3. The Mainstream National Chains (High Street Giants)

If you are buying, selling, or letting a standard family home, semi-detached house, or city flat, you will likely deal with one of the major national corporate networks.

• Connells Group: By far the largest estate agency network in the UK. While you might not see the "Connells" name on every high street, they own a massive portfolio of the country’s most popular local brands, including William H Brown, Barnard Marcus, Bairstow Eves, and the premium brand Hamptons.
• LSL Property Services: Another massive national network. They are the power behind major household-name high street brands like Your Move and Reeds Rains, commanding a massive share of the UK rental and sales market.
• Foxtons: The dominant force in London. Instantly recognizable by their sleek, café-style offices and green-and-yellow branded Mini Coopers, Foxtons is known for its highly proactive (and aggressive) sales tactics. They charge some of the highest fees in the industry but are incredibly effective at finding buyers and tenants in the capital.
• Andrews: Operating across the South and Midlands, Andrews is a highly respected regional network that won the prestigious Network of the Year award at the Trusted Agent Awards, recognized for exceptional customer service.

4. Hybrid & Personal Agents (The Modern Way to Sell)

For those looking to save money on traditional 1.5% to 2% high street commission fees, "hybrid" and "personal" agency models have become incredibly popular.

• Yopa: Currently the most popular and stable hybrid estate agent in the UK. They assign a dedicated local estate agent to value your home and manage the process, but you pay a flat, fixed fee (starting around £1,000 to £1,500 depending on location) rather than a percentage of your sale price.
• Purplebricks: The pioneer of online estate agency. After being acquired by rival firm Strike, the two brands consolidated under the Purplebricks name. They offer a budget-friendly flat-fee model and remain a household name for sellers wanting to manage their viewings and offers digitally.
• eXp UK & EweMove: These represent the fast-growing trend of "self-employed personal estate agents". Instead of dealing with a rotating roster of office staff at a corporate agency, you hire one local independent broker who handles your property personally from the initial valuation all the way to completion.

A Quick Tip on Choosing:

If you are buying or renting, you don't really choose the company—you simply go where the property is listed (usually by setting up alerts on Rightmove or Zoopla).

If you are selling or letting your home, it is always best to invite three agents to value your property:

1. One dominant local independent (look around your neighborhood to see whose "For Sale" and "Sold" boards are most common).
2. One major national corporate brand (like a Connells-owned brand or Foxtons).
3. One hybrid/fixed-fee agent (like Yopa) to compare costs against traditional commission rates.