Please refer to the below when asked a question surrounding Property Transfers by a customer or looking into a request around pre-existing properties on site and whether they need to be transferred internally or if the agent is simply able to transfer the property on their own and have it display as a newly added listing.
When should a Property Transfer happen?
Property Transfers Scenario’s | Is a property transfer needed Yes/No? | Explanation |
When a branch closure of a multi branch company is requested and stock is moving to another existing branch under the same company. | Yes | Property stock transferring from a closing branch to a pre-existing branch under the same company should go through our internal property transfer process and display the original added on date. This will avoid properties showing with a new date.
To make sure that customers are communicating with us around the property transfer process we will be making the following amendment to our current email template:
“If you are intending to transfer properties from your closing branch to another branch on Rightmove, please let us know as soon as possible. We can make sure that your properties are moved over with the correct property data so that the information on the website is accurate and not misleading to consumers. This would also mean that your properties will not lose any pre-existing applied products and help you avoid any Data Quality breaches.“
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An existing multi branch company is adding an additional branch. | Yes | Properties with the same out code as the new branch address can be moved over from pre-existing branches under the same company.
Properties will need to be internally transferred to ensure the dates do not change to new |
Can property stock show as new when being bought out by another company with different branding? | No | Properties can show as new and do not need to go through our internal transfer process.
The branch would need to ensure they have new marketing agreements in the new branding for each property listing.
We do not need to see them, but we must make the agent aware they will need to have new agreements in place for each property.
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Change of Ownership Changing of company name only.
| No | As the branch set up is staying the same, properties will remain under the same ID and continue to display the original added on date.
Example: Josie Estates changes to Josie Estates LTD
Providing the change of name is not a change of legal entity (which is unlikely without any other changes like branding) the listings should not be considered as new.
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Change of Ownership Changing owner and direct debt details with completely different branding.
| No | Properties can show as new and do not need to go through our internal transfer process.
This company will appear to consumers and those listing their properties with this agency as a completely new business on site. Therefore properties are able to display as new as long as there is a new market agreement signed for the stock. |
Change of Ownership Different direct debt details but with the same branding. | Yes | Properties will need to be internally transferred to ensure the dates do not change to new.
For consumers, the brand has not changed therefore it could be considered misleading for properties to be sent in alerts or shown with new dates. This would be detrimental to the home hunters and the brand. If the new owner has taken over the brand and stock as it stands, it would not be fair or reasonable to expect the original stock to be re launched.
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