Further fee increases from Rightmove appear increasingly likely after the portal reaffirmed its full-year growth forecasts following what it described as a solid start to 2026.
In a trading update released ahead of its annual general meeting on Friday, Rightmove said the UK housing market had remained resilient despite a weaker macroeconomic backdrop, with core membership numbers increasing since the end of December.
The company also reported growth in average revenue per advertiser (ARPA) across its core estate agency and new homes divisions, although no specific figures were disclosed.
Rightmove maintained its full-year guidance, forecasting revenue growth of between 8% and 10%, underlying operating profit growth of 3% to 5%, and underlying earnings per share growth of at least 5%.
Johan Svanstrom, chief executive, said trading so far this year had been in line with expectations.
He said: “While we continue to monitor the macro backdrop, we are delivering product-led ARPA growth in our core business, membership has increased and revenue growth within our strategic growth areas is on track for the year.
“We are innovating across our platform faster than ever before. We continue to embed AI into our efficient and expanding home-moving toolset for both partners and consumers. During the period, we delivered our highest-ever number of monthly product releases, further strengthening our proposition and value creation through the platform.”
Rightmove benefits from being one step removed from the twists, turns and challenges faced by the UK housing market, according to Anthony Codling of RBC Capital Markets.
He commented: “Mortgage rates may be high and the geopolitical climate uncertain, but our fascination with property remains and when people want to look for, or just at, property they turn to Rightmove. Agents know this and are choosing to spend ever more money on Rightmove to entice both buyers and sellers to do business with them rather than their competitors. The strategic growth areas are growing, and stock levels are at 11-year highs.
“We continue to believe that Rightmove is an AI winner not a loser, using AI along with its insight and understanding of the property market to enhance its products and services to offer agents, housebuilders and homehunters more of what they want.”
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