PlanetRent, an automated letting platform, will allow private landlords to list their property directly on Zoopla and Rightmove on a pay-as-you-go basis.
The platform, which has been developed by Ringley Group and is free to download and use, gives landlords the facility to create their own personalised website on which to advertise their properties and potentially to manage the whole of the letting process themselves.
In this circumstances it appears that PlanetRent (which is registered with TPO and is an ARLA member) may be treading a delicate line in regard to the terms under which these portals accept listings.
The Essex Magazine announced the launch of the app with a striking headline:
New platform PlanetRent enables landlords to market their property directly on Zoopla and Rightmove
And said:
Private landlords are able to market their properties directly on Zoopla and Rightmove thanks to a new automated lettings platform that enables them to list homes on the portals on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Previously landlords would face cost-prohibitive barriers to getting their properties on Zoopla and Rightmove – two of the UK’s biggest property portals.
Mary-Anne Bowring, group managing director at Ringley Group, is quoted as saying:
“PlanetRent has been designed to save landlords and agents, time, money and hassle, by automating the majority of the lettings process.
“Now more than ever, landlords need to focus on the correct marketing strategies for their properties and we’re confident that PlanetRent has the perfect offering for landlords of all sizes.”
EYE asked Zoopla and Rightmove if they will accept listings from PlanetRent.
Zoopla said in a statement:
“All agents have to follow our member guidelines when listing properties on Zoopla.
“Agents who fail to do so face a variety of potential measures including the removal of their ability to list properties on the site.”
A Rightmove spokesperson told us:
“Rightmove is carrying out a full review of this customer.”
Comments (15)
£60 for a Rightmove and zooplah listing. Par for the course really.
I could write a very long post detailing the breaches of many issues in their website, but I charge for that!
When you are breaking the law, it’s best not to stick your head above the parapet. Still, it will keep trading standards busy.
I wonder whether their business model allowing them to save landlords money factors in illegal charges to tenants?
Thank you for confirming my suspicions via Twitter, EW – most appreciated.
Companies like these need people like you.
Erm… I hold my hands up here – Lettings ain’t my bag, so I could be completely wrong about this whole post – but I’m gonna post it anyway.
MY understanding of the Tenant Fees Act is that from June 2019, Fees to set up or amend a tenancy were banned.
So how come then, the Ringley Group state the following charges on their website at ringley.co.uk/our_fees
Set up fee (tenant’s share) £100 (inc VAT) per tenant
Additional Tenant Fee £100 (inc VAT) per tenant
Guarantor Fee £100 (inc VAT) per guarantor (if required)
Accompanied Check-in Fee £110 – £250 (inc VAT)
Renewal Fee £100 (inc VAT)
Check out Fee (tenant’s share) £125 – £300 (inc VAT)
I also believe that the Fees quoted for Tenancy Amendment and Late Payment of Rent do not comply with my understanding of The Act.
Anyone care to correct me – or am I right and this outfit is flshing in prohibited waters?
Probably been too busy developing PlanetRent to have time to amend their own website to accord with the current Law on tenant fees. Do they display a copy of their CMP certificate on their website as required ?
This is unlawful too
Unpaid Rent / Returned Payments: Interest at 4% above bank of England Bas Rate from date due plus a daily £10 charge may apply.
Thanks, Legal_Landlord – I’m more than a bit rusty on the Lettings side of the industry.
Yes – I mentioned the Late Rent clause.
Dunno about their potential excuse of not having time to amend the website – the footer states ‘Copyright 2020’ so unless that autoupdates, it would appear something has been done with it by those Dark Masters that live in t’interweb sometime this year.
I can’t see a copy of the Certificate you mention – but that could be because I don’t know where to look! That being said, as they display ARLA, RICS and TPO logos on their site it is assumed that something is in place in order to fulfil Memberships of these “bodies” and Schemes.
The offending page
ringley.co.uk/our_fees
has now been deleted and brings up an Error 404
They obviously read PIE
You are not wrong PeeBee, they need to update or remove that section of their website. It looks like clicking on “Renting” which brings you to lifebyringley website and then “Our Fees” does show fees in line with the Act.
Thanks for that, SV11.
the clue is in the name, Tenant fee ban- fees to tenants not landlords- this is a portal listing service for landlords who want to do it themselves.
the thing they may have overlooked is schedule 23 Finance Act- acting as an agent but not knowing a landlord’s actual income might give rise to an issue complying with the requirement to report income to HMRC
That may be the case for ‘Planet Rent’ Robert – although their website paints a completely different picture – but the Fees I quote above are those shown by Ringley Group – the ‘parent’ company who state on their website
“…we have been honoured with numerous awards endorsing our position as a leader in the UK property management sector.”
I can’t see them picking up an award for Legislation Compliance (or website accuracy) anytime soon, though…
Take a screen shot and send it to Trading Standards
Trading WHO??
Just another own goal by RM . Deliberately and knowingly biting the hand that feeds them. time to bite back
Or (god forbid)… Planetrent lied about their business and RM are reviewing now the true nature of their business is clear…
I imagine the bit that will interest them is the reference to agents! What’s that all about?