Harris & Company in north west London has been criticised by Connells for using their photos as part of a property listing. See images below.
Rickyn Magdani, lettings manager at Connells in Harrow, yesterday sent an angry email to Harris and Company, accusing the firm of acting unprofessionally by using their images to help market a property to let.
“You have taken from our listing for the above property,” he wrote. “If you cannot be bothered to go and take your own photos what chance have you got letting the property!”
He added: “Have some professional courtesy and morals!”
EYE contacted Harris and Company yesterday, and spoke with senior lettings negotiator Ilesh Kotecha.
He accepted that Harris and Company had used Connells’ property photos for a listing of a property in Kenton, but he denied that Harris and Company, a well-respected firm that was established in 1966, had acted unprofessionally.
Kotecha said: “We don’t usually copy photos from other agents, but on this occasion we received instruction from the owner of the property to do so. We have now removed the listing and will send out own photographer to take images this afternoon.”
Harris & Company has indeed now removed all 12 images, some of which are listed below, on the Rightmove listing.
Paul Weldon, director at Harris & Company, commented: “My colleague gave you a truthful explanation and as far as we are concerned that is an end to this very petty matter.”
Connells has in the past been accused of using photos taken by other agents.
Image 1
Connells
Harris & Company
Image 2
Connells
Harris & Company
Image 3
Connells
Harris & Company
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Connells
Harris & Company
Comments (19)
Slow news day? Breach of copyright plain and simple- but definitely not newsworthy.
What about an Agent who has listed dozens of properties with images that have been copied – from other listings, blogs, and image hosting sites – for a whole year, Kristjan?
Is THAT degree of blatant fakery “newsworthy”?
Pot, kettle, kettle, pot ha ha ha
Pot – kettle.
We had a local franchisee use our floorplans a while ago. Took it as a compliment but thought it was lazy. Stopped it by adding a watermark.
How is this squabble between two agents any type of news?? Is the manager of the Connells manager mates with the editer?
Having worked for Connells they are hardly in a position to take the higher ground on anything!
true
I sent an email to the Martin & Co franchise owner thanking him for using my photos on their listing as they had our watermark on it, I then sent another email a couple of days later to let them know they had not removed all of our photos.
I could’ve left it but get the hump when someone cannot be bothered to take their own.
Dont see the issue clearly looks like the property has just been developed and is bare throughout – just concentrate on smashing the competition and getting it Let
We had it recently.
Another agent said they needed a refresh in marketing and used our photos!!!
Needless to say she then pulled the contract with them and we went on to sell the property.
Handbags at dawn
Is this really Headline News!
So, they used photos
They didn’t send an extra person into the house and risk spreading covid.. doesn’t that seem sensible?
[Sentence removed as it breached posting rules]
Not if you are a pedant!
Connells had it on the market could not find a tenant.
Another agents was instructed.
I am sure the LL could not care less what photos are on as long as he gets a tenant.
Nothing to see here move along.
https://v3.propertyindustryeye.com/snap-connells-accused-of-using-another-agents-photos/
Talk of Double Standards……
Any agent who copies another’s photos without express permission is an absolute shambles
So frustrating when this happens, we caught Chancellors using our image for a sales property last weekend but when highlighted to Rightmove all you get s a wet reply saying they can’t police this despite being complicit by hosting the offending image. It’s theft of intellectual property.
Use a small watermark. Makes it unequivocal and we’ve managed to get them to act on that basis in the past.
This is hardly headline news. Over at Spicerhaart the Lettings Director Lewis Wren was recorded making racist comments about black people and Muslims. His punishment…..a slapped wrist and a pay rise