Eight-branch independent agency is latest to quit OnTheMarket

The Jeffries Group, an eight-branch Hampshire-based independent agency, says it is going to leave OnTheMarket. 

Although the group’s website and email branding still carries OTM’s logo, the company - which is also listing its stock on Rightmove - says it is returning to Zoopla “in the coming weeks.”

Stuart Whiting, managing director of the group - which operates lettings and sales in Portsmouth, Southsea and nearby area, in some cases operating under the name Dibbens - says the firm has signed a long term agreement with Zoopla Property Group for marketing and software services. 

"We are big supporters of the OTM concept. However it simply has not worked for us and does not have the right strategy to succeed in our opinion. We are delighted to be returning to ZPG [with which] we can see a path to having a net revenue relationship rather than a cost” says Whiting. 

Last week a statement from ZPG Property Services chief Mark Goddard claimed that over 500 branches had returned from OTM to Zoopla since early 2015.

The war of words between ZPG and OTM - which entered a quiet phase over the summer - resumed last week with OnTheMarket claiming to have enjoyed over 10m visits in September and “a record number of leads” which it declined to specify. 

Within 24 hours ZPG responded by saying it enjoyed over 53m visits to its Zoopla and PrimeLocation websites in September, up 13 per cent year on year. The ZPG portals also delivered over two million leads to agent partners last month, with appraisal leads up 17.8 per cent on the same period last year.