UK agency commission amongst lowest in world, new survey shows

UK estate agency commission levels are amongst the lowest in the world according to a league table compiled by an international property consultancy.

Moscow-based Tranio has researched 20 broadly free-market economies and found that the UK is one of the lowest-priced for consumers.

Figures are inevitably broad-brush - Tranio gives the UK commission rate as between 0.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent, for example - but the consultancy explains in notes accompanying the league table that most commissions in this country are very much skewed towards the lower end of the range.

Several countries also have agencies that charge twice - a buyers’ commission as well as a sellers. For clarity these have not been indicated in the table below, except for one country where only buyers pay the agent:

UK:  Seller commission 0.5% to 3.5% + 20% VAT

Austria:  Seller commission 1.0% to 2.0% + 25% VAT

Croatia: Seller commission 3.0% to 8.0% + no VAT

Czech Republic: Seller commission 2.0% to 5.0% + 15% VAT

Finland: Seller commission 2.5% to 5.0% including 24% VAT

France: Seller commission 4.5% to 8.0% including 20% VAT

Germany: Buyer commission 2.0% to 6.0% + 19% VAT

Greece: Seller commission 1.0% to 5.0% + 24% VAT

Hungary: Seller commission 3.0% to 5.0% + 27% VAT

Italy: Seller commission 2.0% to 7.0% + 22% VAT

Latvia: Seller commission 3.0% to 5.0% + 21% VAT

Montenegro: Seller commission 3.0% to 6.0% + 19% VAT

Portugal: Seller commission 5.0% + 23% VAT

Slovenia: Seller commission 1.0% + 9.5% VAT

Spain: Seller commission 1.5% to 5.0% plus 10% to 21% VAT

Switzerland: Seller commission 3.0% to 5.0% + 8% VAT

Thailand: Seller commission 3.0% to 5.0% + 7% VAT

Turkey: Seller commission 3.0% + no VAT

UAE: Seller commission 2.0% + no VAT

United States: Seller commission 2.0% to 6.0% plus no VAT.

Sources used by Tranio: Adria PRO, АН LiguriaHomes Casamare, Aurora Destrelas LDA, Austria-Invest, Bulevardin Kotimeklarit, Coldwell Banker, Dogma Nekretnine, Duna House, Engel & Volkers, French Riviera Realty, Future Real Estate, Getberg, Glorion, LonGrad, Mercury Group Estate, MKR Real-Consulting, Prime Property Group, Rondyak Real Estate, Select Property Group.