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Some estate agents resolve PropertyPal dispute

BBC Graphic of PropertyPal logo imposed on a background image of a row of terrace housesBBC
PropertyPal is the largest property website in Northern Ireland

A group of estate agents who had stopped posting listings on PropertyPal have returned to the website after resolving a dispute with the company over fees.

PropertyPal is the largest website in Northern Ireland for property sales and rentals.

Some estate agents launched a boycott of the company in March after it announced a new system for charging for listings.

In a statement PropertyPal said when it met with the group of agents "there was a mutual desire for a positive resolution and to move forward constructively".

"As a result, the majority of all agents are using PropertyPal to advertise their property listings," the statement continued.

Stephen McCarron Professsional headhshot of Stephen McCarron. He is smiling into the camera wearing and suit and tie and glasses. He is in front of a grey background.Stephen McCarron
Estate agent Stephen McCarron said PropertyPal had given him an assurance that estate agent would be consulted on any changes going forward

In February, PropertyPal announced a new tiered subscription model for estate agents wishing to list properties on its website.

For some estate agents this meant an increase in fees for their listings on the site.

At the time, PropertyPal said the increase was "aimed at delivering enhanced value and services".

Stephen McCarron, an estate agent based in Londonderry who had joined the boycott, said that he and his colleagues took issue with "the delivery of the message at the time and the way it was done".

"Nobody was really asked about, it was just forced on them," he told BBC News NI.

"It took a while for PropertyPal to see the side of the estate agents, but when they sat down and they had a conversation and they talked through the different points, then there was a consensus agreed."

Mr McCarron added that the company promised "be more transparent with estate agents, with their clients, on what they intend to do in the future."

"I was given an undertaking by PropertyPal that if anything happens it will be discussed in advance of it happening and our opinions sought."

Getty Images A row of colourful attached houses under a blue skyGetty Images

In February, Mr McCarron estimated that estate agents could expect to pay 25-45% more per listing on the website under the new system.

Now he says PropertyPal has been willing to negotiate agreements with individual estate agents.

"It’s not for me to say what everybody else has got... [but] talking personally as a business owner I am very happy with what I negotiated and what I’ve got".

"I don’t know that all agents went back, perhaps they did, but I would suggest the majority of them went back because we liked the product," he said.

PropertyPal had a change of leadership in May with Jordan Buchanon taking over as CEO.