If you have ever searched for a home in the UK, you have almost certainly used Rightmove. It is the country's largest property website, and for most buyers, renters and estate agents, it is the first place they look. This guide explains what Rightmove is, how it grew so dominant, and why it remains one of the most watched companies on the London Stock Exchange.
What is Rightmove?
Rightmove is an online property portal — a website and app where estate agents and developers advertise homes for sale and rent. It does not own or sell the properties itself. Instead, it acts as the marketplace that connects property professionals with the public.
The company was founded in 2000 by four of the UK's largest property businesses at the time: Countrywide, Connells, Halifax and Royal & Sun Alliance. Listing was free at first, with charges introduced in 2002. In 2006, Rightmove floated on the London Stock Exchange, and today it is a FTSE 100 company worth several billion pounds, based in Milton Keynes.
Why it dominates the market
Rightmove's biggest strength is its sheer scale. According to Comscore data referenced in recent Rightmove news, the platform accounts for around 80% of all time spent on UK property portals. That kind of lead creates a powerful cycle: agents advertise where the buyers are, and buyers go where the listings are.
Just as importantly, more than 85% of Rightmove's website traffic is organic — meaning people go directly to the site rather than arriving through search engines, adverts or AI tools. That loyal, direct audience is difficult for any competitor to replicate.
How the business is structured
Rightmove organises its work into three main areas:
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Agency: advertising for estate and letting agents selling or renting existing homes. This is the core of the business.
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New Homes: advertising for property developers and housing associations marketing newly built homes.
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Other: commercial property, overseas listings, mortgage services, data products and third-party advertising.
Most of Rightmove's income comes from subscription and advertising fees paid by agents and developers, plus extra charges for premium products that help listings stand out.
A company that keeps investing
Rightmove is not standing still. The company has been investing heavily in technology, releasing thousands of product updates and adding new tools for both consumers and property professionals. It has also expanded into areas like mortgages and rental services to grow beyond simple listings.
This focus on innovation is one reason the company stays ahead. For investors and property watchers, keeping up with the latest Rightmove news is a useful way to track how these new products are performing.
Why so many people follow Rightmove
Beyond house hunters, Rightmove matters to two big groups:
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The property industry, because Rightmove's pricing and data shape how agents operate.
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Investors, because Rightmove is a profitable, cash-generative FTSE 100 company that many UK portfolios hold either directly or through funds.
Rightmove also publishes its own house price index, making it a closely watched source of information about the UK housing market. Financial news site Sharesify regularly covers the company's results, outlook and place in the wider market.
The takeaway
Rightmove is far more than a place to browse homes. It is a dominant FTSE 100 business with an enormous, loyal audience, a clear three-part structure, and a steady habit of investing in new technology. Whether you are a buyer, an agent or an investor, understanding how Rightmove works — and following reliable Rightmove news and analysis on Sharesify — gives you a clearer picture of one of the UK's most important digital companies.
FAQ
What does Rightmove do? It runs the UK's largest online property portal, where agents and developers advertise homes for sale and rent. Is Rightmove a public company? Yes. It listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2006 and is part of the FTSE 100. Why is Rightmove so dominant? It holds around 80% of UK property portal viewing time and enjoys very high direct, organic traffic.
