Estate agents demand Funda scrap “disproportionate” new fees

A large group of estate agents is demanding that housing platform Funda scrap higher advertising fees due in September, describing the increases as “disproportionate” and poorly justified.

The demand was made in a letter to Funda’s board signed by 19 of the 27 regional branches of estate agents’ association NVM, the Financieele Dagblad has reported.

Funda said last month it would launch pricier sales packages alongside a revamped website. The top “gold” package will cost €536 excluding VAT, up from the €235 NVM agents currently pay for a premium listing.

Under the new model, house sellers will be able to pay Funda directly for an advert, while agents will receive a fee from Funda of up to €130 per listing. The branches call this construction “undesirable and both ethically and legally questionable”,
warning it could mean agents recommend Funda products for the money rather than act in their clients’ interests.

Agents also fear Funda is trying to build a direct commercial relationship with sellers and squeeze them out of the sales process. “Why do you want to invoice the consumer directly? We get no clear answer from Funda on that question,” said Floris van der Peijl, chairman of Amsterdam agents’ association MVA.

Tensions between some estate agents and Funda have increased following the 2024 sale of a 24% stake to US investor General Atlantic. The platform made a profit of €34.2 million on turnover of €73.3 million last year.

A Funda spokesperson said a meeting with the signatories would take place. The NVM board, Funda’s largest shareholder, said it was for Funda to respond first.