Spicerhaart's statement came attached with three letters that appeared to have been sent by agents of Countrywide and allegedly written to clients of Spicerhaart.
The letters, apperaing to come from Blundells agency in Yorkshire, Mann based in Kent and Abbotts who are located on Spicerhaarts doorstep in Essex, suggested that Spicerhaart intended to withdraw from both Righmove and Zoopla portals.
In their statement, Spicerhaart called itself a “founder member of On The Market” and went on to point out that last month it said that it would keep Rightmove as its ‘one other portal’ and would instead be dropping Zoopla.
The chain advises it is viewing the unsolicited approach by Countrywide agents as “potentially libellous.”
Paul Smith, Spicerhaart’s chief executive, comments in the statement: “This is a scurrilous attempt to perpetrate a deliberate plan of misinformation. We have already announced our intention to retain Rightmove and join OnTheMarket which will be run for agents by agents and we believe that listing all our properties on the new portal will be in the best interests of our clients.”
As yet there has been no comment from Countrywide.