New software has been devised which can allow users to identify individual properties that have been ‘portal juggled’ - de-listed and re-listed in a bid to appear ‘new to the market’ in the eyes of prospective purchasers.

The software is being offered free of charge to the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team and to the three official industry redress system - The Property Ombudsman, Ombudsman Services, and the Property Redress Scheme.

The software reportedly allows the user to select its own agencies, properties and areas on which to test its potential. Amongst its other functions, the software can identify the total number of de-listed and re-listed properties by any one particular estate agency, including the dates and times when the de-listing and re-listing takes place. 

It can also identify the individual properties, their portal ID numbers and the property address and postcode - and the agent’s reference. Variables can be set to create thresholds when de-listing and re-listing have occurred.

The three major portals - Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket - have condemned portal juggling and say they have their own reload detection systems and compliance teams to identify such gaming of their content. Last week Rightmove announced it was extending from 2 weeks to 14 weeks the period in which previously-listed homes for sale cannot be re-listed as ‘new’ to the market.