Ancillary income for estate agents: the money you're leaving on the table

Key takeaways

Every property move creates opportunities for estate agents to earn ancillary income beyond their usual sales or lettings fees. From conveyancing and removals to utilities, property staging and deposit alternatives, ancillary services can generate referral revenue while helping customers through the moving process.

• Five opportunities worth exploring: Conveyancing, removals, utilities, interiors and lettings services.
• Start with your existing pipeline: Your customers already need many of these services.
• Make it useful, not pushy: Recommend services that genuinely help.
• Be transparent: Always disclose referral fees and give customers the freedom to choose.
• Compare your options: Explore suppliers and available offers through Kerfuffle Deals.

What is ancillary income in estate agency? Ancillary income is revenue an estate agency earns from additional products, services or referrals beyond its core sales and lettings fees.

The numbers worth knowing in 2026

• 94,800 UK residential property transactions in September 2026, down 4% year on year. (HMRC, October 2026)
• 54,900 mortgage approvals for house purchases in August 2026, below the previous six-month average of 60,100. (Bank of England, reported October 2026)
• 4.7 million households renting privately in England. (English Housing Survey 2024-25, published December 2025)

Sources: HMRC, UK House Price Index and mortgage approvals, English Housing Survey.

So, what's the takeaway?

Well, when transactions are under pressure and mortgage approvals aren't exactly setting the world alight, making more from the business you're already doing starts to look rather sensible.

Not as exciting as finding a forgotten Greggs sausage roll in your coat pocket, admittedly. But potentially more profitable.

And here's the thing. Every property transaction already creates a shopping list of other services.

Conveyancing. Removals. Utilities. Furniture. Insurance. You name it.

The question is whether you're helping customers access those services and, where appropriate, earning something for the introduction.

Because if you're handing out recommendations all day and getting absolutely nothing back, it might be worth having another look.

How can estate agents generate more ancillary income?

The easiest place to start is with services customers already need as part of their move.

Nobody wakes up thinking, "I really hope my estate agent tries to sell me another twelve things today."

But someone who's just agreed a sale might be very grateful for a reliable conveyancer, a decent removals company or somebody to sort the utilities before moving day.

Here are five opportunities worth investigating.

1. Conveyancing referrals: Don't let the opportunity disappear with the memorandum of sale

You've found the buyer. Negotiated the deal. Everyone's delighted.

Then the customer asks about conveyancing.

You recommend someone you've worked with for years, everyone gets on with their day and you potentially miss an opportunity to earn referral income.

Sound familiar?

A good conveyancing referral arrangement could help you provide a more joined-up service while generating additional revenue when eligible referrals convert.

Of course, a referral fee is no good if the conveyancer takes six weeks to answer an email and your sales progressor starts developing a nervous twitch.

What to look for:

• Clear, transparent referral arrangements.
• Good communication with agents and clients.
• Progress updates throughout the transaction.
• Competitive pricing and service standards.
• A reliable process for tracking completed referrals.

Suppliers worth comparing:

• Complete ASAP: Conveyancing and sales progression support, with referral income opportunities.
• AVRillo: Conveyancing services with agent referral arrangements.
• eConveyancer: A platform helping agents connect customers with conveyancing firms.
• CYNQ: Technology connecting property data and professionals throughout the conveyancing journey.
• LMS: Digital conveyancing and property transaction services.

The important bit isn't just how much you could earn. It's whether the service helps get your sales across the line.

And don't forget to check whether there's a Kerfuffle deal available on your next conveyancing partnership.

2. Removals referrals: Help customers move without carrying the sofa yourself

People moving house need somebody to shift their belongings.

Shocking revelation, I know.

And once they've found their dream home, they're probably not especially keen to spend three weekends comparing removal companies, borrowing a van and arguing about whether the wardrobe will fit through the door.

That's where your agency could help.

A removals referral partnership can give customers a useful introduction at precisely the right moment.

Some providers may offer referral commissions or other commercial arrangements, depending on the partnership.

What to look for:

• Reliable moving partners with appropriate insurance.
• Clear quotations and service coverage.
• A simple customer introduction process.
• Good communication around moving dates.
• Referral terms that are fair and transparent.

There's also an opportunity to go beyond removals and help customers coordinate all the fiddly bits of moving.

You don't need to do everything yourself. Finding the right partners is the trick.

And no, we're not suggesting your negotiators start offering to carry washing machines up three flights of stairs.

Although I'd probably pay to watch that.

3. Utilities: Because nobody wants to spend moving day on hold

Broadband. Gas. Electricity. Water.

All those lovely little jobs that come with moving into a new property.

You know, the ones customers remember at 9 pm when they've got no Wi-Fi and the television isn't working.

Utilities and home-moving services offer another potential ancillary revenue stream for agents.

Rather than leaving customers to organise everything themselves, you could introduce them to a service that helps arrange the switch or set-up.

Depending on the provider and agreement, there may also be an opportunity to earn from eligible referrals.

What to look for:

• Straightforward customer onboarding.
• Clear consent and data-sharing processes.
• Transparent tariffs and charges.
• A choice of suitable services.
• An arrangement that doesn't create extra admin for your team.

Suppliers worth exploring:

• One Utility Bill: Utility management and move-in services, including its Notify service for agents.
• Help The Move: Support with utility account administration and moving processes.
• Goodlord: Lettings technology with services across the tenancy journey.

The best part? These are services customers need anyway.

You're simply making the process easier.

And potentially earning something for doing so.

Make more from the move: From enhanced commission and referral rewards to discounts and other member benefits, Kerfuffle helps agents find supplier offers that make commercial sense. See all Kerfuffle deals

4. Interiors and home staging: The opportunity you're probably overlooking

Here's one I reckon a lot of agencies overlook.

You've got a property sitting on the market. The photos aren't doing it justice, viewings have slowed and the vendor is starting to ask whether you should reduce the price.

Before doing that, could you introduce a professional who helps the property look its absolute best?

That's where home staging and interiors partnerships come in.

And unlike some ancillary services, this opportunity can begin before you've even agreed a sale.

Lemon & Lime Interiors is one example of a supplier helping agents and homeowners prepare properties for sale.

Its Kerfuffle listing also features a referral reward for eligible successful introductions.

What to look for:

• Services suited to your local customer base.
• Clear offers or benefits for homeowners.
• An easy introduction process.
• Evidence of good customer service.
• Commercial arrangements that make sense for your agency.

You don't need to become an interior designer.

You just need to know who to recommend when somebody asks, "Do you know anyone who can help with this?"

And preferably someone who won't recommend painting the entire house beige.

Again.

5. Lettings and deposit alternatives: Could you earn more while helping tenants?

Ancillary income isn't just a sales opportunity.

With 4.7 million households renting privately in England, lettings agents have a sizeable customer base with ongoing needs.

Deposit alternatives, tenant services, insurance and other suitable products may offer opportunities to generate additional income alongside traditional management fees.

For example, deposit alternatives can give eligible tenants another option instead of paying a conventional cash deposit upfront.

But there's an important distinction: deposit alternatives aren't the same as a refundable deposit, and tenants need to understand the costs, conditions and potential liabilities before choosing one.

What to look for:

• Products that genuinely suit your tenants and landlords.
• Clear explanations of charges and responsibilities.
• Transparent commission arrangements.
• Straightforward administration.
• Appropriate compliance and consumer protections.

Suppliers worth comparing:

• Skip the Deposit: An insurance-based deposit alternative with recurring commission opportunities for agents.
• Flatfair: Deposit alternatives and deposit management, including revenue-sharing arrangements.
• Goodlord: Lettings technology and related services.

There are some interesting supplier arrangements available, too.

For example, the Skip the Deposit Kerfuffle listing describes a member commission arrangement on qualifying policies, including renewals.

That's particularly interesting because recurring income can add up over time.

It does, however, rely on the service being suitable for the customer and all parties understanding the terms.

Want to compare the offers? Browse the latest Kerfuffle supplier deals here.

How much ancillary income could an estate agency earn?

That depends on the number of eligible referrals you generate, how many convert and the commercial terms agreed with each supplier.

Rather than promise you a ridiculous number, let's have a look at some simple illustrative maths.

• Conveyancing: 10 completed referrals at £100 = £1,000 a month
• Removals: 5 completed referrals at £40 = £200 a month
• Utilities: 10 eligible referrals at £20 = £200 a month
• Interiors: 3 completed referrals at £50 = £150 a month
• Lettings services: 10 qualifying referrals at £25 = £250 a month
• Total (illustrative scenario): £1,800 a month

These figures are hypothetical examples, not actual Kerfuffle supplier rates, industry averages or guaranteed earnings. Referral terms, eligibility, conversion and payment triggers vary. Figures are gross income before any costs.

That's £21,600 a year in this hypothetical scenario.

I'm not saying every agency will earn that. Some will earn less, some could earn more, and some supplier arrangements won't pay a commission at all.

But it's worth knowing what's possible before deciding there's nothing worth exploring.

The real question is how many useful introductions your agency could already be making.

How can estate agents increase referral income without being pushy?

Start by making the recommendation part of the service rather than an additional sales pitch.

Nobody likes being sold to constantly. Especially when they're already spending hundreds of thousands of pounds and wondering why the survey has identified a mysterious damp patch.

A few simple steps can help.

1. Ask what the customer actually needs

Have a conversation.

"Have you sorted your conveyancer yet?"

"Do you need any help arranging removals?"

"Would it be useful if we introduced you to somebody who could help with the utilities?"

It's really not more complicated than that.

2. Make the right introduction at the right time

Timing matters.

A conveyancing recommendation is useful early in the process. A removals recommendation makes sense as plans firm up.

A home staging referral might be useful before marketing even starts.

Trying to sell someone broadband while they're negotiating over a broken boiler probably isn't going to win you any awards.

3. Give your team a simple process

You don't need a 78-page strategy document.

Just agree which services you recommend, when to mention them and how introductions are recorded.

Make it easy for the team to follow and easy for customers to opt in.

4. Track whether referrals actually convert

A hundred introductions mean very little if none of them results in a completed service.

Track introductions, acceptance rates, successful referrals, earnings and customer feedback.

And keep an eye on the bigger picture. If a supplier generates a reasonable commission but creates complaints or delays, it's probably not worth the hassle.

5. Be completely upfront about referral fees

This one isn't optional.

Customers should know when your agency benefits financially from recommending a service, including the amount of the referral fee where applicable.

The government's guidance on selling a home makes clear that consumers should receive transparent information about referral arrangements and remain free to choose their own providers.

Good service and commercial income can coexist.

Just don't make the customer feel like they're being auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Should agents compare ancillary income suppliers?

Absolutely. The best referral arrangement isn't automatically the one offering the biggest commission.

It's worth comparing the whole proposition.

• Commission or reward: Understand what you earn and when payment is triggered.
• Customer value: Check whether the customer gets a genuinely useful service or benefit.
• Supplier reputation: Poor service reflects on your agency, not just the supplier.
• Ease of referral: An overly complicated process can discourage your team.
• Transparency: Make sure commercial terms and customer disclosures are clear.
• Performance reporting: You need to know which partnerships are actually working.

The bottom line: Compare value, service and commercial returns together. A larger commission is rarely worth losing a customer's trust.

That's why we encourage agents to compare options rather than automatically choosing the first supplier offering a shiny incentive.

And of course, it's worth checking whether there's an exclusive member offer or something extra available through Kerfuffle before signing on the dotted line.

Browse all Kerfuffle Deals

Could your agency be making more from every move?

Here's the thing.

Most estate agents don't need to suddenly become experts in removals, broadband, interiors, deposit alternatives and conveyancing.

You've got quite enough to do already.

But the people you're helping move already need these services.

And when you can recommend a trusted provider, make the customer's life easier and potentially generate additional income, it's worth exploring.

So take a look at the services you're already recommending.

Check whether your existing partners offer referral arrangements. Compare what's available. And make sure your team knows which opportunities are worth mentioning.

Because ancillary income doesn't have to mean selling more stuff.

Sometimes it just means making more of the good service you're already providing.

And if the result is happier customers and a bit more money coming into the business?

Well, that's a win-win.

Possibly even enough to keep the office stocked with Greggs sausage rolls.

Although, knowing some of you lot, perhaps not.

Frequently asked questions about ancillary income for estate agents

What is ancillary income in estate agency?

Ancillary income is money earned from additional services outside an estate agency's core sales and lettings fees. This can include conveyancing introductions, removals referrals, utility services, deposit alternatives and other products that customers may need during the moving process.

How do estate agents make money from referrals?

Estate agents may receive a commission or agreed payment when they introduce a customer to a third-party service provider and the referral meets the agreed conditions. Payments can depend on an introduction, instruction or completed transaction. Applicable referral fees must be disclosed transparently.

What are the best ancillary services for estate agents?

The best ancillary services are those that match your customers' needs and your agency's business model. Conveyancing, removals, utilities, deposit alternatives and home staging are all worth exploring, provided the supplier offers good value, reliable service and suitable commercial terms.

Do estate agents have to disclose referral fees?

Yes. Estate agents must be transparent about referral fees and other financial benefits received from recommended providers. Customers should receive clear information before making relevant decisions and must remain free to choose their own service providers. The applicable requirements can depend on the service and circumstances.

Can small independent estate agencies earn ancillary income?

Yes. Independent agencies can explore referral partnerships without operating a large branch network. The opportunity depends on customer needs, supplier agreements and completed eligible referrals. Even a modest number of useful introductions could create additional revenue, provided the process is transparent and commercially worthwhile.

Sources

1. HM Revenue & Customs. UK Monthly Property Transactions Commentary. October 2026.
2. HM Land Registry / Office for National Statistics. UK House Price Index Summary: August 2026. October 2026.
3. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025. December 2025.
4. UK Government. How to Sell a Home. Consumer guidance on recommendations and referral fees.
5. Kerfuffle. Estate Agent Supplier Deals. Supplier offers and commercial arrangements.

Your ancillary income cheat sheet

Five introductions, five moments that matter

The trick isn't selling more. It's making the right introduction at the right time.

01

Conveyancing

When: as soon as the sale is agreed.

02

Removals

When: as moving plans firm up.

03

Utilities

When: before moving day, not at 9 pm after it.

04

Interiors & staging

When: before marketing, or before a price cut.

05

Lettings services

When: at the start of every tenancy.

£21,600

a year in our illustrative scenario (£1,800 a month). Hypothetical figures, not supplier rates or guaranteed earnings.

🚚 Make more from the move

Exclusive supplier deals worth a look

You've already got the customers. You've already got the relationships. Now let's see whether you could be making more from them.

From enhanced commission and referral rewards to discounts and other member benefits, Kerfuffle helps agents find supplier offers that make commercial sense.

Lettings Skip the Deposit Enhanced commission and member benefits on its deposit alternative solution. Conveyancing Complete ASAP Conveyancing and sales progression support with referral reward opportunities. Conveyancing AVRillo A conveyancing offer with additional commission incentives. Lettings Flatfair Deposit alternatives with revenue-sharing opportunities.

Offers and eligibility are subject to the supplier's current terms.

SEE ALL KERFUFFLE DEALS →

More money from the move. Without having to move another muscle.