Self-employed estate agents are outperforming traditional high street operators across several key sales metrics, according to new analysis from TwentyEA, despite still accounting for only a small share of the overall market.
The research found that self-employed agents are significantly more likely to secure a sale, achieving a sales success rate of 65% compared with 53% among traditional estate agencies.
They are also completing transactions faster, with sales progressing through to completion around 10 days quicker on average, while securing marginally higher achieved sale prices.
Fall-through rates are also lower among self-employed operators, standing at 21% versus 24% for traditional agencies.
Despite these stronger performance metrics, self-employed agents currently account for just 2.8% of the market, compared with 97% held by traditional estate agency businesses.
However, the sector continues to expand rapidly, fuelled largely by the growth of self-employed brokerage models such as eXp UK.
According to TwentyEA, market share among self-employed agents rose to 2.8% during Q1 2026, representing annual growth of 24.8% compared with the same period last year.
The data has been published as part of TwentyEA’s latest report, What’s Behind the Success of the Self-Employed Model?, which examines the increasing momentum behind self-employed estate agency structures and the factors driving agent migration away from traditional firms.
The report also includes commentary from senior industry figures including Verona Frankish and Alice Bullard, who discuss both the opportunities and operational realities associated with self-employed agency models.
Further analysis shows that growth among self-employed agents has been recorded across every major price bracket, with the strongest gains seen in higher-value markets.
In the £350,000 to £1m category, self-employed market share rose from 2.3% to 3.0%, while the £1m-plus sector recorded the fastest growth, climbing from 1.6% to 2.3% — an annual increase of 42.8%.
The data suggests the model is gaining traction not only among agents targeting mainstream family housing, but increasingly within premium and upper-market segments.
Across lower price bands, growth remained more modest but still positive. Market share within the sub-£200,000 sector increased from 2.0% to 2.1%, while homes priced between £200,000 and £350,000 rose from 2.4% to 3.1%.
TwentyEA estimates there are now around 2,000 self-employed estate agents operating across the UK, with approximately half working in partnership with eXp.
Regionally, Wales currently has one of the strongest concentrations of self-employed operators, where they account for around 4% of the market. Wales and the North East recorded the strongest annual growth, while Scotland was the only UK region to register a decline in self-employed market share.
The findings are likely to intensify debate around the long-term evolution of estate agency operating models, particularly as rising costs, recruitment pressures and changing consumer expectations continue to reshape the sector.
Nick Huntley, director of TwentyEA, said: “The self-employed businesses tell us that agents are being drawn to models that offer greater flexibility, stronger earning potential and more control.
“The data provides a fascinating insight into how the sector is evolving across the different key metrics such as region and price band.
“For agents considering the self-employed model, the guide offers valuable context, real perspectives and practical advice from people already succeeding in the space.”
The table below shows the growth of self-employed agents across all price bands:
Self-employed agents
Market share 2025
Market share 2026
Volume variance prior year
Percentage variance prior year
£0 – £200k
2.0%
2.1%
0.1%
7.4%
£200k – £350k
2.4%
3.1%
0.6%
26.5%
£350k – £1m
2.3%
3.0%
0.7%
29.9%
£1m+
1.6%
2.3%
0.7%
42.8%
There are around 2,000 self-employed agents across the UK, with around half in partnership with eXp. In Wales, self-employed agents account for around 4% of the market, while Scotland was the only region to record a decline.
Wales and the North East have emerged as standout regions for growth over the last year. The table below highlights the market share of self-employed agents across the UK’s regions:
Region
Market share 2025
Market share 2026
Volume variance prior year
Percentage variance prior year
Scotland
3.2%
2.5%
-0.6%
-19.8%
N East
0.9%
1.4%
0.5%
56.5%
N West
2.4%
2.9%
0.6%
25.5%
Yorkshire & The Humber
2.7%
3.2%
0.5%
19.7%
E Midlands
3%
3.5%
0.5%
16.8%
W Midlands
2.5%
3.4%
0.9%
36.4%
Wales
2.7%
4%
1.3%
48.4%
East of England
1.8%
2.2%
0.5%
26.9%
Outer London
1.8%
2.6%
0.8%
45.3%
Inner London
1.9%
2.2%
0.4%
19.4%
South East
2%
2.8%
0.8%
39.5%
South West
2.7%
3.2%
0.5%
18.6%
London
1.6%
2.1%
0.5%
32.9%
NB Self-employed agents are not a feature of the market in Northern Ireland.
