Rightmove seeks image boost in housing downturn

The property website, which receives more than 29 million visits a month, has appointed 3 Monkeys Communications to handle consumer PR following a four-way pitch.

3 Monkeys is to work with the website's newly appointed in-house team to create a consumer brand and drive home the message that one in every four homes bought in the UK is found on Rightmove.

Housebuilders Redrow and Bovis Homes this week followed in the footsteps of rivals and announced they were both cutting their workforce by 40 per cent.

The cuts take the total job losses in the housebuilding sector since the start of the year to 5,150, adding to fears that the housing downturn will be deep and prolonged.

3 Monkeys head of consultancy Ali Gee said: 'We read in the papers that there are troubled times ahead, but according to Rightmove, there are currently 15 sellers to every buyer.

'We will be working with Rightmove to help consumers look at how they can apply a kiss of life to their property sale, by thinking and acting like professional marketers.'