Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Fees definition

What does Fees mean? In legal practice, Fees are the sums payable by one party to another for goods, services or rights under a contract, together with any agreed charges or other amounts. The term is descriptive rather than statutory; while specific legislation prescribes particular court or registry fees in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, in private agreements Fees is a contract-defined term. Usage is broadly consistent across these jurisdictions. Key features in contracts include whether Fees cover one-off, periodic, retainer or success-based payments; whether expenses/disbursements are included or separate; whether VAT/sales taxes are excluded or included; timing and invoicing; indexation;...

Three Counties estate agents’ advertising restrictions: first CMA Chapter I CA 1998 infringement decision; settlements and £735k fines involving local newspaper publisher (CE/9827/13)

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Practice notes

CASE HUB ARCHIVED – this archived case hub sets out the position as at 8 May 2015, the date of the decision; it is no longer updated. See also the timeline and commentary.

Case facts

Outline of a CMA Chapter I investigation into the Three Counties Estate Agents Association, three estate agents belonging to the association (and their parent companies) and Trinity Mirror Southern Ltd (and its parent company), owner and publisher of the local newspaper, for entering into agreements intended to limit how association members publicise their Fees or discounts (Case CE/9827/13). The CMA issued its Enforcement decision and imposed fines totalling over £735,000 on 08/05/2015.

Parties

Three Counties Estate Agents Limited, trading as Three Counties Estate Agents Association
Waterfords (Estate Agents) Ltd
Castles Property Services Ltd
Hamptons Estates Ltd (trading as Hamptons International) and its ultimate parent companies Countrywide plc and Countrywide Group plc
Trinity Mirror Southern Ltd, owner and publisher of the Surrey & Hants Star Courier, and its ultimate parent company Trinity Mirror plc

Market(s)

Estate and letting agencies

Background

The former OFT received a third-party complaint about the Three Counties Estate Agents Association’s Rules in 2013 and formally launched an...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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