Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Estate definition

What does Estate mean? In practice, “estate” describes either: (1) the nature and duration of a person’s proprietary interest in land; or (2) the aggregate property of a person, commonly on death or bankruptcy. England & Wales and Northern Ireland: An estate in land denotes the time-based interest, not the land itself. Statute and case law limit legal estates primarily to freehold (fee simple absolute in possession) and leasehold (term of years absolute), with other interests (for example, life interests and beneficial interests under a trust) arising in equity. This concept underpins conveyancing, security, priorities and land registration. Ireland: Under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform...

Somerset estate agents’ 1.5% commission cartel: CMA decision, fines and director disqualifications; High Court upholds seven-year competition disqualification order (Case 50235) [archived]

Published by a LexisNexis Competition expert

Practice notes

CASE HUB ARCHIVED

This archived case hub records the position as at the date of the Disqualification order on 3 July 2020; it is not being maintained. See further: timeline, commentary and related cases.

Case facts

Outline of a CMA Chapter I investigation into suspected price‑fixing of commission rates by Estate agents in Somerset (Case 50235).

Latest development

On 3 July 2020, the High Court affirmed a director disqualification order sought by the CMA against Mr Michael Martin for his role in the cartel. The Court has barred Mr Martin from acting as a director, or from being concerned in the management of a company, for seven years. It also held that Mr Martin contributed to his former company’s breach of competition law; that business owned and operated Gary Berryman Estate Agents in Burnham‑On‑Sea.

Parties

Annagram Estate Agents Limited (trading as ‘C J Hole’) (CJ Hole)
Abbott and Frost Limited (AF)
Gary Berryman Estate Agents Ltd (GBEA) and its parent, Warne Investments Limited; Warne Investments Limited held (indirectly) 100% of GBEA’s shares during the period in question and is therefore presumed to have exercised decisive influence over GBEA
Greenslade Taylor...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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