There are around 30 active UK property auction firms in 2026, but a handful dominate national volume. Here is an honest comparison of their fees, regional reach, format, and who they actually suit.
How we compare them: The numbers below are public and verifiable from each firm's own site. We don't endorse any single auctioneer — the right one depends on your property, region and timeline.
The major players at a glance
| Auctioneer | Format | Buyer's premium | Seller commission | National reach | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Auction House UK | Both | 1.5% (min £1.5k) | 2.5% (min £2k) | National network | | Bond Wolfe | Traditional | 1.2% (min £1.5k) | 2.5% (min £2.5k) | Midlands focus | | Allsop | Traditional | 1.2% (min £1.5k) | 2.0%–3.0% | National, premium | | Savills | Traditional | 1.5% | 2.5%–4.0% | National, premium | | iamsold | Modern Method | 4.2% inc VAT | 0% | National |
Auction House UK — the franchise network
What they do: Around 50 regional branches across the UK, each effectively a franchisee. Both traditional and modern method. ~200 lots per regional auction, ~6,000 lots a year nationally.
Fee structure:
- Buyer's premium: 1.5%, min £1,500
- Buyer admin: £900 typical
- Seller commission: 2.5% + VAT, min £2,000
- Seller entry: £295
Best for: Sellers in regions outside London/Birmingham who want a local auctioneer with national reach. Buyers wanting variety — they list more diverse stock than any single specialist.
Trade-offs: Quality varies by franchisee. Get the specific branch's track record on similar properties.
Bond Wolfe — the Midlands specialist
What they do: Bi-monthly traditional auctions, dominant in the Midlands (Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Black Country). ~150 lots per auction. Strong on residential portfolios, HMOs, commercial.
Fee structure:
- Buyer's premium: 1.2%, min £1,500
- Buyer admin: £1,200 (relatively high)
- Seller commission: 2.5%, min £2,500
- Seller entry: £250
Best for: Midlands investors and portfolio sellers. Long-established reputation in the region.
Trade-offs: Limited London / South-East presence. The £1,200 admin fee bumps the headline-low buyer's premium meaningfully.
Allsop — the national heavyweight
What they do: The biggest UK property auctioneer by lot volume. Bi-monthly traditional auctions of 200–400 lots. Strong on commercial + residential investment, particularly portfolios and London stock.
Fee structure:
- Buyer's premium: 1.2%, min £1,500
- Buyer admin: £1,200
- Seller commission: 2.0%–3.0% (negotiable, higher for lower-value lots)
- Seller entry: variable
Best for: London and South-East sellers, portfolio disposals, commercial. The deepest buyer pool of any UK auctioneer.
Trade-offs: Less competitive for sub-£100k regional residential. The commercial-investor culture sets the tone.
Savills — the premium brand
What they do: Boutique traditional auctions, lower frequency than the volume players. Heavy on prime residential, high-net-worth probate, country houses, agricultural.
Fee structure:
- Buyer's premium: 1.5%
- Seller commission: 2.5%–4.0%
- Seller entry: often included
Best for: Properties above £750k where the Savills brand attracts wealthier buyers. Country estates and agricultural land.
Trade-offs: Won't entertain typical investor stock. High seller fees.
iamsold — modern method only
What they do: The biggest Modern Method of Auction operator. Online-only. Lots are listed by partnered estate agents, then auctioned online.
Fee structure:
- Buyer reservation fee: 4.2% inc VAT (min £6,000)
- Seller commission: 0% direct, but estate agent typically charges 1–1.5%
- Seller entry: 0%
Best for: Sellers of move-in-ready properties who want a wider buyer pool than traditional auction (including mortgage buyers) but more certainty than the open market.
Trade-offs: The 4.2% buyer reservation fee is the highest in the industry, which can suppress hammer prices. Higher fall-through rate (~12%) than traditional auction (~3%).
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How to choose
If you're selling
Three questions decide the right auctioneer for you:
- What's your timeline? Under 30 days → traditional auction (e.g. Bond Wolfe, Allsop). 30–60 days → modern method (iamsold) or traditional.
- What's your buyer profile? Investor-friendly stock → any traditional auction. Owner-occupier home → modern method.
- Can you afford seller commission? No → look for a zero-fee auctioneer where the buyer's premium funds the firm (some national auctioneers charge sellers nothing). Yes → match the firm to your region.
If you're buying
- Set up alerts on 3–4 different auctioneers. Stock varies widely.
- Compare the all-in cost per house, not the buyer's premium %. Use our auction cost calculator.
- Check the track record on similar properties — has this auctioneer sold 3-bed terraces in this area in the last year?
How to verify an auctioneer
- RICS-regulated firms are held to professional standards (most majors)
- National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) members commit to a code of conduct
- The Property Ombudsman scheme — check if they're a member
- Companies House — verify the trading entity, look for any director changes / insolvency
Common questions
"Are auction houses regulated?" RICS-registered firms yes, but UK property auctioneering itself is lightly regulated compared to estate agency. Check ombudsman membership.
"Do I have to pay the buyer's premium upfront?" Yes — on the day of the hammer, alongside the 10% deposit and admin fee.
"Can I negotiate the seller commission?" Often yes, especially for higher-value lots or portfolio sales. Some auction houses charge sellers nothing by design — the buyer's premium funds the auctioneer — so there's nothing to negotiate.
"Which auctioneer gets the highest hammer prices?" Counter-intuitively, the highest-fee auctioneer (iamsold MMA) often gets the highest hammer because the wider mortgage-buyer pool bids harder. But the seller's net is similar after fees.