If you are an estate agent in the UK looking to set up a website, you may have come across Property Hive. This is a property WordPress plugin and theme that has everything you need to create a fully functional estate agent website. We have used this for a number of our clients with great results.
At Developer Rocket, we are experts in estate agent websites. Many choose to use Property Hive, but if you need advise, please get in touch today.
What do you get with Property Hive?
Property Hive is a comprehensive real estate plugin for WordPress that allows estate agents to manage property listings, accept enquiries, and integrate with leading property portals like Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket. Whether you’re a small independent agency or a larger firm, Property Hive simplifies property management and website functionality.
Key Features of Property Hive
- Property Listings Management – Easily add, edit, and display property listings with essential details, images, and descriptions.
- Advanced Property Search – Customizable search functionality helps visitors find properties based on location, price, type, and other criteria.
- Portal Feeds Integration – Sync your properties with portals like Rightmove and Zoopla to increase exposure without manual entry.
- CRM Functionality – Keep track of applicants, match them with available properties, and manage communications seamlessly.
- Customisable Templates – Works with most WordPress themes, and Property Hive offers flexible templates for a professional look.
- Add-ons for Enhanced Features – Expand functionality with add-ons for automatic property imports, map searches, EPC graphs, and more.
Do I need to use the Property Hive Theme to use their plugin?
Another reason why Property Hive is great is that you don’t need to use their theme in order to get all of it’s great features. You can just get the plugin and use it on your current theme. Below you can see a screenshot of the properties listings page.
How to import properties to Property Hive?
Importing properties into Property Hive is straightforward, especially if you’re using one of the available import add-ons.
1. Install the Property Import Add-On
- Go to Property Hive > Add-Ons in your WordPress dashboard.
- Find the Property Import Add-On (supports Rightmove, Zoopla, and other portals).
- Purchase, download, and activate the add-on.
This guide assumes you have the Property Import feature enabled. But if you don’t here’s how
How to enable the Property Import feature in Property Hive
If you have the Pro version of Property Hive you get over 40 free add-ons that enhances your plugin. To toggle these additional features on and off simply navigate to ‘Property Hive > Settings > Features‘:
If you are unable to do this, then make sure you have activated your account properly, there’s a chance you may be using the free version at the moment. Check the following:
- Is your license invalid, expired or no license key entered.
- Your subscription doesn’t cover the feature in question.
- You have the DISALLOW_FILE_MODS constant enabled in wp-config.php.
Once you have this add-on, follow these steps.
2. Set Up the Import Feed
- Navigate to Property Hive > Import Feeds in WordPress.
- Click “Add New Feed” and choose your property feed source (e.g., Rightmove, Zoopla, custom XML/CSV file).
- Enter the feed URL provided by the portal or upload a file.
3. Configure Import Settings
- Map the property fields (e.g., price, location, images) to match Property Hive’s structure.
- Set up automatic updates so new properties are imported regularly.
- Choose how duplicate properties are handled (overwrite existing or create new listings).
4. Run the Import
- Click “Run Import” to start the process manually.
- Alternatively, schedule automatic imports at set intervals (e.g., hourly, daily).
5. Check and Publish Properties
- Go to Property Hive > Properties to review the imported listings.
- Make any necessary edits and publish them on your website.
Once set up, Property Hive will automatically sync with your chosen portal, keeping your property listings up to date without manual input.
How to connect Rightmove to my website?
If you’re an estate agent looking to display your Rightmove properties on your own website, you might be wondering how to do it—especially if you don’t have technical experience. The good news is that Property Hive, a powerful WordPress plugin, makes the process simple and automated.
In this guide, we’ll explain how you can connect Rightmove to your website and keep your property listings up to date without having to manually upload them.
Why Connect Rightmove to Your Website?
Many estate agents rely on Rightmove for generating leads, but having your own website is just as important. When you connect Rightmove to your website:
✅ Your properties automatically appear on your site, reducing manual work.
✅ You build your own brand, rather than relying only on third-party portals.
✅ Customers can contact you directly, helping you win more business.
✅ You improve your Google ranking by having more content on your website.
How Property Hive Helps You Sync Rightmove to Your Website
Normally, adding Rightmove listings to a website would require expensive custom development. However, Property Hive offers a Rightmove Import Add-On that makes this process easy.
With Property Hive, your website will:
🔹 Automatically import properties from Rightmove.
🔹 Keep your listings updated—when you change a property on Rightmove, it updates on your site.
🔹 Save you time, so you don’t have to upload properties in two places.
Now, let’s go step by step on how to set it up.
How to Connect Rightmove to Your Website Using Property Hive
Step 1: Install Property Hive
First, you need to install the Property Hive plugin on your WordPress website:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Add New and search for “Property Hive”.
- Click Install and then Activate the plugin.
Step 2: Get the Rightmove Import Add-On
To connect to Rightmove, you’ll need the Rightmove BLM Import Add-On from Property Hive.
- Visit the Property Hive website and purchase the Rightmove BLM Import Add-On.
- Download the add-on and install it in WordPress (Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin).
- Activate the add-on.
Step 3: Get Your Rightmove Feed Details
Rightmove provides estate agents with a BLM (Bulk Load Mechanism) data feed.
- Contact Rightmove customer support and request access to your BLM feed URL.
- Rightmove will give you a feed link that contains your property data.
Step 4: Set Up the Import in Property Hive
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Property Hive > Import Feeds.
- Click “Add New Feed” and select Rightmove BLM.
- Paste the BLM feed URL you got from Rightmove.
- Set the import frequency (e.g., daily, hourly) to keep your listings updated.
- Click “Save” and run a test import to check if it works.
Step 5: Check Your Website
Once the import is complete, visit your website and check your property listings. They should now appear automatically, pulling in details from Rightmove!
If you have more than one feed then you can manage this on your plugin too, to find out more info look on their documention feed here.
How to activate your Zoopla Real Time Feed
You can get a feed similar to Rightmove but for Zoopla. First make sure you have the Zoopla add on enabled.
Go to ‘Property Hive > Settings‘ from the left hand WordPress menu.
From there you should see a ‘Zoopla RTDF‘ settings tab
You need various settings to get your Zoopla feed, the Zoopla feed uses server keys to authenticate any requests sent. You can use a website like CSR Generator to generate the CSR (Certificate Signing Request) and private key. In all honesty, we recommend contacting a developer to do this for you as it can get pretty complicated. Get in touch with us here.
Is Property Hive the best estate agent plugin?
Property Hive is the most popular estate agent plugin in the UK, it holds this title for a reason. Below are some of the reasons why.
1. Cost-Effective Alternative to Custom Development
Building a bespoke property website from scratch can be expensive. Property Hive provides all the essential features of a high-end estate agency website at a fraction of the cost.
2. Seamless WordPress Integration
Unlike third-party property management solutions that require complicated integrations, Property Hive works natively within WordPress, making it easy to use and maintain.
3. Time-Saving Automation
With features like automatic property imports and CRM integrations, Property Hive reduces manual data entry, allowing estate agents to focus on selling and letting properties.
4. Improved User Experience
A responsive, user-friendly property search function ensures potential buyers and tenants can quickly find what they’re looking for, increasing engagement and enquiries.
5. Flexible and Scalable
Whether you’re a solo agent or a large firm, Property Hive grows with your business. The modular add-ons allow you to tailor the plugin to your needs.
Conclusion: Setting Up Property Hive Plugin and Theme
All in all, Property Hive is a great plugin if you are looking to improve your estate agent website. It’s great for managing all of your properties in one place, integrating your website with popular propery websites like RightMove and Zoopla. One of the most useful features is that you can manage all of your properties in one place so you don’t need to spend hours updating your listings. It can save you time and money.
If you are looking for a developer to help you with your estate agent website or you are looking to create a brand new one. Get in touch with us today.