For years, plenty of landlords have looked after their own rental properties without needing an agent and done a fine job of it. But with the Renters’ Rights Act now in force and the checklist of legal responsibilities longer than it has ever been, more landlords are quietly asking whether it’s still worth doing solo.
There is no single right answer. Here’s a look at both sides.
What self-management actually involves
Managing a let yourself is very doable, but it is a proper job. Finding and referencing tenants, drafting a compliant tenancy agreement, registering the deposit, arranging Gas Safety, EPC, PAT and Legionella checks, keeping smoke and carbon monoxide alarms up to standard, inspecting the property, chasing rent, sorting maintenance, and keeping abreast of every new piece of legislation. All of it sits with you.
The upside of going it alone
It isn’t all one-sided. Self-managing lets you keep the entire rental fee, stay in direct contact with your tenant, and make every decision yourself.
For a landlord with one property, a good tenant, and the time to give it proper attention, that can absolutely work.
Where landlords tend to get caught out
The problems rarely come from the day-to-day. They come from the moments where legal precision matters, such as a rent increase served on the wrong form, a Section 8 ground that doesn’t quite fit, an EPC that has slipped out of date, or a change to the law you didn’t spot in time.
Since 1 May, all tenancies in England have been periodic, rent increases must go through a Section 13 Form 4A notice, and Section 21 no longer exists. Small missteps here can prove expensive.
What a managing agent actually does
Beyond marketing and viewings, this is really where the value sits. A good agent keeps you compliant with every certificate and check, serves notices on the correct form, chases rent, carries out regular inspections, and organises maintenance quotes and contractors. And, importantly, they keep up with the legislation so you don’t have to.
For a lot of landlords, that peace of mind is worth every bit as much as the time saved.
There is a middle ground
It’s worth remembering it isn’t a binary choice. Alongside full management, we also offer a Tenant Find Only service where we handle the marketing, referencing, contract and move-in and then hand it back to you and a Part Management option, where we look after rent collection, inspections and legal certification while you take care of the maintenance side.
Whether you self-manage, part-manage or hand it over entirely tends to come down to how much time you have, how much appetite you have for the legal detail, and how comfortable you feel handling the awkward conversations if they come up.
If you’d like a friendly chat about which approach might suit your property or simply a straightforward look at what we do we’re always happy to talk it through.
