Property management
Managing lettings for yourself or as a business for other landlords.
In plain English
Managing a let means finding tenants, collecting rent, arranging repairs and keeping up with safety checks and legal changes. Doing it for others is a regulated business.
Switch to professional for underwriting detail.
Capital requirements
Low for self-management; set-up and compliance for an agency.
Cost assumptions to budget for
- Software
- Insurance
- Scheme memberships
Potential returns
Saved fees (self-management) or fee income (agency).
Main risks
- Compliance failures
- Client money loss
Legal checks
- Management agreements
- Tenant Fees Act compliance
Regulatory checks
- Redress and CMP schemes
- Tenant Fees Act 2019
- Protect deposits in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and serve the prescribed information.
- Right to Rent immigration checks (England).
- Annual gas safety check; electrical installation condition report at least every 5 years; smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Is it suitable?
Often suits
- Organised landlords
- Agency start-ups with compliance
A general guide, not a personal recommendation. Suitability depends on your finances, experience and attitude to risk.
Step-by-step
- Set up compliance calendar.
- Choose software.
- Join schemes if acting for others.
Financial calculations
Your offer or asking price.
Use local letting agents' valuations — not included in this report unless shown.
e.g. licensing, safety certificates
Default costs are assumptions for illustration — replace them with your own quotes. Stamp duty (£15,000) and refurbishment (£0) come from the other tabs.
After income tax (owned personally)
An estimate for one owner in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, assuming all the profit falls in the band you choose and ignoring carried-forward amounts. Companies pay corporation tax instead and can deduct interest. Check with an accountant.
Three scenarios
| Scenario | Cashflow / month | Net yield | Cash-on-cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | £-1,124 | -0.13% | -16.73% |
| Expected | £-884 | -0.11% | -13.17% |
| Optimistic | £-804 | -0.10% | -11.97% |
Conservative: rent −10%, rate +1.5 points, 4 extra void weeks, running costs +20%, works +20%. Optimistic: rent +5%, rate −0.5 points, 1 fewer void week, running costs −10%, works −5%. These are projections from your inputs, not guaranteed returns.
Sensitivity: annual cashflow
| Rent | Rate -1% | Rate +0% | Rate +1% | Rate +2% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -10% | £-8,737 | £-10,612 | £-12,487 | £-14,362 |
| +0% | £-8,737 | £-10,612 | £-12,487 | £-14,362 |
| +10% | £-8,737 | £-10,612 | £-12,487 | £-14,362 |
Official sources
- Estate and letting agents: redress schemes (GOV.UK search)
- Client money protection for letting agents (GOV.UK search)
- Renting out your property (GOV.UK)
Last reviewed 31 Oct 2026. Rules change — check the source before relying on this guide.
Not advice