Landlord guide
Self-managing a rental property vs using a property manager
Self-managing saves the management fee but takes real time: finding tenants, handling repairs, managing compliance paperwork, and being available when problems come up, often at short notice. A property manager charges a fee, typically 6% to 17% plus VAT, in exchange for handling those tasks and staying on top of legal requirements such as gas safety and deposit protection. The right choice depends on how much time you have and how many properties you manage.
What self-managing actually involves
Beyond collecting rent, self-managing landlords are responsible for arranging repairs, keeping compliance certificates current, and being contactable for emergencies, which can mean evening and weekend calls.
Where a property manager adds value
A managed service typically covers tenant referencing, rent collection, maintenance coordination and compliance tracking, reducing the day-to-day load and the risk of missed deadlines.
- Handling maintenance requests and contractor coordination
- Keeping certificates and inspections on schedule
- Managing tenant communication and arrears
The cost trade-off
A management fee is easy to see, but the time and stress saved is harder to put a number on. For landlords with more than one property, or who live far from it, the time saving is often the deciding factor.
Worked example
On £1,100 monthly rent, Caso Portfolio at 5% + VAT costs £66 + VAT a month, or around £792 + VAT a year, for management, communication and maintenance handling to be taken off your plate.
