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Landlord FAQ

Questions, answered.

What landlords ask us before handing over a property: fees, compliance, tenants and what happens first.

Something specific to your property?

Tell us about it. No obligation, and we come back to you within 24 hours.

Working With Us

What does your management service actually cover?

A complete service: HMO licensing and compliance management, tenant sourcing and referencing, rent collection and arrears management, maintenance coordination and contractor management, annual gas safety, EICR and FRA renewals, monthly financial reporting, and ongoing tenant communication. You are not left to coordinate the parts yourself.

How are you different from a letting agent?

We are an HMO operator first. We manage our own portfolio across Southend-on-Sea, so we live with the consequences of every decision we make. When we take on a managed property we apply the same standards, systems and responsiveness to it as we do to our own. That is simply how we work.

Which areas do you cover?

Southend-on-Sea and the surrounding areas. If your property sits just outside our usual patch, get in touch anyway and we will tell you honestly whether we can manage it to the standard we would want.

Do you only take on large portfolios?

No. We work with single properties as well as multi-property portfolios. What matters more to us is that the property can be brought up to a compliant, well-maintained standard and kept there.

Fees & Reporting

How are your fees structured?

Transparent fees with no hidden charges, agreed in writing before we take anything on. Because the right structure depends on the property, the level of service and the condition it starts in, we quote after an initial conversation rather than publishing a single headline rate. Request a conversation and we will give you a clear figure.

What reporting will I receive?

Monthly financial reporting covering rent collected, arrears, maintenance spend and any compliance work carried out that month. You always know what the property earned, what it cost, and why.

How is rent collected and chased?

Rent collection and arrears management run through our own system. Tenants receive reminders ahead of their payment date, and arrears are chased promptly rather than left to accumulate quietly.

Compliance & Safety

Do you handle HMO licensing?

Yes. We manage the full HMO licensing and compliance process with Southend-on-Sea City Council, including applications, renewals and the conditions attached to a licence. Every property in our own portfolio is a fully licensed HMO.

Who keeps the safety certificates up to date?

We do. Gas safety, EICR and fire risk assessment renewals are tracked and booked in before they lapse, along with the other checks your licence requires. Keeping certificates current is not something we leave to a reminder in your calendar.

How are tenant deposits protected?

Deposits are protected via TDS Insured through our NRLA membership, and prescribed information is served to tenants within the statutory deadline.

My property isn't fully compliant yet. Is that a problem?

Not a dealbreaker. Part of taking a property on is working out what needs doing to bring it up to standard, and in what order. We will tell you plainly what is required and what it is likely to cost before you commit to anything.

Tenants & Maintenance

How do you find and vet tenants?

We advertise the rooms ourselves, carry out referencing and Right to Rent checks, and select for tenants who will look after the property and get along with the existing household. A well-matched house is the single biggest factor in keeping voids and turnover low.

How are repairs and maintenance handled?

Tenants report issues to us directly, and we coordinate our own trusted contractors from there. We agree a spend threshold with you at the outset. Anything below it we simply get fixed, anything above it comes to you for approval first.

Will tenants contact me directly?

No. We are the point of contact for the household, day to day and out of hours. You hear from us, not from a tenant at 11pm about a boiler.

Getting Started

What happens after I get in touch?

We arrange a no-obligation conversation about the property and what you want from it, then visit to see its condition for ourselves. From there you get a written proposal covering the service, the fee and any work needed up front. Nothing is committed until you have all three in front of you.

How quickly will you respond to my enquiry?

Within 24 hours. Send us the details of your property or portfolio and we will come back to you to arrange a conversation.

Thinking about handing yours over?

Tell us about your property or portfolio and we'll arrange a conversation, with no obligation.