Unhappy With Your Current Letting Agent?
As a landlord, you didn’t invest in property to spend your evenings chasing rent, worrying about compliance, or managing poor communication. Yet, many landlords find themselves tied to a letting agent who simply isn’t delivering the service they promised. The good news is that you don’t have to stay loyal to poor performance!
Understanding Your Current Agreement
The first step is to check your current management agreement. Most letting agency contracts include a fixed term (often six or twelve months) and a notice period, usually between two and three months.
If you’re past your fixed term, you can typically serve notice at any time. Even if you’re still within that period, professional letting agents can guide you through the process, especially if your current agent has breached their obligations through missed inspections, unresolved maintenance issues, or rent arrears that haven’t been handled properly.
What Happens When You Switch
Once you’ve served notice, your new agent can manage almost everything on your behalf. The handover process includes transferring your tenant’s deposit (held in a government-approved scheme), updating legal documents, collecting existing tenancy paperwork, and notifying your tenant of the change in management.
Importantly, you don’t need to end the tenancy or start a new agreement, your current tenancy simply continues under the care of a new, more proactive agent.
How the Process Works
Switching agents is simpler than it sounds. In most cases, it involves just three key steps:
- Appoint your new agent – Ensure they handle full management, compliance, rent collection, inspections, repairs, and have strong local market knowledge.
- Serve notice to your current agent – Usually via email and recorded post, following the notice period in your agreement.
- Let your new agent handle the rest – They’ll liaise with your outgoing agent, collect keys, transfer deposits, and introduce themselves to your tenants.
Transfers typically take around 4–8 weeks, but motivated agents can complete the process faster. For tenants, it’s a seamless transition, they’re simply told who their new point of contact is and where to pay rent. In many cases, tenants actually welcome the change, especially if it means quicker responses and better service.
Why It’s Worth Acting Now
Poor management rarely improves on its own, in fact, it often snowballs. Missed inspections can lead to costly repairs, uncollected rent can become arrears, and falling behind on compliance such as EPC updates, electrical safety checks or Right to Rent regulations can result in hefty fines.
By switching agents now, you protect your investment, ensure legal compliance, and start the new year knowing your property is being managed properly.
Peace of Mind Through Better Management
A great letting agent doesn’t just collect rent, they protect your yield, care for your tenants, and give you complete peace of mind.
At The Property Centre, we make the process of switching agents simple and stress-free. Our local experts handle every step of the handover, ensuring a smooth transition and a higher standard of management from day one.
Thinking of switching?
Get in touch with your local The Property Centre branch today for clear advice, honest guidance, and a seamless changeover.