Firing your estate agent doesn't mean going D.I.Y
Most landlords we speak to know they’re being overcharged.
They’re paying 8%, 10%, sometimes more — and still chasing late rent, patching up communication gaps, and wondering why they’re doing the legwork their agent was supposed to handle.
But when asked why they stay with their letting agent, the answer is usually the same:
“If I leave, I’ll be stuck doing everything myself.”
And honestly, that fear used to be valid.
The old reality of ‘self-managing’
Before F.estate, landlords really had only two options:
- Pay an agent to manage the tenancy (and hope they actually do)
- Go fully DIY and piece things together through spreadsheets, WhatsApp, PDFs, and bank transfers
Self-managing often meant giving up evenings to chase rent, vet tenants, organise repairs, and handle disputes — all while worrying about compliance.
It’s no surprise most landlords chose the ‘safe’ option: pay the agent and hope for the best.
That’s changed now
F.estate was built for landlords who want to walk away from agents without sacrificing structure or sanity.
It’s not DIY. It’s digitally managed — with more control, less admin, and zero guesswork.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
✅ Listing a property
You can list your property, set your terms, and manage availability — all inside the platform. No more relying on third-party agents or portals.
✅ Screening tenants (without the awkwardness)
Income checks, identity verification, and Right to Rent compliance are baked in. You’ll know exactly who’s applying before signing anything.
✅ Offer review and lease signing
You get notified when someone makes an offer. If you accept, they’re guided through a secure digital lease signing process that’s legally binding and stored permanently.
✅ Rent collection and deposit tracking
We handle rent collection via direct debit. You’ll see the payment status, due dates, and arrears — automatically. Deposits are logged, tracked, and matched to the tenancy lifecycle.
✅ Repairs and maintenance
If a tenant reports an issue, it flows through a structured maintenance system — not a voicemail, not a text. You can assign your own contractor, pick from vetted service staff, or request bids.
✅ Renewals, disputes, and move-outs
Every part of the rental lifecycle is handled in the same platform. That means no missed documents, no rogue email chains, and no need to start over with every new tenancy.
So what are you actually doing?
You’re overseeing — not micro-managing.
Think of it like Airbnb, but for long-term rentals. You’re still the owner, still in control, but you’re not being dragged into every detail.
You don’t need to:
- Write contracts
- Manually track rent
- Chase maintenance people
- Store PDFs on your desktop
- Remember who to contact for what
That’s not managing — that’s chaos.
F.estate is structure.
What about tenants?
This isn’t just about landlords.
Tenants also benefit because they’re no longer caught in the communication black hole between “I told the agent” and “I never got that message.” Everything is transparent, timestamped, and in-app.
They know:
- When rent is due
- What was agreed
- Who’s doing the repair
- What’s expected at move-out
And they can see that you, not some faceless agent, are directly connected to the home they’re renting.
The real question: What are you paying your agent for?
If you were getting high-quality management, responsiveness, and tenant satisfaction, maybe the 10% fee would be worth it.
But most landlords are paying that fee to reduce headaches, and still end up chasing those same headaches themselves.
Why pay thousands a year for an agent...
...and still do all the thinking?
With F.estate, you don’t go backwards
You don’t regress into “doing it all yourself.”
You progress into a model that’s tech-enabled, transparent, and finally built for the reality of modern property management.
So yes — fire your agent.
But don’t go DIY.
Go F.estate.
