Managing your rental property without an agent

Thinking about managing your rental property yourself?

It’s not as scary as agents want you to think — but you’ll need the right tools and a clear process to do it right.

What does self-managing involve?

• Advertising and screening tenants
• Signing a legal lease
• Rent collection
• Handling maintenance
• Dealing with deposit disputes
• Staying compliant (Right to Rent, EPC, gas safety, etc.)

Sounds like a lot, right? That’s where systems come in.

Tools you’ll need (and what F.estate replaces)

Listing & Offers
Traditionally, you’d use platforms like OpenRent or post manually on Facebook and Gumtree. With F.estate, listing your property and receiving offers is built into the platform — no extra accounts needed.

Lease Agreements
Most landlords download templates or reuse old PDFs. F.estate generates legally-sound digital leases automatically, tailored to each tenancy.

Rent Collection
Without a system, landlords rely on bank transfers and manual reminders. F.estate uses direct debit, tracks payments, and notifies you if anything goes overdue.

Maintenance Requests
Usually handled via WhatsApp, email, or awkward phone calls. F.estate logs issues, lets tenants upload photos, and helps you assign or bid out the job — all tracked.

Legal Notices
Many landlords rely on Google or outdated templates. F.estate gives you built-in, timestamped notice tools for Section 21s, break clauses, and more.

Deposit Management
You’d normally register the deposit manually with a third-party scheme. With F.estate, deposits are tracked, documented, and matched to inspections — keeping you compliant and protected.

Tips for first-time self-managing landlords:

• Keep all communication in writing
• Document move-in/move-out condition
• Never skip legal compliance
• Use reminders for renewals and inspections
• Treat your rental like a business, not a side hustle

Common traps to avoid:

• Not securing the deposit in time
• Verbal agreements
• Forgetting inspections
• Using outdated or invalid lease templates
• Letting emotions cloud decisions

Why landlords are switching now:
Tech finally caught up. With F.estate, self-managing isn’t DIY — it’s system-managed.
You get control without chaos.