Why it matters
What Let-Only means for a landlord
Let-only is cheaper than full management but shifts the entire compliance and repair-chain burden back onto the landlord. It is the right choice for experienced landlords with a single local let and the wrong choice for out-of-area portfolios. Either way, the landlord still owns the legal liability, the difference is only who does the daily admin.
Worked example
How it plays out
Jenny lives near her flat in Norwich and uses a let-only service. The agent markets the flat, references the applicants and prepares the tenancy. From move-in day the rest is Jenny’s, unless agreed otherwise: protecting the deposit within 30 days, sending the prescribed information, renewing the gas and electrical certificates, collecting rent and dealing with repairs. She sets reminders for each date on the day the tenancy starts.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Assuming the agent protected the deposit when they passed it to you.
- 02Not getting copies of referencing and Right to Rent checks from the agent.
- 03Having no plan for repairs and rent once the agent steps back.
What to do
A short checklist
- Agree in writing who protects the deposit and who does the Right to Rent checks.
- Get copies of every document the agent prepared.
- Set reminders for each certificate and rent due date on the first day.
