Small-Portfolio property manager for local landlords

Landlords with one to a few properties, especially those who live far away, work full-time or have inherited a property.

A monthly management fee, usually a percentage of the rent collected, plus optional charges such as setting up a tenancy or arranging an inspection.

• Organised and good with paperwork
• Calm, fair communication with tenants and landlords
• Basic knowledge of lettings rules and property maintenance

• Check whether you must join a client money protection scheme and a redress scheme for property managers in your nation
• Scotland and Wales have their own landlord or agent registration and licensing rules, so check which apply to you
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and keeping client money separate from your own
• Rules on deposits, safety certificates (gas, electrical, smoke alarms) and tenant rights change, so keep up to date
• Out-of-hours emergencies such as leaks or heating failures, so plan how you will cover them
• Check data protection registration and how you store tenant information

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your insurance, tools and how you set up your systems. Treat this as an estimate and check quotes for your own situation.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on how many properties you manage and the fees you agree with landlords. You usually start with a small number of properties, so expect to build up gradually.

Check whether you must join a client money protection scheme and a redress scheme in your nation, and whether Scotland or Wales registration rules apply. Also check insurance, deposit rules, safety certificates and data protection.