Are you considering letting your property or investing in a rental property through an online letting agent?

If so, you’re not alone. Countless landlords are turning to online letting agents to manage their rental properties.

Most landlords want their rental property as a form of passive income or even a career. While it takes an investment upfront, once you’ve established reliable tenants and an organised system, it can be a lucrative endeavour.

But the bottom line is, some people simply don’t have the time or interest in finding and vetting tenants, managing properties, performing routine maintenance, collecting rent, or filing all the necessary paperwork.

Does this describe you? If so, online letting agents can help make the rental process easier.

Online letting agents take the guesswork out of renting out your property. Not only do they perform all the above-mentioned tasks, but they act as the middle man between you and the tenants.

Before you get started, you can use our letting agent comparison tool to get a better idea of what online letting agent fees might cost.

Now, let’s dive into some of the best in the business!

WOOAAHH! We nearly forgot… what is an online letting agent?

A traditional agent has a high street branch and a human will come to your house to complete a valuation and also conduct viewings.

An online agent usually has no high street branch and most of the activities are done online. Typically no one will visit your home from the agency and you will conduct the valuation and viewings.

 

 

1. ONLINE LETTING AGENTs at a glance

 

Below is a snapshot of online letting agents, to help those in a rush!

We have ranked online letting agents based on various factors, including fees, services & performance. The rest of the article provides the detail behind each rating.

 

 

2. COMPARE ONLINE LETTING AGENT FEES

You may be torn between betting an online or traditional letting agent. Blurring the lines even more is the new ‘hybrid agent’

To get a full view of all letting agent types, including their fees, ratings & services, run a free letting agent comparison.

All you need to do is enter your postcode and a few details about your property

If you’re unsure on your estimate rent or looking for a quick overview of online letting agent fees, then the below table will be of use to you.

Where an agent charges different prices for London vs the rest of the country, we’ve referenced the higher amount. 

3. Online letting agent performance

Interested to know which online letting agent is the best in terms of performance?

To be clear, we mean which online agent gets the highest rents for their landlords and in what timeframe.

Both factors should be considered as one. There is no point an agent getting you the highest rent, if it takes them 3 months.

We’ve researched how online letting agents perform so you can make an informed decision on which to pick for your property.

The fastest online letting agent is a tie between OpenRent and The Online Letting Agents, both with an average of 3 weeks to let.

In terms of which agent gets landlords the highest rent, that’s 99home at £1,551, however this agent also takes the longest to let with an 11 week average.

 

4. DETAILS ON THE MOST POPULAR ONLINE LETTING AGENTS

We’ve collated some details about some of the most popular online agents. Read below for details about how they were founded, their recent history, news & fees.

While there are online letting agent fees tied to contend with, most people consider them a fair trade for less aggravation, time, and headaches. Hybrid estate agents perform all the tasks of an online letting agent but are also considered a traditional, high street agent.

Does it sound like hiring online letting agents to manage your rental properties is a no brainer?

It kind of is! So, now you’re probably wondering which agency to choose. We’re here to give you a breakdown of some of the best online letting agents on market.

OpenRent

OpenRent is a landlord and tenant service that’s been featured on BBC, The Sun, The Telegraph, and Mirror just to name a few. Its for sure one of the best online letting agents.

OpenRent is committed to providing resources to landlords to help them succeed. Founded in 2012 and named one of the biggest letting agents in the UK in 2015, this is a fast-growing, highly-qualified online letting agent.

Some of OpenRent’s services include advertising on their site, advertising on popular portals such as Zoopla, and tenancy creation for landlords. But OpenRent doesn’t just offer services for landlords.

Their mission is to match quality landlords with quality tenants. This way, both parties know they’re entering into a secure and positive rental agreement.

Not only does OpenRent eliminate tenant fees for both renters and landlords, but their charges are completely transparent from the start. Landlords benefit from hands-on experience and assistance with advertising, finding the right tenant, and creating a tenancy agreement.

Renters don’t have to deal with pushy agents or tenant fees. OpenRent even offers filters to help tenants find the ideal property — from pet-friendly options to the best properties for students or large groups.

There are currently over 428,000 properties available to rent on OpenRent, with over 2.3 million registered landlords and tenants.

With an average turnaround time of just six days, finding the perfect property or the perfect tenant has never been easier than using online letting agents at OpenRent.

Griffin Property

Griffin Property Co. was established in 2000 as a high street agent and went online in 2015. Having looked at different online offerings, they decided to enter the marketplace with the most cost-effective rental packages in the UK.

They offer 2 rental options, the standard package is a tenant find only service for £24.95, this is for a 3-month listing. The premier package is £69.95 and adds tenant referencing, tenancy agreement, collection of first month’s rent and deposit registration with the DPS.

When you sign up with Griffin Property Co, your property is listed on Rightmove, Zoopla, Prime Location and over 200 other property sites for maximum exposure.

With their simple four step process, your property can be advertised nationally in as little as 30 minutes.

Sellers/renters never miss an enquiry using the unique messaging system on their website. All enquiries are backed up by text and email notifications, ensuring you are updated wherever you are.

The management service is an ideal choice for property owners who have tenants in situ or are unhappy with their current estate agent. They offer a simple fixed fee solution to ensure you receive value for money and complete piece of mind whilst content in the knowledge that your property is being professionally managed

Silver Winners of the ESTA Online Estate Agent Awards 2021

 

Purplebricks Estate Agents (the biggest, but is it the best?)

With virtual viewings and a commitment to health and safety, Purplebricks Estate Agents are helping residents move safely in accordance with the latest government guidance.

In the face of the recent Coronavirus pandemic, Purplebricks is committed to providing the same quality online letting agent services clients are accustomed to. Free valuations are now offered virtually using Skype, WhatsApp, or your preferred platform.

If you prefer an in-person valuation, professional and experienced letting agents are happy to accommodate you using social distancing best practices, making them a leader in hybrid estate agents.

Clients then receive a comprehensive valuation report and guided instructions on how to list their property fast. The next steps include creating an individualized advertisement, managing the listings, and closing the deal.

Aside from safety, Purplebricks Estate Agents prides itself on employing dedicated, local experts and fair fees. Purplebricks Estate Agents are some of the most reviewed online letting agents around. Not only does this company let properties and find renters, but also buys and sells properties fast and efficiently.

Landlords receive the first month free, advertisements on Rightmove, hands-on support and guidance from start to finish, and several packages to choose from.

This allows landlords to choose the online letting agent fees that work best for them. Renters can book viewings immediately after searching multiple properties, speak to experts and take advantage of Purplebrick’s mobile app.

When it comes to buying and selling, clients are guided through the entire process by local property experts that know the area and the market. Photos, floor plans, and advertisements are all included in the online letting agent fees.

Looking to buy a property? Interested investors can easily search and book viewings and speak to industry experts for advice and direction.

The Online Letting Agents

The Online Letting Agents was created by landlords sick of paying high letting agent fees and frustrated over dealing with traditional high street agents. The Online Letting Agents pride themselves on friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic staff that help landlords secure reliable tenants for less.

Known for their excellent customer service skills, The Online Letting Agents are available to answer all your questions and inquiries to help simplify the letting process and offer support every step of the way. They also have an excellent, 5-star rating according to Trustpilot. 

The Online Letting Agents’ website is easy to use and navigate. Simply register and choose the silver or gold package. You can also choose from individualized services. The cheapest package (£129) is for landlords who want to manage their own property but need help finding and referencing tenants. Partially managed packages start at 3.5% per calendar month while fully managed services are 5% per calendar month. Services for commercial properties are available starting at £150. 

The Online Letting Agents will advertise your property on all the major letting portals including Zoopla, Rightmove, Primelocation, Gumtree, Find a Property, and more! The team of letting agents will handle all inquiries, screen potential clients, and forward you interested leads. From here, you can set up a convenient time for property viewings and other important meetings. The Online Letting Agents will also handle all necessary paperwork and see all negotiations from start to finish. 

Additional services include inventory lists, gas safety checks, premium listings, and tenancy admin tasks. 

 

99Home

99 Home is one of the UK’s fastest-growing online letting agencies offering cutting-edge technology and competitive pricing. With packages starting at as low as £29, 99 Home has services and packages to suit all types of landlords. With round-the-clock service and expertise, you’ll have an expert agent guiding you every step of the way. 

99 Home offers four letting and full property management packages with the basic package costing nothing at all! The silver package is their most popular and moderately priced at £499 including VAT. This includes a free one-week featured listing on Zoopla.

Whether you’re buying, selling, letting, or renting both commercial and real estate property, 99 Home has an affordable option for you. Most packages include professional photographs, detailed floor plans, marketing software, and property management services. 

99 Home takes theirs and your reputation very seriously which is why they’re always abreast of the most recent real estate laws and always fulfill their legal obligations. 99 Home is also a proud member of The Property Ombudsman Redress Scheme.

 

Mashroom 

Are you a landlord looking to let out your property without the help of a letting agent? While some property owners consider this a risky approach, Mashroom makes it a simple, easy, and secure process.

Landlords who register with Mashroom get a free 30-day listing on Rightmove and Zoopla, access to easy-to-use property management tools, free same-day rent collection, and managed maintenance with over 7,000 reputable contractors. Mashroom gives landlords all the resources they need to succeed.

Mashroom has proudly been featured on BBC, Independent, Yahoo, MSN, and Mirror. The Mashroom platform is rooted in truth and transparency, with the ultimate goal to help the relationship between tenants and landlords bloom. 

Once you list your property you’ll start receiving inquiries within minutes. Now you can conduct viewings, vet candidates, and offer deposit-free renting to approved tenants. Mashroom doesn’t charge fees or commissions. 

Mashroom gives landlords complete visibility and control over their listings and the entire letting process. Mashroom also offers additional services including insurance and mortgages for those who need financial backing.

 

Upad

Upad is another online letting agent company that helps both landlords and renters. With over 40,000 successful matches and a highly-experienced team of professionals, Upad offers countless online tools to help both tenants and landlords. Upad was named a gold winner at the ESTAS Letting Agent Landlord Awards in 2019 and continues to prove why they’re one of the best online letting agent companies available today.

One notable feature of Upad is their unmatched customer service and support, which is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Upad’s services include advertising your rental property, creating and organizing all necessary paperwork, and creating long-lasting working relationships. Upad also offers a wide range of packages and services so you can choose the perfect one for your unique needs.

In addition to 24/7 customer service, Upad also delivers fast results. After signing up, landlords can expect to have their properties listed on sites like Zoopla and Rightmove within hours.

Now, you can use Upad’s user-friendly dashboard and other online tools to monitor your property listing and receive instant alerts. Never miss an opportunity again by responding instantly to inquiries.

You can schedule viewings, arrange meetings, and handle all the necessary paperwork within minutes with a little help from Upad’s experienced agents. They will draft all necessary contracts and paperwork (including legal documents), collect the deposit, and guarantee that both the tenant and landlord are compliant.

Most landlords and tenants see results within 12 days of creating an account on Upad. Landlords save, on average, £756 by working with Upad. Not to mention, they also save time and aggravation!

 

LETBRITAIN

 

LetBritain is a unique letting agency in the sense that it doesn’t deal with traditional estate agents. Instead, this is a self-service letting agency that puts landlords in the driver’s seat when it comes to finding and choosing their tenants. Although LetBritain offers fully managed services from start to finish, everything is done at the direction and discretion of the landlord.

LetBritain prides itself on cutting costs and only charging landlords for the services they need. Using a 5-step process, the agency promotes quick, easy, and cost-effective letting options for landlords. It’s also one of the only DIY virtual online letting agencies in existence right now!

The website’s virtual dashboard allows landlords to communicate directly with their tenants, perform references, collect rent, and sign tenancy agreements from anywhere. LetBritain also provides landlords with an updated library of all necessary legal documents to ensure they remain compliant. 

LetBritain’s 5-step process looks like this:

1. Register on the website and choose a package. Accept all of the terms and conditions before accessing your personal dashboard. Here, you can start uploading photos, videos, and details about your properties.

2. When choosing a package, find the one that best suits your budget and requirements. You can also select add-ons that provide increased exposure for your listing. These include highlighted listings that place your advert above your competitors

3. When you’re ready for your advert to go live, it’ll be published on all major UK property portals including Zoopla, Primelocation, and Rightmove.

4. All inquiries from prospective tenants will be sent to you via the LetBritain interactive dashboard. Here, you can contact interested tenants directly, schedule viewings, and finalize important paperwork.

5. When you select the ideal tenant, LetBritain will perform a final tenant reference before providing your renters with the tenancy agreement via e-sign and help close the deal.

Landlords can choose from 3 packages when using LetBritain’s fully virtual and automated online platform. 

• Tenant Finder (£99 including VAT fees): Property listing on all major portals, dashboard access, rental valuation, same-day property upload, and redirecting potential clients.
• The Essentials (£149 including VAT fees): All of the above-mentioned services and features plus property listings on additional platforms like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and other social media platforms, online support, access to a market rental valuation tool, real-time tenant email alerts, legal tenancy agreement, and instant property upload.
• Everything You Need (£299 including VAT fees): All of the above-mentioned services plus online chat support, real-time SMS alerts, full tenancy legal library, first-month rent collection, right-to-rent checks, instant property upload and management, deposit registration TDS protected, legal tenancy agreement with e-sign, and facilitating final checks and appointments. 

LetBritain also provides individual services including landlord insurance, tenant referencing, and EPC certifications. 

 

Urban.co.uk

Urban.co.uk is an online estate agency that offers hands-on services for landlords minus the need for high street agents charging exorbitant fees. Urban.co.uk’s philosophy is that, as important as it is to advertise properties on major portals like Rightmove and Zoopla, there’s a lot more to the letting process. 

Urban.co.uk invests in its staff and online system to create a user-friendly process that puts landlords in control of their lets. All staff at Urban.co.uk are qualified with the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) or the ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents). Without paying the high fees associated with an estate agency, landlords still get seamless service from instruction to completion. 

According to online and customer reviews, Urban.co.uk provides 5-star customer service and access to support 7 days a week. While your property listing will still appear on property portals like Zoopla and Rightmove, landlords also get access to much more when using this platform.

Urban.co.uk offers a free rental valuation for all landlords. Knowing the value of your property can help you choose a reasonable rental amount. Letting your property on the website starts as low as £99 including VAT fees. This is known as the Tenant Finder package and also includes email and text alerts from interested tenants, 24/7 access to amending your advert, ARLA registered agent support, tenant referencing, right-to-rent verification, and a 12-month eviction guarantee.

If you’re looking for additional help and services, you may want to consider the Tenant Finder Premium package. This is priced at £299 including VAT fees and provides all the same benefits as the basic package plus, deposit collection and registration, tenancy agreement drafting, and signature collection. 

Urban.co.uk’s fully managed services start as low as £45 per month and are provided through Howsy. This package includes tenant find, regular inspections, repair management, contracts and references, rent collection, eviction cover, and renewals.

Getting started on the platform is easy and can be done in 4 simple steps.

• Complete the quick and secure registration process. Once you’re approved, you can start uploading photos of your property, which you can amend or add to in the future. If you need help, Urban.co.uk’s experienced team can assist in crafting an eye-catching advert. The team can even take professional photos for you before your listing goes live! This process is usually completed within 24 hours.
• Urban.co.uk handles all tenant inquiries and passes the information on to you via text or email. From here, you can schedule viewings that work for your schedule. Because landlords are required to host their own viewings, you get to meet your potential tenants face-to-face. That means you get a first-hand impression of the people that may be occupying your valuable property.
• Before you hand over the keys, let Urban.co.uk perform an extensive referencing check to ensure you’ve chosen reliable renters. Urban.co.uk has a Tenant Check Pledge that involves a financial and credit check. Urban.co.uk will speak with the candidate’s previous landlords and verify their income. Urban.co.uk performs such a rigorous tenant check that if they pass the screening process and fail to pay rent within the first 12-months, the agency will evict them for free! (Each tenant check will cost you £69).
• Once you’ve selected your tenants, Urban.co.uk will take care of the rest. This includes drafting the tenancy agreement, collecting the deposit, and all other legalities. Urban.co.uk offers additional services to streamline this process including inventory checks and fully managed services. You can also contact them 7 days a week for additional support.

LettingaProperty.com

Compared to OpenRent, one of the biggest online letting agencies, LettingaProperty fees are very high for what you get. For example, OpenRent offers light advertising for free. While this only provides 3 months of free advertising on OpenRent, free advertising is free, and any exposure to your property is beneficial. 

The basic plan on LettingaProperty starts at £59 per month plus an additional £149 in set up fees. 

Ultimate Advertising on OpenRent, which includes portal advertising starts at just £49 for three months plus VAT. As you start increasing services and upgrading plans on LettingaProperty you can expect to pay as much as £119 per month plus 4% per month. 

If you’re a landlord in London with a property renting out for £2,000, you’d be paying £119 + £80 in monthly commission. That’s 10% of the monthly rent, quite substantial for an online agent.

If you consider landlords up north, this % paints a worse picture. If you’re charging £1,000 in rent, your fee using Lettingaproperty would be 15.9%. Considering you need to do viewings yourself and pay for photography, it’s not a great deal in our opinion.

 

5. What the review sites say about the biggest online letting agents

When reviewing online letting agents, it can be difficult.

Each seem to use a different platform to collect reviews and depending on which review site you check out, the picture painted about the online letting agent can be very different.

We’ve collated a summary of how online letting agents are reviewed below.

Purplebricks Reviews

Just because Purplebricks is the most expensive online letting agent, does it mean it’s the best? Online ratings and reviews show mixed opinions.

While Trustpilot gives Purplebricks an excellent, 4.4-star rating, the letting agent didn’t perform nearly as well according to Reviews.io, AllAgents, and reviews.co.uk. 

These other review sites have Purplebricks coming in at below a 2-star rating. The main complaint of landlords and sellers is a lack of communication and support. Multiple property owners claim to have sold or let their properties on their own, with little help from the agent while others report never getting a callback at all. Out of 407 reviews on Reviews.io, Purplebricks received a 1.3 rating. 

The agency didn’t perform much better on AllAgents. With 238 reviews, Purplebricks received 1.3-stars out of 5. While some people view the positive reviews on Trustpilot as skeptical, property owners rave about Purplebricks’ professionalism and reasonable pricing.

 

The Online Letting Agents Reviews

Upon an initial search of The Online Letting Agents, property owners might be pleased to see this agency received a 5 out of 5-star rating. With a closer look, you’ll find that this is based on just one customer review on AllAgents. 

However, The Online Letting Agents did hold strong with a 4.6-star rating on Property Investment Project based on 28 reviews. 

This agency’s showing on Trustpilot is even more impressive with a 4.9-star, excellent rating, and over 1,000 reviews! These top ratings are attributed to their quick response times, professionalism, and thoroughness. Of the few negative reviews you might find, tenants and landlords cited poor property management and not adhering to contract details.

 

OpenRent Reviews

According to Trustpilot, OpenRent offers a great customer experience with a 4.2-star rating and over 2,225 reviews. Out of 38 reviews on the Property Investment Project, OpenRent received a 4-star rating. 

While several landlords credited OpenRent’s customer service and affordable pricing, others cited trouble communicating with their agent on multiple occasions. 

Several clients report being encouraged to send an email versus calling the office only to receive no response. On the other hand, DIY landlords claim this online letting agency offers just the right amount of support without overstepping. 

RentMyHome Reviews

RentMyHome.co.uk has racked up over 330 reviews on Trustpilot, earning this agency an excellent, 4.6 out of 5-star rating. 

AllAgents also has RentMyHome.co.uk coming in with a 4.3-star rating out of 18 reviews. Some of the agency’s key features include friendly and efficient agents, fast results, and competitive pricing. 

Other, less-than-satisfied customers report dealing with multiple agents for a single listing, which slowed down the letting process and created a breakdown in communication. Others warned against paying the agency’s upfront fees. 

99home Reviews

With nearly 950 reviews on Trustpilot, 99home letting agency received an impressive 4.9-star rating. 

99home’s 9.2 out of 10 rating on Property Road just confirms what most landlords and clients have to say about this company. 

Pleased clients credit the agency’s success with their efficient communication, professionalism, availability, and proactive approach. 

Of the minimal negative reviews of 99home, displeased clients report slow response times, an overwhelming amount of options, and the fact that their ‘no sale, no fee’ package doesn’t include viewings. 

Avoid confusion or disappointment by asking plenty of questions about which package you choose including the specific services and fees it offers.

Howsy Reviews

Howsy has racked up an impressive 1,8875 reviews on Trustpilot, resulting in a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. Results were less than favorable according to AllAgents where out of 70 reviews, the UK letting agency only received 3.3 out of 5-stars.

Satisfied customers noted Howsy’s customer service (including their online chat), and fast response time as the agency’s top features.

Both landlords and tenants reported that Howsy agents are always on-hand and willing to answer questions about the entire rental process.

Other, less-than-satisfied customers claim their negative reviews are a result of poor property management. Specific complaints include a failure to perform required safety checks, nonpayment of rent, and lack of advertising.

 

Upad Reviews

Upad is UK’s largest online letting agent and has racked up a 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot with over 1,000 positive reviews. 84% of customers report excellent service with another 10% claiming they had a “great” experience.

Upad received an even more impressive 5-star rating according to AllAgents. Most landlords claim Upad agents are reliable and provide fast turn-around times.

Their low prices and easy-to-navigate website were also mentioned as top features. Some clients reported problems with the company’s new management, claiming the letting agent no longer focuses on the customer experience.

LetBritain Reviews

LetBritain currently has a 3.8-star rating on Trustpilot. Unfortunately, this doesn’t paint a very clear picture given there are only 2 reviews posted. Of these 2 reviews, both are 5 stars with satisfied customers commenting on the friendly staff and an easy-to-use website for accepting and managing inquiries. Other benefits include low-cost package options and straightforward services.

Reviews for the site are also sparse across the Internet, with only one review listed on Bark.com. This reviewer gave the company a 4-star rating and commented on the ease of uploading photos and property details. They also mentioned how convenient it was to have all legal documents together in one place.

 

Urban.co.uk Reviews

Urban.co.uk currently has a 2.9-star rating on Trustpilot. Out of 735 reviews, 85% of customers gave the company a 5-star rating. Another 13% gave it a 4-star rating, with only a few customers expressing dissatisfaction with their experience.

Of the negative reviews, customers complained about agents not showing up for viewings, poor living conditions, and lack of communication. Some customers reported never receiving callbacks and other unprofessional behaviors by the company’s agents. Though these seem like isolated incidents, given most clients left positive reviews. 

These more favorable assessments mentioned excellent customer service and quick results both online and at local branches and professional and helpful agents. Others loved the online platform, commenting on how easy it is to use and understand – even for first-time landlords. Some other notable features of the website include customer assistance on nights and weekends, the ability to let and manage multiple properties at once, and the services being a good value for the price.

LettingProperty Reviews

From 600 reviews on ReviewCentre.com, Lettingproperty.com received a 4.9 out of 5-star rating. Satisfied clients credited the agency’s professionalism, thoroughness, and reliability as key factors in their rating. 

Many landlords and tenants also report being repeat customers of this company thanks to its reliable service. According to Property Road reviews, Lettingproperty.com received an overall 9.4 rating out of 10. 

Some of the main pros of Lettingproperty.com on this review site include affordable pricing and packages as well as the option to add additional services. On the downside, some customers are wary of using this agency because it’s smaller and not as established as the other UK letting agents.

 

6. Online letting agent checklist

Online letting agents offer a great way for landlords to save on their rental costs. The low fees & flexible packages are helping online letting agents grow their market share in the rental market.

Below is a checklist for landlords to follow, to ensure the process of getting an online letting agent is as smooth as possible. 

1. YOUR TIME

To get the benefits of an online agent (the low costs!), you may need to do some of the work yourself. This includes activities such as conducting viewings and collecting rent. Make sure before getting an online agent you have the time.

 2. COMPARE FEES

Use Rentround to compare fees of both traditional and online letting agents. The search is free and will help you reduce your letting agent costs

 3. SERVICES

Determine what services you want, starting from just tenant find services to full management.

4.  ADD ONS

Check that the online agent offers all the services you need now, and potentially in the future. Some online agents don’t offer as much as others (i.e. inventories, repairs, guaranteed rent etc).

5. YOUR RENT

Make sure you and your chosen online agent agree on the expected rent. Do your research beforehand, checking rent on other properties in your area. An online agent may not have the local knowledge a high street agent has, so you should spend extra time on your own due diligence.

6. SIGN THE DEAL

Sign up with an online letting agent. Be sure to check the terms & condition, as well as any hidden fees. Our guide on letting agent fees helps on what to look out for.

7.THE ADVERT

One of the main advantages with an online letting agent is the cheap access to post your property on the major property portals. Check on the portal that your advert is in good shape and there are no mistakes. This is even more important if you’ve paid a fee to the online agent that isn’t dependent on your property being filled.

8. HANDLE ENQUIRIES

If you’ve gone for a basic package with your online letting agent, you’ll need to handle enquiries & organise viewings. Make sure you brush up on your showcasing skills. You’ll need to be able to draw out the positives & answer questions on the negatives when showing tenants your property.

9.PICK YOUR TENANT

Hopefully you’ve had enough people bidding to move into your property. Pick a tenant with a good reference history and who’s a good fit for your property. This is even more important when your property is a HMO with existing tenants – the last thing you want is to be dealing with internal bickering!

10. ENJOY YOUR SAVINGS

Enjoy the savings you’ve made and treat yourself to something nice, knowing you’ve secured the best letting agent!

 

7. YOUR OWN VIEWINGS… SCARY?

Not everyone is a natural-born salesman. If you choose to forgo “viewing” services and conduct your own viewings and showings for your property, you may be worried about your ability to “sell” the property.

Don’t be! Sometimes, less is more. You don’t need to make an over-the-top presentation or sales pitch. All you need to do is be personable, and friendly, and give them a little space during the viewing. Be available to answer questions but don’t stand over their shoulder at every turn. Chances are, if they’re interested during that initial viewing, as long as you’re pleasant, they’ll make an offer.

If you’re looking to rent in this market, the ball is in your court. With rental properties in high demand and inventory low, you won’t have to promote your property too hard. Don’t get hung up on the sales portion of letting your property without an agent.

It usually requires little more than showing them around and answering a few questions. 

 

8. Expert Opinion

I think when online agents first hit the scene, this type of agent was pushed as a major disrupter to the industry.

However as time has progressed, its clear that online agents won’t be market leaders and takeover (based on the current market). However, they have a huge part to play.

For the hands on landlords, an online agent is perfect. The agent will do the online work for a low fee and the landlord gets on with rest. If required, standardised add ons such as professional pictures and insurance coverage can be added.

However for newbie landlords or those looking for hands off approaches, the traditional agents are still the way to go. The higher fees compensate for the lower amount of ‘headaches’.

Online agents do face a lot of challenges in the coming years. 

Traditional agents aren’t scared of tech anymore. They are adopting systems and tools that allow their processes to become more efficient. This will (and is) allowing them to lower fees – the main selling point for online letting agents.

In addition, a number of online letting agents are offering “free” let services. This will impact the online agents that need to charge a fee.

The digital marketing war will play a big part for online letting agents. Those that can rank organically for the right key terms and be talked about in the right places will get a solid source of ‘free’ leads. This opportunity for lower costs of acquisition will help determine which agents stay around. Purplebricks, Howsy (under its former owners) and Door steps are online players that have struggled financially in recent years.

This worries landlords and is impacting their decision making. Online agents have to navigate around this negative perception – no landlord wants an agent who isn’t financially safe.”

Raj Dosanjh, Rentround founder.

 

 

 

 

9. Online letting agent FAQ

Are online letting agents cheaper?

Yes, online letting agents are cheaper. Lower overheads, namely in the form of no need for a high street presence helps keep the costs of using an online letting agent low.

How much does an online letting agent cost?

The cost of an online letting agent varies on the service you want. To find a tenant, charges will be £50-£500. For management services, online agents usually cost between £80-£100 per month.

Are online letting agents any good?

For many landlords online letting agents provide a great service. The low costs of an online agent helps landlords retain rental profit. When using an online letting agent, landlords may have to do more tasks themselves, such as conduct viewings and deal with tenant issues.

Which online letting agent has the best reviews?

Reviews vary, depending on what review site you look at. It’s best to use Rentround to compare online letting agent fees, services and performance. You can find the best performing online letting agent for free using Rentround

How can I find the best online letting agent?

Rentround offers landlords the chance to compare both traditional and online letting agents for free. Within 30 seconds you can see the fees of online letting agents and their performance.

What does an online letting agent do?

In general an online letting agent will do most of the activities a ‘normal’ letting agent does. With some online letting agents, they may not have a local presence. Which means they don’t have anyone to take pictures of your property, conduct viewings or deal with problems with the property. For an additional fee, online agents can offer these services, or landlords can choose to conduct these activities themselves. An online letting agent will be able to offer a rental valuation, advertise your property and conduct tenant checks.

Are online letting agents on Zoopla & Rightmove?

Most are on these portals, advertising properties of signed up landlords. These portals do not let private landlords advertise their properties. As a result online letting agents offer a great and cost effective way to post properties.