Let only
Tenant find
4–8%
of first year’s rent (one-off) or ~£400–£1,500
On £1,200/mo ≈ £576–£1,152 once
Best Letting Agent for Landlords
Find the right letting agent for your postcode.
Honest UK fee bands and local recommendations — no invented savings figures, no national default agent.
Choose your service level
Three ways landlords instruct an agent
Pick the level that matches how hands-on you want to be — then compare agents near your property with that service pre-selected.
Let only
Tenant find
4–8%
of year-one rent, or a fixed fee
Hands-on landlords who live nearby
Compare this level →Mid tier
Rent collection
5–10%
of monthly rent + VAT
Cashflow handled, repairs still yours
Compare this level →Most hands-off
Full management
8–15%
of monthly rent + VAT
Distant, busy or portfolio landlords
Compare this level →Typical UK bands only — always get a written schedule.What’s included in each service·Full fees guide
Typical UK fees
What landlords usually pay
Illustrative bands for tenant find, rent collection and full management — then convert any quote into pounds on your rent.
Mid tier
Rent collection
5–10%
of monthly rent (+ VAT where applicable)
On £1,200/mo ≈ £720–£1,440 / year
Most common for distant landlords
Most hands-off
Full management
8–15%
of monthly rent (+ VAT) — London often higher
On £1,200/mo ≈ £1,152–£2,160 / year before extras
Not live agent quotes.Full fees guide·Doncaster fee table
Fix these before you instruct
What goes wrong when the wrong agent wins
These are the landlord complaints that cost yield — catch them at selection time, not mid-tenancy.
Hidden fees after you sign
Landlords often discover renewal, inventory, exit or compliance charges only after the agency agreement is in place. Demand the full schedule in writing first.
Voids that eat yield
Overpriced listings and weak marketing stretch empty periods. Local agents who price accurately and generate viewings protect your cashflow.
Poor communication
Unreturned calls and vague maintenance updates are top landlord complaints. One clear point of contact and documented SLAs matter as much as the fee.
Compliance risk
Deposit protection, Right to Rent, safety certificates and Renters’ Rights changes sit with you legally. The wrong agent leaves gaps you still own.
Weak tenant referencing
A quick let with a poorly checked tenant can cost more than months of management fees. Ask exactly how affordability and history are verified.
Locked-in contracts
Long notice periods and exit penalties trap landlords with underperforming agents. Prefer clear exit terms before you instruct.
Still choosing from a shopfront leaflet?
Compare agents near youNext step
Get a postcode match before another void month lands.
Enter your property postcode, pick tenant-find or full management, and see local guidance — not a national default agent.
What landlords want
Beyond the cheapest fee
Predictable yield, protected client money, and an agent who knows your streets.
Transparent all-in pricing
Landlords want pounds-and-pence clarity: management %, VAT, setup and lifecycle extras.
Reliable tenants, not just speed
Filling fast matters — filling well matters more. Referencing depth beats vanity “let in 7 days” claims.
Hands-off when needed
Full management should mean repairs, inspections and tenant queries handled without chasing.
Legal confidence
With tenancy law changing, landlords need agents who explain compliance in plain English.
Deep dives:UK letting agent fees·Managed vs let-only·How to choose·Phone checklist·All UK areas·Compare by postcode
If they won’t answer before you instruct…
Use the phone checklistTrust factors
Checks that separate a safe agent from a sales pitch
Verify these before you compare personalities or shop-window claims. Regulation and money protection come first.
ARLA Propertymark or Safeagent
Voluntary accreditation with qualifications, codes of conduct and audits — stronger than a logo on a shopfront alone.
Client Money Protection
Confirm the agent’s approved CMP scheme so rent and deposits held by the firm are protected.
Redress scheme membership
Every agent should belong to The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme for dispute resolution.
Published fee schedules
UK rules require agents to display fees. If costs are hard to find, treat that as a warning sign.
Recent landlord reviews
Look for patterns on communication, maintenance and honesty — not just average star scores.
Proven local lets
Ask for comparable properties recently let nearby, time-to-let and achieved rent versus asking.
Featured for Doncaster (~9 miles)
Kerrigans Property — Doncaster landlords’ local choice
Family-run since 1978, ARLA Propertymark registered and steeped in Doncaster’s rental market. We recommend Kerrigans for properties in Doncaster and about a 9-mile radius — not Sheffield or Rotherham town centres. Tenant find through to full management, with clear communication and transparent fees.
- 45+ years letting experience across Doncaster
- Tenant find, rent collection & full management
- ARLA Propertymark & The Property Ombudsman
- Coverage: Doncaster + ~9 mile radius only
- Free, no-obligation rental valuations
Prefer to talk?Call 01302 769276
Elsewhere in South Yorkshire we feature separate locals:Henry Spencer & Sons (Sheffield)andBricknells Rentals (Rotherham).
Peace of mind
Designed for landlords who want less hassle, not more jargon
Many landlords are retired, busy, or new to letting after inheriting a property. They want a trustworthy local agent, clear fees, and someone they can phone.
Someone else handles the day-to-day
No chasing rent, arranging boilers or fielding late-night tenant calls — unless you want to stay involved.
A real person on the phone
Many landlords prefer speaking to a local office, not an app or call centre. We highlight agents you can actually ring.
Plain-English trust checks
ARLA, Client Money Protection and redress schemes explained simply — so you know your rent and deposits are looked after.
Help if you inherited a property
New-to-letting landlords often need valuations, tenant find and clear fees without industry jargon.
Useful next steps:Phone checklist·Full management explained·Call Kerrigans on 01302 769276
Compare fees before the brochure wins
Open the fees guideLandlord life, in three frames
“All-in fee” … plus six extras Agent still “in a meeting” No schedule in writing? Walk away
How it works
Three steps from postcode to the right agent
- 01
Tell us where you let
Share your postcode and whether you want tenant-find or full management.
- 02
Compare on what counts
We surface fees, ratings and service depth for agents active near your property.
- 03
Choose with confidence
Shortlist trusted locals for your postcode — with featured partners where we have them — then instruct the right fit.
More landlord guides
How do I choose a letting agent?
Trust checks, fee clarity and local fit — the landlord checklist before you instruct.
Read more
How much do letting agents charge?
Typical UK bands for tenant find, rent collection and full management — plus hidden extras.
Read more
Full management or tenant find?
Match service level to how hands-on you want to be — before you compare percentages.
Read more
What should I ask on the phone?
A plain-English call checklist covering fees, referencing, repairs and trust schemes.
Read more
What are property management companies?
Ten tips for landlords comparing management firms on service, fees and compliance.
Read moreCompare agents by postcode
Free UK postcode match with fair local recommendations — no national default agent.
Read more
Browse UK area guides
City-by-city landlord guides for fees, trust checks and local next steps.
Read more
FAQ for landlords
People also ask about letting agents
Straight answers to the questions landlords search before comparing letting agents — fees, trust checks and what “good” looks like in practice.
How much do letting agents charge landlords in the UK?
Most UK letting agents charge roughly 8–15% of monthly rent (plus VAT) for full management, or a one-off tenant-find fee typically around 4–8% of the first year’s rent or a fixed £400–£1,500. Always ask for the all-in schedule including setup, inventory, renewals and exit fees — headline percentages rarely show the full cost.
Is a 1% estate agent fee good?
A 1% fee is unusually low for full lettings management and usually applies to sales agency, not ongoing property management. For lettings, treat very low percentages with caution: check what is excluded, whether VAT is added, and whether renewals, compliance or contractor mark-ups sit outside the headline rate.
Is it better to rent from a landlord or an agency?
From a tenant’s view, direct landlords can feel more personal; agencies often bring clearer processes and compliance. From a landlord’s view, a good agent reduces voids, handles referencing and day-to-day issues, and helps with legal change. Self-managing suits hands-on landlords; full management suits distant or time-poor owners.
Who is the most successful estate agent in the UK?
There is no single “most successful” agent nationally — volume leaders differ from local specialists. For landlords, success means fast quality lets, low voids, strong reviews and clean compliance in your postcode. A proven local firm often outperforms a national brand on rent achieved and landlord service.
What should landlords look for in a letting agent?
Prioritise ARLA Propertymark or Safeagent membership, Client Money Protection, a government-approved redress scheme, published fees, recent landlord reviews, and clear local market knowledge. Interview how they price rents, vet tenants and handle maintenance before you compare percentages alone.
What is Client Money Protection and why does it matter?
Client Money Protection (CMP) is insurance that helps safeguard landlord and tenant money held by an agent. In England, agents holding client money must belong to an approved CMP scheme. Always verify membership independently — it is a core trust check before you instruct.
Ready when you are
Clarity beats sales pressure.
Compare fees and local fit with honesty — then instruct a recommended partner when the postcode matches.