Letting Agent

People & Roles

A professional who acts on behalf of landlords to find tenants, manage properties, and handle the day-to-day running of rental properties

Letting Agent is a professional or company acting on behalf of landlords to find tenants and manage rental properties. All letting agents in England must join a property redress scheme (TPO or PRSRS), have Client Money Protection insurance if holding client funds, and register for anti-money laundering supervision with HMRC. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, agents cannot charge tenants fees for referencing, viewings, or administration.

Services Offered

Tenant Find Only

  • Marketing and advertising
  • Conducting viewings
  • Referencing tenants
  • Preparing tenancy agreement
  • Move-in process

Rent Collection

  • All tenant find services
  • Collecting rent monthly
  • Chasing arrears
  • Passing rent to landlord

Fully Managed

  • All above services
  • Property inspections
  • Maintenance coordination
  • Tenant communications
  • Compliance management
  • Move-out process

Legal Requirements

All letting agents in England must:

Registration:

  • Join a property redress scheme (TPO or PRSRS)
  • Have Client Money Protection if holding client funds
  • Register for anti-money laundering

Transparency:

  • Display fees clearly
  • Publish redress scheme membership
  • Publish CMP membership
  • Provide written terms of business

Compliance:

  • Follow Tenant Fees Act 2019
  • Comply with Consumer Rights Act 2015
  • Meet data protection requirements
  • Ensure fair contract terms

Fees and Charging

Under Tenant Fees Act 2019, agents cannot charge tenants for:

  • Viewing fees
  • Administration fees
  • Referencing fees
  • Inventory fees
  • Check-out fees

Permitted tenant charges:

  • Rent
  • Deposit (max 5 weeks)
  • Holding deposit (max 1 week)
  • Default fees (specified in agreement)
  • Contract variation fees (max £50)

Choosing a Letting Agent

Look for:

  • Professional body membership (ARLA)
  • Clear fee structure
  • Good reviews
  • Local market knowledge
  • Proper insurance and protection
  • Transparent communication

For Letting Agents

Success in lettings requires:

  • Strong compliance knowledge
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Efficient property management systems
  • Good contractor relationships
  • Understanding of local market
  • Commitment to professional standards

Related Terms

ARLA Propertymark (ARLA)

The leading professional body for letting agents in the UK, providing qualifications, regulation, and consumer protection standards

Client Money Protection (CMP)

Insurance that protects landlords and tenants if a letting agent misappropriates their money, required by law for all letting agents in England

Fully Managed

A letting agent service level where the agent handles all aspects of property management, from finding tenants to ongoing maintenance

Landlord

A person or company that owns a property and rents it to tenants in exchange for periodic rent payments

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