What Does a Property Management Company Do?
A property management company manages the agreed day-to-day responsibilities of a rental property on behalf of the landlord. This can include communicating with tenants, collecting rent, coordinating repairs and maintenance, arranging property inspections, managing tenancy administration and providing compliance support.
The level of support depends on the service a landlord chooses:
- Let-Only Services: Focus on finding a suitable tenant and setting up the tenancy.
- Rent Collection: Covers collecting and monitoring rental payments, including following up on arrears.
- Fully Managed Property Management: Provides ongoing support with tenants, rent, maintenance, inspections and tenancy administration.
For landlords who want less involvement in everyday property matters, professional management provides a more hands-off way to manage a rental property while staying informed about important issues.
What Does a Property Management Company Handle for Landlords?
A property management company can handle many of the routine responsibilities involved in running a rental property. The exact responsibilities depend on the management agreement, but the aim is to reduce the landlord’s day-to-day involvement while keeping the property and tenancy properly managed.
Tenant Communication and Support
A property manager acts as an agreed point of contact for tenants, handling everyday enquiries, tenancy concerns and routine requests. Important communication can also be recorded and passed to the landlord when their input or approval is required.
Rent Collection and Payment Monitoring
Do property managers collect rent? Yes, rent collection is commonly included within property management services. A property manager can collect and monitor payments, identify overdue rent, follow up on arrears and keep the landlord informed about payment issues.
Property Maintenance and Repairs
When a tenant reports a maintenance issue, the property manager can assess the request, coordinate an appropriate contractor, inform the landlord where necessary and follow up on the work. The cost of repairs may be charged separately from the property management fee, depending on the management agreement.
Property Inspections
Regular inspections help monitor the condition of a rental property and identify potential maintenance or tenancy concerns. Property managers can coordinate inspections, document relevant findings and report important issues to the landlord.
Tenancy Administration
Property managers can assist with ongoing tenancy administration, including renewals, notices, agreed tenancy changes, documentation and end-of-tenancy processes. This reduces the administrative workload for landlords throughout the tenancy.
Landlord Compliance Support
Professional property management can help landlords stay organised with relevant tenancy documentation, property safety requirements and ongoing compliance obligations. However, using a property management company does not automatically remove the landlord’s legal responsibilities as the property owner.
Check-In and Check-Out Management
At the beginning and end of a tenancy, property managers can coordinate check-in and check-out procedures, property handovers, documentation and inventory arrangements where applicable.
Landlord Reporting
Landlords can remain informed without managing every routine task themselves. Property managers provide updates on areas such as rent, maintenance, inspections and tenancy matters, helping landlords maintain oversight of their rental property.
How Does a Property Manager Deal With Common Rental Problems?
A property manager helps landlords handle common tenancy and property issues in a structured way, reducing the need for the landlord to manage every problem directly.
What Happens When a Tenant Reports a Repair?
When a tenant reports a repair, the property manager typically:
- Review the issue.
- Assess how urgent it is.
- Arranges an appropriate contractor where required.
- Keeps the landlord informed if approval or further action is needed.
- Follow up to make sure the issue has been addressed.
This gives tenants a clear point of contact while helping landlords avoid managing every repair themselves.
What Happens When Rent Is Late?
If rent is overdue, the property manager can monitor the payment, contact the tenant, record the issue and follow the agreed arrears process. The landlord is kept updated, particularly if the payment remains outstanding or further action may be required.
What Happens When a Tenant Has a Complaint?
A property manager can receive the complaint, document the details and respond to the tenant where appropriate. More serious issues can be escalated to the landlord or handled in line with the agreed management process, helping keep communication clear and properly recorded.
What Happens When a Tenant Wants to Leave?
When a tenant gives notice, the property manager can help manage the administration, confirm the relevant dates, coordinate the check-out process and prepare the property for the next stage. This may include inspections, documentation and planning for a future tenancy.
What Happens When an Urgent Maintenance Issue Occurs?
Urgent maintenance issues are prioritised and assessed as quickly as possible. The property manager can coordinate the appropriate response, contact contractors where needed and keep the landlord informed about the issue, action taken and any further work required.
What Does a Property Manager Do vs the Landlord?
The main difference is that a property manager handles agreed day-to-day management tasks on the landlord’s behalf, while the landlord remains the property owner and retains responsibility for key ownership decisions.
| Responsibility | Self-Managing Landlord | With Property Management |
| Tenant communication | Landlord | Manager handles agreed communication |
| Rent monitoring | Landlord | Manager monitors payments |
| Maintenance coordination | Landlord | Manager coordinates repairs |
| Property inspections | Landlord arranges | Manager coordinates |
| Tenancy administration | Landlord | Manager supports or manages |
| Reporting | Landlord maintains records | Manager provides updates |
| Ownership decisions | Landlord | Landlord |
Property management transfers agreed day-to-day management tasks, not property ownership or every landlord responsibility. The landlord remains responsible for key decisions, while the property manager provides practical support according to the agreed management service.
What Does Fully Managed Property Management Include?
A fully managed property management service provides more comprehensive support than basic or rent-only management. Instead of handling individual tasks, the property manager takes responsibility for the agreed day-to-day management of the property throughout the tenancy.
Tenant Management
Managing tenant enquiries, routine communication and tenancy-related concerns.
Rent Management
Collecting and monitoring rent, identifying overdue payments and following up on arrears where required.
Maintenance Coordination
Receiving repair requests, coordinating appropriate contractors and keeping landlords informed about necessary work.
Property Inspections
Arranging scheduled inspections to monitor property conditions and identify potential maintenance concerns.
Tenancy Administration
Supporting renewals, notices, tenancy changes, documentation and other ongoing administrative requirements.
Compliance Support
Helping landlords stay organised with relevant property documentation, safety requirements and tenancy obligations.
Ongoing Landlord Reporting
Providing regular updates on rent, tenants, maintenance and other important property matters.
You retain ownership and control of important property decisions while the management company handles the agreed day-to-day responsibilities.
What Doesn’t a Property Management Company Usually Do?
A property management company handles the responsibilities agreed within the management service, but not every property-related cost or task is necessarily included. Exact exclusions vary between providers and should be clearly outlined in the management agreement.
Services or costs that may be separate include:
- Major property improvements or refurbishment work
- Contractor and repair costs
- Specialist legal services
- Property licensing or third-party fees
- Landlord insurance costs
- Major renovation projects
- Services outside the agreed management package
For example, a property manager may coordinate a repair, but the cost of the contractor and materials may still be the landlord’s responsibility.
Always check the management agreement to understand exactly what is included, excluded and charged separately.
For a detailed breakdown of management fees and potential additional costs, read our guide: How Much Do Property Management Companies Charge in London?
Who Can Benefit From a Property Management Company?
Professional property management can benefit landlords who want reliable support with tenants, rent, maintenance and ongoing tenancy responsibilities.
First-Time Landlords
First-time landlords can benefit from support with tenancy administration, tenant communication, maintenance and day-to-day property management while becoming familiar with their responsibilities.
Busy Landlords
For landlords with limited time, a property management company can handle routine tenant and property matters, reducing the need for constant day-to-day involvement.
Overseas Landlords
Overseas landlords can have a local team manage tenant communication, rent monitoring, maintenance and inspections while keeping them informed from abroad.
Portfolio Landlords
Portfolio landlords can centralise the management of multiple rental properties, including tenant communication, rent monitoring, maintenance coordination and reporting.
Landlords Who Live Outside London
Landlords based outside London can benefit from having a local property management team closer to their rental property to coordinate routine management, inspections and maintenance when required.
Do I Need a Property Management Company?
Not every landlord needs professional property management. If you have the time, experience and confidence to deal with tenants, collect rent, arrange repairs, manage paperwork and keep up with ongoing property responsibilities, self-managing your rental property may be a suitable option.
However, a property management company can be valuable when managing a property starts to demand too much time or becomes difficult to handle alongside other commitments. Professional management can provide:
- Less involvement in routine property matters
- A dedicated point of contact for tenants
- Rent collection and payment monitoring
- Maintenance and repair coordination
- Support with tenancy administration
- Property inspections and local oversight
- Regular updates on important property matters
For busy, overseas or portfolio landlords in particular, professional property management can provide a more hands-off approach while allowing the landlord to retain control over important property decisions.
Property Management Company vs Self-Managing
Choosing between self-managing a rental property and using a property management company depends on your available time, experience, budget and how involved you want to be in the day-to-day management.
| Self-Management | Property Management |
| No regular management fee | Management fees apply |
| Direct tenant communication | Manager handles agreed communication |
| Arrange repairs yourself | Maintenance is coordinated |
| Personally monitor rent | Rent monitoring is provided |
| Arrange property inspections | Inspections can be coordinated |
| Handle tenancy administration | Ongoing management support |
| Greater day-to-day involvement | More hands-off approach |
Self-management can suit landlords who have the time and experience to deal directly with tenants and property matters. Professional property management may be more suitable for landlords who prefer to reduce their daily workload while receiving structured support with tenants, rent, maintenance and administration.
How Does Property Management Work With Clarity Housing?
Clarity Housing provides a straightforward property management process designed to reduce the day-to-day workload for landlords while keeping them informed about their property.
01. Tell Us About Your Property
We discuss your rental property, existing tenancy and management requirements to understand the level of support you need.
02. Agree the Management Service
We establish which property management responsibilities will be handled, giving you a clear understanding of the agreed service.
03. Management Begins
Our team handles the agreed tenant communication, rent management, maintenance coordination and tenancy administration.
04. Receive Regular Updates
You stay informed about important property and tenancy matters while we manage the agreed day-to-day responsibilities.
CTA: Speak to Our Property Management Team
Frequently Asked Questions About Property Management Companies
What does a property management company do?
A property management company handles agreed day-to-day responsibilities for a landlord. Services can include tenant communication, rent collection, maintenance coordination, property inspections, tenancy administration and reporting, depending on the management agreement.
What does a property manager do for a landlord?
A property manager helps reduce a landlord’s daily workload by managing agreed tenant and property matters. This can include communicating with tenants, monitoring rent, coordinating repairs, arranging inspections and supporting tenancy administration.
Do property managers deal directly with tenants?
Yes. Property managers can act as the main point of contact for tenants, handling routine enquiries, maintenance requests and tenancy concerns. Matters requiring the landlord’s decision or approval can then be referred to them when necessary.
Does a property management company collect rent?
Yes, rent collection can be included within a property management service. The manager can collect and monitor payments, identify overdue rent, follow up according to the agreed arrears process and keep the landlord informed.
Do property managers arrange repairs?
Yes. Property managers can receive maintenance requests, assess the issue and coordinate appropriate contractors where required. They can also keep landlords updated about repairs and follow up on work that has been arranged.
Who pays for repairs when using a property management company?
The landlord will generally remain responsible for property repair and maintenance costs unless another arrangement applies. A property manager may coordinate the work, but contractor, material and other repair costs can be separate from the management fee.
Do property managers carry out property inspections?
Property managers can arrange scheduled inspections to monitor the condition of a rental property. Inspections can help identify maintenance concerns, document relevant findings and provide landlords with greater visibility of their property’s condition during a tenancy.
Does a property manager handle tenant complaints?
A property manager can receive and document tenant complaints, communicate with the tenant and address routine issues where appropriate. More serious matters may be escalated to the landlord or handled according to the agreed management process.
Can a property manager manage an existing tenancy?
Yes. A property management company may be able to take over the management of a property with existing tenants. The existing tenancy, documentation and current arrangements should first be reviewed before management responsibilities are transferred.
What is included in fully managed property management?
Fully managed property management can include tenant communication, rent management, maintenance coordination, inspections, tenancy administration, compliance support and landlord reporting. The exact services included will depend on the management agreement with the provider.
What is the difference between a letting agent and a property manager?
A letting agent typically focuses on marketing a property, finding tenants and setting up a tenancy. A property manager generally provides ongoing support after the tenancy begins, including tenant communication, rent monitoring, maintenance and administration. Some companies provide both services.
What remains the landlord’s responsibility?
The landlord remains the property owner and retains responsibility for key ownership decisions and applicable legal obligations. A management company handles only the responsibilities agreed within the property management contract.
Is a property management company worth it?
It can be worthwhile for landlords who want less day-to-day involvement or need support managing tenants, rent, maintenance and administration. Whether it represents good value depends on the landlord’s time, experience, property requirements and management fees.
How much does property management cost in London?
Property management costs in London vary according to the provider, property, service level and responsibilities included. Fees may be percentage-based or structured differently, and additional charges can apply. Landlords should compare the total service and costs rather than the headline management fee alone.
