For landlords, one of the first decisions to make when renting out a property is whether to choose a let only service or a fully managed service.
Both options can help you find a tenant and get your property let. However, the level of support you receive after the tenancy begins is very different. With the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, understanding those differences has become more important than ever.
Let Only vs Fully Managed: The Key Differences
With a let only service, your letting agent will typically market your property, find a suitable tenant, carry out referencing, prepare the tenancy agreement and arrange the collection of the initial deposit and first month’s rent.
Once the tenancy starts, responsibility largely passes back to you.
As the landlord, you will usually be responsible for communicating with tenants, collecting rent, organising maintenance, dealing with issues as they arise and ensuring your property remains compliant with current legislation.
A fully managed service includes all of the above, but also provides ongoing support throughout the tenancy.
Your letting agent acts as the main point of contact for tenants, oversees rent collection, arranges maintenance, manages tenancy administration and helps ensure your property remains compliant with changing regulations.
While a let only service typically involves a one-off fee, a fully managed service carries an ongoing monthly cost in return for continued support and oversight.
Why Fully Managed Services Matter More in 2026
The biggest advantage of a fully managed service is that it allows landlords to take a more hands-off approach to property investment.
Rather than dealing directly with tenants, contractors and day-to-day administration, landlords can rely on their agent to handle routine management tasks and resolve issues as they arise.
This saves time, reduces stress and provides reassurance that important responsibilities are not being overlooked.
For many landlords, however, the most significant benefit of a fully managed service is now compliance.
The Renters’ Rights Act has introduced a range of new obligations, increased enforcement powers for local authorities and tougher penalties for non-compliance. As a result, staying up to date with legislation has become a bigger challenge for landlords managing properties themselves.
Fully Managed Support and Renters’ Rights Compliance
A quality fully managed service can help landlords navigate many of the changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act.
This may include:
- Ensuring property marketing complies with new regulations around rental discrimination, rental bidding and restrictions on rent in advance.
- Managing tenancy documentation, including Assured Periodic Tenancies and tenancy deposit protection requirements.
- Overseeing Right to Rent checks and property safety certification.
- Helping landlords understand updated procedures around rent increases.
- Advising on new rules relating to pets in rental properties.
- Supporting landlords through the reformed Section 8 possession process where necessary.
While compliance has always been an important part of property management, the growing complexity of legislation means it is now one of the strongest arguments for choosing a fully managed service.
Choosing the Right Service for Your Investment
Every landlord’s circumstances are different.
Some landlords have the time, experience and confidence to manage their own properties after a tenant has moved in. Others prefer the convenience, expertise and protection that comes with a fully managed service.
It is also worth remembering that letting agents vary considerably in what they include within their packages, so it is important to understand exactly what support you will receive before making a decision.
Lettings Done Ethically
Many people have reservations about letting agents. We believe the industry can do better.
That is why we are proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN), an independent organisation that assesses agencies against strict standards for honesty, service and accountability.
As the only local agency to have met the EAN standard, we are reassessed every six months to ensure those standards remain consistently high.
Whether you are letting a property for the first time, considering a change of agent or simply looking for straightforward advice, we would be happy to help.
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