Landlord Services for First Time Landlords: A Calm Starting Guide

Becoming a landlord can happen by accident. Maybe you inherited a house, or you’re moving for work and want to keep your flat. Either way, landlord services can take most of the worry away, and in St Albans, Gem Lettings has three simple levels designed for people exactly like you.

Let’s keep this calm and practical. No legal lectures and no scare tactics. Just the questions first time landlords actually ask, answered with real details from the Gem Lettings website.

Do You Need an Agent at All?

Technically, no. Plenty of people let their own homes. But it’s worth being honest about the workload: finding a tenant, arranging viewings, checking references, drafting an agreement, registering a deposit, chasing rent and answering repair calls. That’s a lot, especially if you have a full time job.

An agent buys back your time, and the right one also reduces risk. Gem Lettings says its clients get a professional, personal and caring service, run by Gemma O’Sullivan since 2010. For a beginner, having an experienced voice on the end of the phone is often worth more than the fee.

Which Level Suits a Beginner?

Tenant Find Only

At 6% plus VAT of twelve months’ gross rent, this suits people who live close by and feel confident afterwards. You get photos, Rightmove and Zoopla marketing, accompanied viewings, referencing, free sanction and ID checks and a legal tenancy agreement. After that, you take over.

Rent Collection or Full Management

Most beginners prefer more help. Rent collection costs 6.5% plus VAT per month plus a one off £360, while full management costs 8% plus VAT per month plus £360. With the latter, a dedicated in house manager looks after repairs, inspections and compliance, and you receive a mobile number for direct contact.

What Legal Bits Catch Beginners Out?

Honestly, paperwork. New landlords often discover certificates, deposit rules and notices only when something goes wrong. Gem Lettings includes deposit registration with a scheme in its rent collection level, and arranges all legally required certificates under full management. You don’t have to learn it all overnight.

Notices matter too. The agency includes free Section 13 notices for rent increases and free Section 8 notices in its higher packages, and it doesn’t charge for giving tenants notice. For a beginner, that means fewer separate invoices and fewer chances to get a form wrong at the worst moment.

How Will You Know the Tenant Is Right?

You’ll want proof, not just a good feeling. Gem Lettings completes full referencing and ID checks, and the tenant pays a holding deposit of one week’s rent while checks run. You approve your tenant, so the final call stays yours, backed by solid information.

A reliable tenant find service also gives you a human opinion. The agent has met the applicants at accompanied viewings, so they can tell you who was punctual, polite and clear about their plans. For a first time landlord, that extra perspective is incredibly reassuring.

What Does Day to Day Contact Look Like?

Fair question, since many beginners fear constant calls. Under full management, your manager handles the tenant, and you hear from them when something needs a decision. Tenants can contact the manager directly by mobile, and Gem Lettings offers a 24 hour management service.

Imagine a boiler fault on a cold night. The tenant rings your manager rather than you. An engineer is arranged, the quote is managed and you receive a summary. That’s the real promise of landlord property management: your phone stays quiet, and your property stays in good hands.

What If the Tenant Leaves Early?

It can happen, and first time landlords worry about it most. Gem Lettings offers a Tenant Find Promise. If your tenant leaves within the first six months, the next tenant find fee is cut to half price. That softens the blow and reflects confidence in the agency’s matching.

Careful screening, quick maintenance and friendly communication all reduce the odds anyway. A tenant who feels looked after tends to stay. That’s why many experienced owners value responsiveness over a slightly lower fee, and why most of this agency’s work comes from recommendations.

How Do You Make the First Move?

Keep it simple. Call 01727 750122 or email [email protected], and the team will arrange an appointment that suits you, even at 8am or 8pm. They respond to enquiries within 24 hours, and a free rental valuation comes with no obligation to proceed.

Rental demand is healthy, too. Gem Lettings reports very high demand for houses with two, three, four and five plus bedrooms for professional tenants. If your home fits that description, a conversation about landlord services could lead to a suitable tenant sooner than you’d expect.

Conclusion

Your first tenancy doesn’t have to be nerve racking. Choose a level of help that matches your confidence, ask plain questions and expect plain answers. Gem Lettings combines 20 years of experience with fair fees and personal contact. A free valuation is an easy place to begin.

FAQs

Can I Start With Tenant Find and Upgrade Later?

Yes. Many landlords begin with tenant find and add rent collection or full management when they want more help.

Do I Get a Direct Number for My Manager?

Yes. Full management includes a dedicated in house property manager and a mobile phone number.

What Notices Are Free?

Free Section 13 notices for rent increases and free Section 8 notices are included in the rent collection and full management packages.

Is There a Protection If My Tenant Leaves Early?

Yes. The next tenant find fee is reduced to half price if the tenant leaves within the first six months.