Let-Only
Quick answer
A letting agent service limited to finding a tenant, referencing and drawing up the tenancy agreement. The landlord handles rent collection, repairs and compliance. Typical fee: one month's rent plus VAT.
At a glance
- Typical fee
- 1 month’s rent + VAT
- Agent scope
- Find tenant, reference, sign tenancy
- Landlord scope
- Rent, repairs, compliance
Full guide
Read the complete landlord guide on Let-Only
Deadlines, fines and step-by-step compliance in our in-depth resource.
Open full guideWhy Let-Only matters for landlords
Let-only is cheaper than full management but shifts the entire compliance and repair-chain burden back onto the landlord. It is the right choice for experienced landlords with a single local let and the wrong choice for out-of-area portfolios. Either way, the landlord still owns the legal liability — the difference is only who does the daily admin.
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Related terms
Full Management
A letting agent service that covers marketing, referencing, tenancy setup, rent collection, repairs and compliance. Fees typically run 10-15% of rent plus VAT. The landlord remains legally responsible for compliance even when a full management agent acts on their behalf.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (Section 11)
The cornerstone repair-obligation statute for residential lets in England and Wales. Section 11 implies into every short-term residential tenancy a landlord obligation to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the property, and to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, space heating and water heating. Cannot be contracted out of. Breach is the basis for tenant disrepair claims, and Section 11 is what actually bites on a private landlord today — Awaab’s Law SLA enforcement is a social-sector regime the Renters Rights Act 2025 carries the power to extend to the PRS.
Landlord Database (Private Rented Sector Database)
A national digital register of private landlords and rented properties in England, established under the Renters Rights Act 2025. Every landlord must register and provide property details and proof of compliance (gas, electrical, deposit protection, EPC) before letting. Operated by central government, accessible to local councils and tenants. Failure to register is an offence with civil penalty up to £7,000 per breach, and a court can refuse a possession order under Section 8 if the property or landlord is not registered.
Landlord Insurance
Insurance built for let property, going beyond a standard home policy. It typically bundles buildings cover, property owners’ (public) liability, and optional extras such as loss of rent, malicious damage by tenants, and legal expenses. A normal residential home-insurance policy usually will not cover a property that is let.
Landlord Licensing
Local authority schemes that require landlords to hold a licence to let property in a defined area. Three types: mandatory HMO licensing (national), additional licensing (smaller HMOs), and selective licensing (non-HMOs). Operating without a required licence carries fines up to £30,000 and can invalidate possession claims.
Landlord Ombudsman (Private Rented Sector)
A new, mandatory redress scheme for private landlords created by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Every private landlord in England letting to assured tenants must join, giving tenants a free, independent route to complain about a landlord without going to court. The ombudsman can order an apology, corrective action and compensation, and its decisions bind the landlord.